Program Description

In partnership with The Black Church Studies Program at Louisville Seminary, Pride in the Pews is pleased to offer the 2026 Rural Black Church Equality Fellowship (RBCEF). RBCEF is a private and confidential U.S. rural south leadership development program for Black faith leaders interested in advancing conversation and action at the intersections of faith, health, the Black Church, and LGBTQ+ identity and inclusion. This fellowship is designed to foster LGBTQ+ inclusion and social justice within rural and small town Black congregations. The program will run annually from March to December over the next five years, impacting up to 50 congregations in total.

Program Dates and Deadlines

All grants will be awarded on a rolling basis, with priority given to early applicants. The application opens November 5, 2025, and the priority deadline is December 17, 2025; the final deadline is January 17, 2026. Final decisions will be emailed to all applicants by February 5, 2026. The grant implementation period will commence in March 2026 and conclude in August 2026.

Virtual Launch | Virtual Lecture/ Conversation- Monday, January 26, 2026, 6pm CST | 7pm EST 

Virtual Grantee Meetings | March 17th and 31st,  April 14th and 28th, May 12th and 26th. (1.5-hour virtual meeting in each of the listed months, from 7-8:30 ET/6-7:30 CT via ZOOM) 

In-Person Gathering: August 2026

We are planning to gather fellows at some point, and it is our hope that you will be able to join us. This is mandatory for each fellow, and we want to ensure that this is a priority if you are accepted to this program. If accepted, representation from your project team at the virtual cohort launch and consecutive meetings, and the in-person gathering is required. Failure to do so will result in your acceptance being forfeited.