ELKHART, Ind. (March 11, 2026) — Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) will be accepting applications for its annual Pam De Young Net Zero Energy Fund grants, from April 1-June 30, 2026.
The grants assist MC USA congregations committed to renewable energy by defraying the cost of hardware purchases to install solar panels, car charging stations or other renewable energy projects.
Grants for car charging stations are limited to $1,800. Most solar grants are $5,000, but congregations may request up to $10,000. To be eligible, congregations must have an ongoing plan that will move them toward net zero energy. The term, “net zero energy,” describes buildings or communities that generate enough energy to meet their own needs.
The Pam De Young Net Zero Energy Fund is provided by the generosity of Russell De Young, Newport News, Virginia, in memory of his late wife, Pam De Young. Since 2016 when the fund was created, 25 congregations have received support for solar installations or electric car charging stations.
“Caring for God’s creation is an expression of our discipleship,” said Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz, MC USA denominational minister for Peace and Justice. “When congregations invest in renewable energy, they bear witness to the peace of Christ in very practical ways — reducing harm to the earth, caring for our neighbors and modeling a hopeful path toward a more sustainable future. These grants help our churches live out that calling together.”
Assembly Mennonite’s Solar Array
The 2025 recipients of the grant were:
- Manhattan Mennonite Church, Manhattan, Kansas, solar project
- Assembly Mennonite Church, Goshen, Indiana, solar project
- Millersburg Mennonite Church, Millersburg, Ohio, car charging station
“We consider creation care as fundamental to acting on our commitment to biblical peace, nonviolence and justice,” said Maynard Miller of Assembly Mennonite’s Green Team, explaining that Assembly Mennonite has committed to becoming a carbon-neutral congregation.
“This grant helped us to expand our solar array by about 25% and produce more electricity than our building uses. We have two electric car charging stations which are available to the public for free and anticipate that the electricity that we are giving away will offset the carbon emitted by our natural gas usage,” he added.
Miller urges other congregations to “act sooner than later,” because it will make an immediate impact and also it demonstrates the congregation’s commitment to climate justice.
Apply after April 1
To apply for the grant, contact Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz, MC USA denominational minister for Peace and Justice to request the appropriate forms. Applications may be submitted between April 1 and June 15 each year.
Mennonite Church USA is an Anabaptist Christian denomination, founded in 2002 by the merger of the Mennonite Church and the General Conference Mennonite Church. Members of this historic peace church seek to follow Jesus by rejecting violence and resisting injustice. MC USA’s Renewed Commitments state the following shared commitments among its diverse body of believers: to follow Jesus, witness to God’s peace and experience the transformation of the Holy Spirit. Mennoniteusa.org
Written by Camille Dager