Walker Community United Methodist Church

Walker has a long history of involvement in the community. Its members are individually active and the church itself has been an incubator for a number of community organizations and initiatives. We also maintain organizational connections to other churches, the Methodist Church at large, and other organizations in our community. Please click here to read about our organizational connections.

The Walker Outreach program is entirely self-funded, relying on grants and contributions specifically earmarked for Outreach. Please click here to read about our financial supporters.

You may contact Sally Kuehn, Outreach Director at 612-722-6612 or outreach@walkerchurch.org

Walker's current Outreach programs include:

If you would like to apply for fiscal agency, please call Jennifer Gahnstrom at the church office (612-722-6612). She will schedule a meeting for you with Walker's Administrative Board. Please bring to the meeting 15 copies of the following: a description of your organization and purpose (or your business plan), a listing of the board of directors (or responsible parties), and any brochures or printed information. Let us know if you need an accountant or will be doing your own bookkeeping, and how much financial activity you expect to have.

Walker charges a small percentage fee to act as fiscal agent (from 0-10%). The size of the fee depends upon the amount of financial activity, the length of time we will act as agent, the amount of accounting work that will be required of our staff, and the closeness of fit with the goals of the church. Example: For an ongoing relationship in which we provide bookkeeping services for monthly transactions, we might charge 7-10%. For a one-time volunteer mission trip by someone affiliated with the congregation, we would likely provide fiscal agency for free.

Restorative justice circles & family group conferencing
Walker Church has, for many years, offered Restorative Justice Circles and Family Group conferencing for juvenile offenders referred to our program by the police, the courts or Hennepin Family Services. We have bi-lingual facilitators. This program and the after school program are partially funded through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Juvenile Justice. If you would like more information, or to volunteer with this program, please call Outreach Director Sally Keuhn at the church office.

After-school & Youth Employment Programs
Neighbor to Neighbor Outreach has partnered with Camp Fire USA to provide an excellent after school program. Children are provided with encouragement and help to complete homework and discover new educational challenges. They are taught social skills and healthy living practices. The program is based on health realization principals that enhance a youth’s self esteem. Learning to resolve conflicts in peaceful ways is an intricate part of the program.

Learn to Work/Work to Learn is a summer youth employment program for youth ages 10-15. Youth work in teams of 4-5 youth with an adult mentor. Jobs are provided by people and businesses in the community. Seniors who need yard work done, a business who might benefit from garbage being picked up, a community member who is moving are all potential sites for our workers. The youth are paid with grant money from foundations and private contributors. Summer 2006 was sponsored by a grant from the Allina Foundation and community members who value this program.

Advocacy & outreach
We all experience times when a little help could make all the difference. It might be a move, a leaky roof, a problem with a child or the need for transportation to a medical appointment. Walker Advocacy and Outreach helps connect people seeking assistance with people in our congregation or another resource that can help. We offer friendship and caring and practical help. Call Sally at 612-722-6612 for an appointment or for further information on any of the Neighbor to Neighbor Outreach Programs.

Space Rental
We rent both our stage/sanctuary and various rooms for office space. Office space is available to nonprofit groups whose work aligns with the mission of the church. Currently, all office space is rented, but if you are interested or inquiring in the future, please call Jennifer at the church office. Stage rental is ongoing. Call Jennifer.

4th of July patrol
Walker is a proud resident of the Powderhorn Neighborhood. We especially enjoy our public park. Every other Sunday morning, all summer, we meet in the park for worship. A number of years ago the city considered discontinuing fireworks in that park for the 4th of July because of violence and unrest. Walker decided to offer a peacekeeping service. Every year for 7 (?) years now, Walker members have donned orange vests and walkie-talkie to provide a visible presence for harmony at the park. And every year things have gone smoothly.

Prayer intervention
Walker Church actively addresses such inner-city issues as drugs and prostitution. Walker has been associated with the Southside Prostitution Task Force for many years. Walker members have joined the Task Force in telling johns to go home. On other occasions, members have gathered to pray publicly outside houses where drugs were being sold. This isn't an ongoing outreach program, but Walker rises to the challenge when needed.