First United Methodist Church of Bloomington, Indiana

What First United Methodist Church of Bloomington, Indiana does

First United Methodist Church of Bloomington, Indiana is a non-profit religious organization founded in 1822 and operating from a downtown Bloomington facility at 219 East 4th Street, a few blocks from the Indiana University campus. The church runs a dual-worship model — traditional Classic Worship at 9:30 a.m. and the contemporary Common Ground service at 11:45 a.m. — supplemented by Discipleship Hour classes at 10:45 a.m. and a structured Discipleship Pathway program (Presence, Prayer, Gifts, Witness, Service). Its ministry portfolio spans the full lifecycle: Children's Ministries (birth–6th grade), Youth, Jubilee college and young adult community, Adult programs, Senior Caring Ministries, Music, Social Justice & Outreach, a Wednesday Food Pantry, and a Refugee Support Team partnering with Exodus Refugee Immigration. The church is a Reconciling Ministries Network congregation, explicitly Open & Affirming of LGBTQIA+ individuals, and operates additional sacramental and pastoral services including weddings, funerals, baptism, pastoral care, and endowment-funded scholarships for university students.

The underlying technology infrastructure is conventional and consumer-grade: a Squarespace website, YouTube-based livestreaming of both services, Vanco Online for digital giving, Constant Contact for the weekly e-newsletter, Google Forms for administrative intake, and Facebook for community engagement. There are no proprietary platforms, APIs, mobile apps, or AI/ML components disclosed. Revenue is generated entirely through voluntary tithes, offerings, and stewardship campaigns from members and visitors, with no commercial pricing model. The proposed 2026 operating budget is $1,435,000, a 3% increase over 2025, and stewardship leadership has stated that a 19% increase in giving is required to balance the budget without drawing on reserves or one-time gifts. Governance rests with a Church Council under pastoral leadership (Senior Pastor Lisa, Associate Pastor Rev. Joseph Obwanda, Pastor Donna), with member-supported volunteer teams coordinating the operational ministry portfolio.

The church serves the Bloomington community and surrounding region, with secondary reach via YouTube livestream to a broader geographic audience. Member demographics explicitly targeted include general community members, families with children, middle and high school youth, college students and young adults (especially IU-affiliated), East African refugees and new Americans, LGBTQIA+ individuals and families, and senior adults. Strategic positioning centers on progressive theological identity, social justice engagement (anti-racism, creation care, poverty advocacy, LGBTQIA+ inclusion), and proximity-based community service anchored by the downtown Bloomington location.

Name

First United Methodist Church of Bloomington, Indiana

Legal name

First United Methodist Church of Bloomington

Website

https://fumcb.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

First United Methodist Church of Bloomington, Indiana is a 200-year-old downtown United Methodist congregation near Indiana University offering dual traditional and contemporary worship, full-lifecycle ministries, and community programs including a food pantry and refugee resettlement, funded by voluntary member tithes on a ~$1.4M operating budget.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Worship Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Religious worship services
• Faith formation programs
• Community outreach ministries
• Pastoral care services
• Inclusive congregation programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Bloomington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

First United Methodist Church of Bloomington provides weekly Christian worship services (Classic Worship and Common Ground contemporary), faith formation programs through Discipleship Hour and the five-branch Discipleship Pathway, pastoral care (weddings, funerals, baptisms), and community outreach including the Wednesday Food Pantry and refugee resettlement support. The congregation operates as an Open & Affirming Reconciling Ministries Network church serving all ages and backgrounds in downtown Bloomington near Indiana University.

Product overview

First United Methodist Church of Bloomington, Indiana is a Christ-centered community offering a comprehensive portfolio of worship, faith formation, and community service programs. The church operates a dual-worship model featuring Classic Worship (traditional service at 9:30 a.m.) and Common Ground (contemporary worship at 11:45 a.m.), complemented by Discipleship Hour at 10:45 a.m. with classes for all ages. Key programs include the Wednesday Food Pantry addressing food insecurity, Refugee Support Team, Children's and Youth Ministries, Jubilee college/young adult ministry, Social Justice & Outreach initiatives, and Caring Ministries providing pastoral support. Additional services encompass Music Programs, Wedding/Funeral coordination, Baptism, Scholarship opportunities, and Membership services. The church is affiliated with the Reconciling Ministries Network and is known for its inclusive approach to LGBTQIA+ inclusion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Common Ground: Inclusive contemporary worship experience at 11:45 a.m. with upbeat contemporary music, community building activities, arts, and justice/service projects
• Jubilee
• Classic Worship
• Discipleship Hour
• Wednesday Food Pantry
• Justice at First
• East African Ministry
• Wednesday Food Pantry

Products and services

• Classic Worship Traditional worship service held Sundays at 9:30 a.m. featuring traditional hymns, choir music, and organ accompaniment, designed for members preferring a classical liturgical style.
• Common Ground Contemporary Worship Inclusive contemporary worship experience held Sundays at 11:45 a.m. featuring upbeat contemporary music, community building activities, arts, and justice/service projects, designed for those seeking a modern worship style.
• Discipleship Hour Faith formation classes held Sundays at 10:45 a.m. for all ages and stages of faith, including Bible study, faith formation, and discussion groups.
• Discipleship Pathway Structured spiritual development tool connecting community members through God's love with five progressive branches: Prayer, Presence, Gifts, Witness, and Service.
• Wednesday Food Pantry Food distribution program open to all community members experiencing food insecurity, operating Wednesdays 3:30-5:30 p.m. in partnership with Hoosier Hills Food Bank, providing food packages with no questions asked.
• Refugee Support Team Volunteer team assisting East African refugees with resettlement in Bloomington, providing English language learning, transportation to Sunday worship, and guidance on using community resources.
• Children's Ministries Faith formation programs for children from birth through 6th grade, including Sunday School, children's choir, and special activities.
• Youth Ministries Youth programming for middle and high school students, including service trips, youth group activities, and faith development opportunities.
• Jubilee College and Young Adults Ministry Christ-centered community for college students and twenty-somethings meeting Wednesdays at 7:30 PM, providing a safe space for honest conversation, meals, worship, and discussions.
• Music Programs Comprehensive music ministry including Chancel Choir, Common Ground Band, Children's Choir, and special musical performances during worship services.
• Caring Ministries Compassionate support services including Parish Visitor program, Hospital Visitation, Food Crisis Ministry, Bereavement Team, and Special Person of the Week outreach.
• Weddings Wedding ceremony services held in the church sanctuary, with pastoral support for ceremony planning and coordination.
• Funerals Funeral and memorial services conducted in the church building, with pastoral care and support for grieving families.
• Baptism Sacrament of Baptism offered for infants and adults during worship services, initiating individuals into Christ's church.
• Scholarships Endowment-based scholarship program supporting university students with multiple named scholarships including Jill Behrman, Lillian Gay Berry, Breneman Memorial, John A. Hoadley Memorial, Jackson Family, Ross and Jean Marrs, Zachary Joseph Daniel Novak, and Judith Ann Thurston Watts scholarships.
• Online Giving System Online giving platform enabling members and visitors to submit tithes, offerings, and special donations through the church website via Vanco Online payment service.

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Reconciling Ministries NetworkcoreOthersFirst Methodist is a proud member of the Reconciling Ministries Network, an organization committed to intersectional justice across and beyond the United Methodist connection, working for the full participation of all LGBTQ+ people throughout the life and leadership of the Church.
• Exodus Refugee ImmigrationcoreOthersDeepening relationship with new Americans through partnership with Exodus Refugee Immigration as part of stewardship vision for 2026. The church has supported refugee resettlement including an Afghan family (Nawzdee family of 5).
• SCCAP Head StartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Methodist is honored to host SCCAP's Head Start program in its facility. Head Start is a family-centered child development program for preschool-aged children promoting school readiness.
• Heartland Methodist FoundationminorOthersRev. Glenn Howell of the Heartland Methodist Foundation served as keynote speaker for the 2026 Stewardship kick-off event.
• Beacon, Inc.minorOthersVolunteer partnership with Beacon, a vital organization aiding those experiencing need with support services to reduce hunger, poverty, and homelessness.
• New Hope for FamiliesminorOthersVolunteer partnership with New Hope for Families, the only shelter in Monroe County where families with children can find shelter together.
• New Leaf, New LifeminorOthersVolunteer partnership supporting incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals in Monroe County through life skills and educational programs.
• Habitat for Humanity of Monroe CountyminorOthersVolunteer partnership helping eliminate poverty housing by building decent, affordable homes in partnership with qualifying families.
• Hoosier Hills Food BankcoreOthersWednesday Food Pantry operates in partnership with Hoosier Hills Food Bank to distribute food to community members experiencing food insecurity.
• Monroe County United Ministries (MCUM)minorOthersVolunteer partnership with MCUM which focuses on childcare, basic needs, and self-sufficiency services in Monroe County.
• CanopyBloomingtonminorOthersVolunteer partnership with social impact organization focused on maximizing Bloomington's tree canopy and urban forest management.
• MC-IRIS (Monroe County Identify & Reduce Invasive Species)minorOthersVolunteer partnership working to protect Monroe County's natural areas from invasive species.
• IU Health Congregational Partnership MinistryminorOthersVolunteer team partners with IU Health to provide emotional/spiritual support to patients referred by the health system.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ginghamsburg Church: A large, innovative United Methodist Church in Tipp City, Ohio known for contemporary worship, digital ministry, and missional community engagement. Comparable as a UMC congregation that has invested in modern worship formats and outreach programming to maintain relevance.
• Broadway United Methodist Church: An Indianapolis-based United Methodist Church with a progressive theological identity and active community outreach. Comparable as an Indiana UMC with similar Open & Affirming posture and urban ministry focus.
• Magnolia United Methodist Church: A United Methodist congregation noted for its progressive theological commitments and community engagement. Comparable as a UMC operating with similar Open & Affirming identity and outreach programming.
• Trinity United Methodist Church (Indianapolis): A historic Indianapolis United Methodist Church with progressive theological commitments and significant community programs. Comparable as an Indiana-based UMC congregation with similar values-based identity and outreach programming.
• University Park United Methodist Church: A large progressive United Methodist Church in the Dallas area known for multiple worship styles and active social justice programming. Comparable as a multi-style UMC with strong community outreach and contemporary service offerings.
• First Presbyterian Church of Bloomington: A historic mainline Protestant congregation in Bloomington, Indiana, sharing the same downtown market and progressive theological identity. Directly comparable as a fellow Mainline Protestant congregation competing for the same Bloomington demographic and student population from IU.
• St. Luke's United Methodist Church: A large downtown Indianapolis United Methodist Church with multiple worship styles and substantial community outreach programming. Comparable as a regionally prominent Indiana UMC with similar dual worship formats and community service portfolio.
• Trinity Episcopal Church (Bloomington): A progressive Episcopal congregation in Bloomington, Indiana, with similar downtown presence and inclusive theological posture. Directly comparable as a fellow progressive Mainline congregation in the same Bloomington market targeting overlapping demographics.

Broad incumbents

• Church of the Resurrection: One of the largest United Methodist Churches in the U.S., based in Leawood, KS. Operates a multi-site model with contemporary and traditional worship, strong digital and community programming, and a similarly progressive theological posture. Highly comparable as a UMC congregation of similar inclusive identity operating multiple services and outreach programs.

Regional players

• University Lutheran Church (Bloomington): A progressive Lutheran congregation serving the Indiana University community. Comparable as a Mainline Protestant church adjacent to IU with similar young-adult and student ministry focus, though Lutheran rather than Methodist denominationally.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fumcbloomington
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@FUMCB/streams
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-united-methodist-church-of-bloomington-in

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about First United Methodist Church of Bloomington, Indiana