Julia Brown Karimu Fund

In celebration of the 44 years of ministry of Reverend Dr. Julia Brown Karimu with the church, the Division of Overseas Ministries Board of Directors, at the time of her retirement, established the Julia Brown Karimu Fund, an endowment fund of the Division of Overseas Ministries, that will provide resources for mission personnel appointments through the Division of Overseas Ministries (DOM)/Global Ministries.

The Rev. Dr. Julia Brown Karimu served as President of the Division of Overseas Ministries (DOM) of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada and Co-Executive for Global Ministries from August 2011 to December 2021. Julia started work at the Indianapolis General Office of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1977, serving as Director of Voluntary Service at what is now Disciples Home Missions. In 1985, she moved to DOM as a Vice-President and Mission Personnel Executive.

Through her ministry at DOM, Julia played a central role in creating a system to recruit, train, and appoint mission co-workers. She also offered the first tentative definition of critical presence for the DOM board’s consideration, which stated that “Critical Presence is the act of accompaniment (being there, visible) with our partners, ministering to and with people who are in life-threatening situations.”

The Julia Brown Karimu Fund will serve as a permanent reminder of Julia’s gratitude and appreciation for the overseas partners whose faith have deepened her understanding of God, and for the mission co- workers who have faithfully answered the call to accompany brothers and sisters in Christ across the globe.

The Julia Brown Karimu Fund is invested, along with the other Division of Overseas Ministries permanent funds, with the Christian Church Foundation, and is governed by the endowment practices and policies of the Division of Overseas Ministries Board of Directors. Distributions from the Julia Brown Karimu Fund provide resources for mission personnel appointments of DOM/Global Ministries.

Gifts to the Julia Brown Karimu Fund may be given online here or by check written to Division of Overseas Ministries and sent to:

Global Ministries
P.O. Box 1986
Indianapolis, IN 46206

Whether giving by check or online, please include the designation “Julia Brown Karimu endowment” on the check memo line, in an accompanying note, or in the Project/Partner box if giving online.