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Episcopal Church plants seeds for 30 new ministries

August 3, 2021
Office of Public Affairs

A notably diverse array of 30 new church and missional communities received approval for $650,000 in grants during the Episcopal Church Executive Council’s meeting in June.

The Episcopal Church General Convention in 2018 authorized the Task Force on Church Planting and Congregational Redevelopment to solicit and recommend grants for new and continued funding for new worshipping communities and missional enterprise ventures throughout The Episcopal Church. The resolutions particularly call on these new communities to connect with underrepresented groups, including youth and young adults, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, people of color, and people from diverse economic, educational, professional, and faith backgrounds.


“This was by far the most diverse applicant pool we have seen in this triennium,” said the Rev. Katie Nakamura Rengers, staff officer for church planting. “Half the New Episcopal Communities funded in this round are specifically engaging people of color, are led by people of color, and/or worship in a language other than English. This is exciting, because it means we have been successful at getting the word out that engaging historically underrepresented peoples is a priority for The Episcopal Church.”  

Of the 36 applications received in this round, Executive Council approved full or partial funding for 30, said the Rev. Janet Waggoner, chair of the Task Force on Church Planting and Redevelopment. During 2018-2021 — the standard three years between Episcopal Church General Convention gatherings — 79 New Episcopal Communities have received grants. The task force will offer feedback to the applicants who did not receive funding in this round but who may be eligible in the future, or whose project might be a good candidate for other types of grants.

In addition to funding, the Presiding Bishop’s Office of Church Planting and Redevelopment offers leadership discernment, training, and coaching resources for New Episcopal Community leaders. 

Grants
The 30 initiatives approved include 10 discernment grants, eight seed grants, eight growth grants, and four harvest grants. The initiatives are listed below, by category.

One-time discernment grants fund initiatives in discernment for a new project start and may fund assessment, research, and feasibility studies. The maximum award in this category is $5,000. The following applicants were awarded discernment grants, totaling $50,000:

  • Leaven, Salt and Light (Episcopal Diocese of Spokane), $5,000
  • Greater Boston Queer and Trans People of Color (Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts), $5,000
  • Black Excellence Spiritual Collective (Episcopal Church in Minnesota), $5,000
  • Cathedral of the Beloved North (Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts), $5,000
  • The Order of Naucratius (Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan), $5,000
  • Community Reimagined (Episcopal Diocese of New York), $5,000
  • Sagrada Familia (Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles), $5,000
  • Beloved Community Campus of Pittsfield (Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts), $5,000
  • GreenChurch (Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts), $5,000
  • Hildegarden (Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina), $5,000

One-time seed grants fund initiatives that have gone through project discernment, including assessment and coaching. The maximum award in this category is $30,000. The following applicants were awarded seed grants, totaling $240,000.

  • Good Courage Farm (Episcopal Church in Minnesota), $30,000
  • African Church Plant (Episcopal Diocese of Missouri), $30,000
  • Transfiguration, Minneapolis (Episcopal Church in Minnesota), $30,000
  • Creator’s Table (Episcopal Diocese of Spokane), $30,000
  • Virtual to Vital (Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe), $30,000
  • Episcopal Haitian Ministry (Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey), $30,000
  • Urbana NEC (Episcopal Diocese of Maryland), $30,000
  • Calling the Circle from the Four Winds (Episcopal Diocese of Arizona), $30,000

Growth grants fund initiatives that have gone through project discernment, including assessment and coaching, and have demonstrated real progress in completing the process outlined in their ministry plan. These grants require significant and appropriate support from the local diocese. The maximum award in this category is $30,000. The following applicants were awarded growth grants, totaling $240,000:

  • Grovetown Episcopal Lutheran Mission (Episcopal Diocese of Georgia), $30,000
  • San Marcos (Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real), $30,000
  • Episcopal Mission of Franklin (Episcopal Church of New Hampshire), $30,000
  • New Hope Episcopal Church (Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio), $30,000
  • Mother of the Savior (Episcopal Diocese of Michigan), $30,000
  • Bridges Re-entry Mentoring (Episcopal Diocese of Arizona), $30,000
  • Plainsong Farm (Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan), $30,000
  • Faith Christian Church of India (Episcopal Diocese of Missouri), $30,000

Harvest grants fund initiatives at least two years into their project. These initiatives have gone through project discernment, including assessment and coaching, demonstrated real progress in completing the process outlined in their ministry plan, and have a plan toward sustainability. These grants require significant and appropriate support from the local diocese. The maximum award in this category is $40,000. The following applicants were awarded harvest grants, totaling $120,000:

  • Misa Magdalena (Episcopal Diocese of Washington), $40,000
  • El Corazon Latino Ministry (Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan), $40,000
  • Chaplains on the Harbor (Episcopal Diocese of Olympia), $20,000
  • Good Samaritan Episcopal Church (Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis), $20,000

Future Grants for New Episcopal Communities
Funding for 2018-2021 has ended. Potential applicants are invited to stay informed of future opportunities by visiting the New Episcopal Communities website and subscribing to the NEC email list.

Contact
Amanda Skofstad

Public Affairs Officer

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