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Evangelism Grants fund 12 projects across Episcopal Church

February 25, 2021
Office of Public Affairs

Grant awards fund firefighter outreach, street evangelism, community gardens and more

At its January 2021 virtual meeting, the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church awarded $33,800 in Evangelism Grant funding to twelve Episcopal communities.

“These grant awards span across the Episcopal Church, from the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe to the Diocese of Hawaii, from ministry with first responders and firefighters in Kentucky to New York City street evangelism,” said the Rev. Devon Anderson, chair of the Executive Council Episcopal Evangelism Committee. “Even in this liminal time of pandemic and isolation, the church is going beyond simply surviving to connecting, and is reaching out beyond itself. The grant projects are exciting and truly inspired.”

The Episcopal Evangelism Grants program was launched in 2017 following the 2015 General Convention’s increased investment in evangelism galvanized by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. Designed to fund local and regional evangelism efforts, these grants provide up to $2,000 for an individual congregation and up to $8,000 for multi-church, diocesan and regional collaborations.

Initiatives funded by the evangelism grant program include a project to reach out to local firefighters in Kentucky, an effort to provide fresh local food to area food pantries in Massachusetts that serve people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, a “wild church” effort in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and online churches across the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe. Find a complete list of grants on the Episcopal Church website here.

“In the Gospel of John, Jesus calls his disciples by asking, ‘What are you looking for?’ Each of the 2021 Evangelism Grant projects asked a similar question and presented an innovative and exciting approach to sharing the good news of God’s great love,” said Jerusalem Greer, staff officer for evangelism on the Presiding Bishop’s staff.  “We cannot wait to see how the Spirit moves through these projects—both in their own contexts and across the wider church.”

Recipients

The 12 Evangelism Grants, which are subject to their sponsoring dioceses having completed their 2020 assessment payments, are:

  • Free Grace Living Water, Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, The Episcopal Diocese of Central Gulf Coast: $4,500.
  • 8 Missional Online Churches, Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe: $8,000       
  • Firefighters’ Ministry, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, The Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky: $2,000.
  • College Student Journaling Project, The Episcopal Church at Yale, The Episcopal Church in Connecticut: $1,180.       
  • UP Wild Church, The Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan: $8,000.   
  • Community Garden, Grace Episcopal Church, Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts: $2,000.
  • Good News Gardens Diocesans Initiative, The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts: $1,353.        
  • Kindness Campaign, St. John’s Episcopal Church, The Episcopal Diocese of Iowa: $1,353.    
  • Hiking Church, Christ Church, Trumbull, The Episcopal Church in Connecticut: $1,353.         
  • Beloved Community Outreach Center of Mobile, The Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast: $1,353.
  • Video Storytelling, Praise, and Reflection Project, Church of the Holy Apostles, Hilo, The Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii: $1,353.       
  • Evangelism Outlloud/Street Service & Fair, The Church of St. Matthew & St. Timothy / La Iglesia de San Mateo y San Timoteo; The Episcopal Diocese of New York: $1,353.

“The committee received 59 applications from across the church and requests far exceeded the funding allocated in the budget,” said Anderson. “The group chose to award six significant grants to major projects and six smaller grants that will provide partial support to a variety of evangelism activities. With these grants, the committee has disbursed its entire budget for the 2018-2021 triennium. The next grant cycle is expected to begin in 2022.”

Members of the Executive Council Episcopal Evangelism Grants Committee include:

  • The Rev. Devon Anderson, Chair, Episcopal Church in Minnesota
  • Ms. Julia Ayala Harris, Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma
  • The Rev. Canon Lydia Kelsey Bucklin, Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan
  • Rev. Daryl Lobban, Episcopal Diocese of Washington
  • Canon Brendan O’Sullivan-Hale, Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis
  • Mr. Hugo Olaiz, Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio
  • Ms. Mary Parmer, Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee
  • The Rev. Carrie Schofield Broadbent, Episcopal Diocese of Central New York
  • The Rev. Kammy Young, Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast
  • Presiding Bishop’s staff: Ms. Ann Hercules, Ms. Jerusalem Greer

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