Twelve projects in ten dioceses and two provinces, totaling $211,210 for the Roanridge Trust Award Grants, have been announced for 2018.

The Roanridge Trust Award Grants are provided annually for creative models of leadership development, training and ministries in small towns and rural communities across the Episcopal Church. 

Recipients

The twelve projects receiving 2018 Roanridge Trust Grants are:

• Diocese of Oklahoma, ELCA Joint Oklahoma Small Church Leadership Summit:  $5,000
• Diocese of Long Island, Rural & Migrant Ministry’s CASA: $20,000
• Diocese of North Carolina, Lee County Literacy Council/Augustine Literacy Project: $10,000
• Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, Dismantling Racism in Southwestern Virginia:  $9,210
• Diocese of Virginia, Lay Pastoral Leader Training Program: $8,000
• Province IX, The Episcopal Asset Map for Spanish-Speaking, Non-US Dioceses:  $12,400
• Diocese of Western North Carolina:  Stewardship of the Entirety of Our Lives in a Rural Setting: $10,000
• Province 1 ( Dioceses of CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT, West MA), Models of Ministry in Small Vital Congregations: $7,000
• Diocese of Northern Indiana, Becoming Beloved Community: $74,600
• Diocese of Western Michigan, Center for Christian Spirituality: $15,000
• The Episcopal Church in South Carolina, SmashGlass: $15,000
• Navajoland, Online Gratitude Formation Program – UTO University: $25,000

Dioceses, congregations, and Episcopal-related organizations and institutions were invited to apply for the grants. Although previous recipients were eligible to apply, priority was given to new applications.

Executive Council member Marion Luckey served as chairperson of the committee that reviewed the applications. Convened by the Rev. Melanie Mullen, Director of Evangelism, Reconciliation and Stewardship of Creation, applications were reviewed by a committee comprised of an Episcopal Church Executive Council member, a member at large, and Episcopal church staff members. 

The Roanridge Trust was established by the Cochel family, who originally gave a working farm in Missouri called Roanridge to the Episcopal Church. Income from the trust generates the grant funds. The purpose of the Roanridge Trust is for specific use for the training of town and country clergy and rural Christian workers of the nine provinces of the Episcopal Church.

Questions about the Roanridge Trust can be addressed to Ann Hercules, Associate for Ministry Beyond the Episcopal Church and Grants.