Council Makes Grants for Collaborative Ministries

Diocesan News, Front Page • November 14th, 2016

In 2015 there was a unique set of circumstances in the Diocese of Western New York.

There was transition in several Diocesan staff positions and those positions were filled in an interim time with consultants and volunteers.  There were a few programs that did not spend their entire budget.  Nearly all of the congregations either paid their fair share or made progress towards paying their fair share for Diocesan programs.

The result of this was that the Diocese ended 2015 with about $75,000 in surplus.

Bishop Franklin underlined that the Diocese should not get used to this, it is unlikely to happen again.

The Diocesan Council decided to use this money to offer grants for collaborative ministries.  Congregations were asked to submit proposals for funding for ministries that involved several congregations or one congregation and several community agencies.

The Council asked for proposals this spring and spent the summer evaluating the proposals and asking questions about them.

At their October meeting, the Diocesan Council awarded the following grants:

To St. Peter’s, Eggertsville for the Welcoming the Stranger Project which involves several congregations and community organizations to work on refugee resettlement.  The project is an exciting example of how we can follow the commandment of God to welcome the sojourner in our land.  The Council has awarded the Welcoming the Stranger Project $20,000.

To the congregations of Genesee Region.  The project involves brining in an expert in Appreciative Inquiry to engage the congregations of the Genesee Region, most of whom are small, but vital, in intentional conversation around ways that they can collaborate in ministry while retaining their separate and distinct identities.  The Council has award the Genesee Region collaborative project $25,000.

To St. Mark’s, North Tonawanda who is entering into a partnership with YWCA to provide a new site for new and existing programs and to engage the congregation in some of the services provided by the YWCA.  The Council has awarded St. Mark’s & the YWCA $10,000.

To St. John’s, Medina for the Immaculata House ministry, which has engaged a wide variety of community agencies in providing transitional housing and services for women being released from prison.  The Council has awarded St. John’s, Medina & Immaculata House $10,000.

To St. Luke’s, Jamestown for the Children of the Book Reading Program.  This is a summer reading program that combats summer learning loss among vulnerable children.  St. Luke’s has built an extensive community coalition to support the program and engaged a large number of people in serving the children of Jamestown.  The Council has awarded St. Luke’s $10,000.

These five projects show a variety ways that congregations are looking to reach into their communities and neighborhood and work together.