Southwestern Washington Synod 2010 EOCM Partnership Support Grants

Transcription

1 Southwestern Washington Synod 2010 EOCM Partnership Support Grants Evangelical Outreach and Congregation Mission Unit of the ELCA (EOCM) Application Purpose, Procedure, Outline and Time-Line ELCA Mission: We are Claimed, Gathered and Sent for the sake of the world! Do you have a dream for developing an outreach ministry in your setting? Do you have ideas for how you want to grow your ministry? Does your congregation have a vision for outreach and need some encouragement (coaching and/or funding) to help you implement the next steps in your plan? The Evangelical Outreach and Congregation Mission Unit (EOCM) wants to partner with you in the development of your ministry. What is the purpose of partnership? EOCM offers coaching, training and grants to facilitate outreach through the church and renew existing ministries in order to grow the church and make devoted disciples of Jesus Christ. Why does the EOCM offer partnership support grants? EOCM seeks to promote a vibrant and growing church where healthy congregations are connecting to one another and transforming the world, where faith is deepening and new disciples are being made, living as the body of Christ participating in ushering in the Reign of God. EOCM is your ELCA Churchwide partner as congregations: Develop new congregations and redevelop existing ministries Experience transition (especially those with 20% numerical growth for 2 or more years) Empower urban and rural coalitions committed to a shared ministry strategy; Promote leadership development Establish, support, and plan for multicultural outreach How do I get started? What are the first steps? The Bishop, your Outreach Committee Chair and Mission Director are available to discuss your outreach ideas for witness, mission and service to God s love for and reign in the world. If you have a vision for mission outreach, contact the Mission Director for more information or visit your synod website. SWWA Synod Time-Line 2010 EOCM Partnership Grants September 2008 the 2010 EOCM Partnership Grant Process begins September 2008-March 2009 Congregational conversation and grant development work in cooperation with the Mission Director. Talk to your Mission Director early and often. March 1, 2009 Deadline for initial grant application draft to Mission Director for the synod s Evangelical Outreach Committee (EOC) consideration. March EOC initial review of all congregation applications. April Congregations finalize their grant applications. April 30 Final deadline for all grant applications (electronic submission) to Mission Director with signed copy in mail). May EOC review (approval/recommendation) all grant applications. May 2009 Mission Director submission to EOCM Churchwide for Review Table consideration. June 2009 Distribution to EOCM Review Table (they all read all the grants) July 2009 EOCM review table (consideration and decisions on al 2010 PS Grants) August September 2009 Announcement of 2010 Partnership Support Grant Review Table decisions February 2010 Grant funding cycle begins

2 Southwestern Washington Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission Unit Application for Partnership Support Grants (For Use By ELCA Congregations in Southwestern Washington) The availability of partnership support grants from the EOCM-unit is based on the amount of churchwide funds made available to the unit on an annual basis. Far more applications are received than can be funded and, as a result, many worthy opportunities for enhanced outreach with the Gospel cannot be financially supported. Instructions I. INTRODUCTION - The ELCA Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission unit is commissioned to engage leaders in the formation of evangelizing congregations that make disciples for Jesus Christ and equip people to use their gifts for God s reign in the church and in the world. Congregations that have a defined plan for outreach may apply for a partnership support grant from the unit through the synod. II. III. IV. GRANT ACTIVITIES - Grants must be used to directly address and meet the criteria for at least one of the unit s major grant categories. The Mission Director can provide summary and detailed descriptions of grant activities. (see attachment #1&2) REQUIREMENTS To be considered for a grant, the congregation must: a. Have a well-thought-out plan for outreach with clearly stated goals, objectives and time lines which complies with the EOCM PS Grant Criteria (see attachment #3) b. Directly address one of the stated program activities. c. Demonstrate the financial need for grant support. d. Prove the potential capacity for achieving the stated objectives. e. Have congregational approval. f. Secure approval of the synod Outreach Committee. g. Be willing to enter into a signed partnership with the unit and/or synod. PROCESS - Grant applications should be prepared with the guidance of the Evangelical Outreach Committee Chair, Mission Director, and Synod Bishop. The Mission Director will assist the congregation in understanding the grant process and insuring that the contents of the application adequately address the congregation s needs. The Mission Director will also serve as liaison between the applicant congregation and Churchwide partners. When completed, the application will be reviewed by the Synod Outreach Committee and the EOCM-unit Review Table. (See attachment #4-Time-line) If approved, the Mission Director will assist the congregation in developing a Partnership Agreement, which is an updated action plan and accountability agreement.

3 V. APPLICATION FORMAT EACH of the following MUST be clearly and concisely addressed, in the order listed, by a written proposal. 1. Congregational Information a. Name and Mailing Address b. Congregational ID Number/Synod Name and ID Number c. Pastor s Name d. Phone Number e. Current Amount of EOCM Grant, if any. 2. Program/Activity to be Addressed (see attachment 1 & 2) a. Provide Program/Activity number and title 3. Need (the purpose) Explain why the grant is needed and how it addresses specific grant category criteria (see attachment #3) AND the EOCM Partnership Support Grant Criteria on attachment Objectives List and describe the specific objectives to be achieved over the total grant period (e.g. month-by-month; year-by-year). Objectives must be measurable and provide the basis for evaluation. 5. Plan of Activities Describe what will specifically be done to achieve the objectives and the time lines for accomplishing the work. 6. Requested amount of Grant (for each year if multi-year) AND Start Date 7. Projected Date of Self-support When will grant support no longer be needed? 8. Detailed Budget Information a. Revenue/income should list all sources b. All expenses should be itemized. c. Provide budgets for both the prior year and the start year of the grant 9. Approvals/Signatures Church Council, Lay President/Vice President and Pastor. VI. Transmittal Form to be submitted with the grant application. See Attachment 5

4 Attachment 1: Evangelical Outreach & Congregational Mission Grant Categories 100 Development of New Congregations 110 New Start 120 Maturing Grants 130 Authorized Worshiping Communities 150 Mission Satellites 220 Fast Growth 110 Fast Growth Grants 300 Renewal of Strategic Congregations 110 Ministry Adjustment 120 Transformation of Congregations 130 Consolidations/Mergers/Relocations 140 Synod Administration 410 Ethnic Strategies 110 African American/Black 120 Hispanic/Latino 130 Asian 140 American Indian/Alaska Native 150 Middle East Arab 600 Ministry with the Poor 110 Strategic Synod Word & Sacrament 120 Word and Service Ministry 130 Churchwide/Synod Collaboration 700 Mission Services 110 Global/Ecumenical Partnerships 120 Institutional Alliances 170 Specialized Ministries

5 Attachment 2: EOCM Categories (programs and activities) 100 Development of New Congregations Engages leaders throughout the ELCA in the envisioning, planning, resourcing, and development of new congregations New Starts Maturing Grants Authorized Worshiping Communities Synod strategies may identify locations for approved worshiping communities in response to needs for local Lutheran worship. A small local group will be gathered to design an appropriate response to those needs. The local group shall be responsible for the costs Mission Satellites 300 Renewal of Strategic Congregations Provides support and assistance to congregations to renew and strengthen their ministries as vital centers for outreach and evangelism in their communities. Natural Church Development is used as an assessment of the quality of ministry and Transformational Ministry Training is used to prepare leaders, lay and clergy, to assist congregations in renewal and transformation Ministry Adjustment Congregations receiving support in this program need resources to transition to the next chapter in ministry. Some missional clarity may be needed to help the congregation gain momentum. Ministries may be plateaued with an adjustment needed to grow again or already growing with an adjustment needed to transition to the next step in ministry development Transformation of Congregations Congregations receiving support in this program need a new missional identity in order to focus on ministry in a new way. These congregations have been declining and may (but not necessarily) have had some ministry crisis or significant losses. These congregations form a covenant and receive transformational training as a mandatory component of being in this program Consolidations/Mergers/Relocations Congregations in this program area are going through a merger or consolidation with another congregation(s) to form some new ministry identity or are in the process of relocating to be a better missional presence in a new place in the same or nearby ministry field. These ministries need short term support to make the transition but generally bring some financial resources from previous properties with them. Often these ministries benefit from transformational ministry training to adjust or define a new identity Synod Administration This program is for congregations which have lost the ability to define their ministry and make ministry decisions without outside assistance. The synod has assumed a role in this through the act of synod administration. These congregations are often the most obviously in need of a new identity. A covenant is in place in this program and transformational ministry training for the congregation and synod are a part of this work.

6 400 - Ethnic Strategies African American/Black The purpose of the AA/BO program effort is to provide leadership and support to synods, and congregations as they reach out in witness to the Gospel with and among African descent peoples Hispanic/Latino Grants are awarded to support existing congregations and ministries in their Hispanic/Latino Outreach efforts, as follows: Facilitate the process for intentional missional effectiveness Encourage change from maintenance to missional focus Address specific objectives of a clearly defined outreach ministry plan Accompany congregations facing challenging new contextual ministry opportunities Partner in new exploratory ministries within a targeted area Enhance the potential capacity for achieving ministry goals Assist advocacy for Word/Sacrament/Service/Justice challenges Asian Purpose: to strengthen, equip and resource existing Asian congregations in the ELCA, as well as Asian ministries being developed as part of Englishspeaking congregations American Indian/Alaska Native This program provides support for ministries with American Indian/Alaska Native peoples. This program is administered with intentional consultation and partnership with the related director from the Multicultural Ministries unit. Because of the ongoing economic realities often present in this context, many of the financial support agreements in this category are often renewed on a longer term basis Middle East Arab This program provides support for ministries with Arab/Middle Eastern peoples. This program is administered with intentional consultation and partnership with the related director from the Multicultural Ministries unit. Because of the ongoing economic realities often present in this context, many of the financial support agreements in this category are often renewed on a longer term basis. 600 Ministry Among People Living in Poverty This program engages leaders throughout the church in exploring ministry insights, identifying contextual principles and models; and developing tools and networks for the development of ministries among people living in poverty and/or marginalized communities. Its primary aim and methodology is leadership development Word & Sacrament Ministry EOCM will use this activity to work in partnership with synods to support ministries of Word and Sacrament located in communities where financial self reliance of the congregation/ministry may not be possible Word and Service Ministry This activity may support word and service ministries which reach out in service, support and with invitation to participation in the body of Christ with people living in poverty Community Service and Organization

7 Attachment 3: EOCM Partnership Grant Criteria For all 2010 PS Grant Requests Part of the 2009 EOCM Partnership (PS) Grant Review Table was a review of the grant process itself. The Review Table, which included EOCM staff and Bishops, developed the following criteria which will be used to assess PS Grant requests in an effort to promote effectiveness and to bring consistency and clarity to the grant process Beginning with 2010 PS Grants all nine basic grant criteria listed below are required. Grants will not be considered without completion of these criteria. The following criteria are required for a grant to receive consideration. (1) Submission of the Annual Congregational Report (2) Specific Synod investment in the ministry (3) Specific the congregational ELCA mission support, a. Evidence that it is adequate (10%) b. Or a clear plan for how the congregation is working to increase its level of giving. (an acknowledgement of our inter-relatedness). (4) Amount of congregational endowments, savings and all other assets (5) Worship attendance trends: a. If attendance is under 50 and/or trending downward then this data will include an assessment of congregational viability (6) A clear statement addressing: a. The purpose of this grant - What the grant money will be used for? b. A defined, measurable plan for the use of the requested grant c. An assessment of the effectiveness of the funds from previous years (7) A letter signed by the bishop and mission director indicating the level of the strategic importance for the synod of this grant request (8) Evidence of the discernment process used in developing this grant request including the level of collaboration with others, i.e. Evangelical Outreach Committee as this grant relates to the synod outreach strategy, ethnic strategy, evangelism team or congregational leadership (9) How this ministry is a viable mission field, viable enough to invest in?

8 Attachment 4: SWWA Synod Time-Line 2010 EOCM Partnership Grants September 2008 the 2010 EOCM Partnership Grant Process begins September 2008-March 2009 Congregational conversation and grant development work in cooperation with the Mission Director. Talk to your Mission Director early and often. March 1, 2009 Deadline for initial grant application draft to Mission Director for the synod s Evangelical Outreach Committee (EOC) consideration. March EOC initial review of all congregation applications. April Congregations finalize their grant applications. April 30 Final deadline for all grant applications (electronic submission) to Mission Director with signed copy in mail). May EOC review (approval/recommendation) all grant applications. May 2009 Mission Director submission to EOCM Churchwide for Review Table consideration. June 2009 Distribution to EOCM Review Table (they all read all the grants) July 2009 EOCM review table (consideration and decisions on al 2010 PS Grants) August September 2009 Announcement of 2010 Partnership Support Grant Review Table decisions February 2010 Grant funding cycle begins

9 Attachment Transmittal Form Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission Application for Partnership Support Name of Congregation ELCA Congregational ID # Region 1 Synod Mailing Address City State Zip Phone Address Pastor s Name Current amount of EOCM Grant, if any $ Grant Activity # EOCM Grant Name Signatures: President/Vice President of Congregation Date Pastor Date Upon completion, please submit two copies of the Application along with this Transmittal form to: Chair, Outreach Committee Date Mission Director Date