New Spiritual Communities and ReNewing Churches: Grant Program Application

Transcription

1 New Spiritual Communities and ReNewing Churches: Grant Program Application Deadline: September at 11:59 PM EDT (Midnight) DESCRIPTION The purpose of the United Church of Christ is: To love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and our neighbor as ourselves. Mission statement: United in Spirit and inspired by God's grace, we welcome all, love all, and seek justice for all. And together, we vision: United in Christ's love, a just world for all. The New Spiritual Communities and ReNewing Churches grant program of the United Church of Christ seeks to enact the Vision, Mission, and Purpose by investing in programs and ministries which live into the ethos of the United Church of Christ s becoming. In March of 2017, leaders from across the life of the denomination gathered to redefine the grant program and set intention and vision on the funding and the churches that the UCC will be supporting. After much deliberation on the metrics of new churches, the team affirmed that we will invest in the values which lead communities into action, and for the greater impact of the ministries. Our funded new and renewing churches will be led by the following five 1/4

2 values: Love: Right relationships define love. Love is a communal experience enacting love of neighbor, self, and God. Love has a narratable timeline; something happening drawing one out of oneself, and extending self. The community speaks love through a narration of their story including presence to both joy and pain in the midst of loving. Spirituality/Faith: Communities which are connected to something bigger than themselves, and the great cloud of witnesses (past, present, and future), while adding to the Christian story. Community: Gathering body of individuals that speaks to live out the teachings of Jesus Christ. Community means interdependence, connection, honoring of difference, with the equal distribution and sharing of power and resources for all. Justice: Justice speaks truth to power. Justice is what love looks like in public, and through the eyes of God. Justice creates opportunities for wholeness and health in individuals and communities. Justice is connected to the community surrounding in the building of coalitions and partnerships. Justice is intersectional; so the faith community is also facing outward. Justice ensures the voice of the voiceless and serves the underserved, inviting the tradition and wisdom of voices historically excluded and/or undervalued. Justice repairs the breaches, and restores right relationships. Justice is the equitable allocation of resources for God s beloved children. Creativity: The ministry takes a bold and innovative approach, and/or applies the old model in a new way to address a particular need within the community. REQUIREMENTS This grant is available to faith communities affiliated with the United Church of Christ in the US. If the applicant is not a Member in Discernment or UCC minister in good standing, a UCC accountability structure must be described and agreed upon through the local conference or committee on ministry. 2/4

3 The FIRST thing applicants should do is determine who will serve as a reference for this application. References MUST be in before you can "submit" the application. Decide, and reach out to EITHER a conference minister or associate conference minister, OR, all of the below: -a local pastor of a UCC congregation where membership and accountability is held -a leader of a community partner organization -an outside source of communal support (e.g. a coach, mentor, spiritual director, et cetera.) We hold intention that at least 50% of our funding will go towards faith communities who are historically marginalized: specifically, communities of color, or faith communities led by people of color. There are two types of grants: grants that can be matched, or nonmatching grants. Within matching grants for NEW communities, any income can be matched, including tithed income. For RENEWING churches, it must be outside fundraising, NOT including normal church income, such as tithed income. For all churches, matching grant funds must be properly documented, such as would hold up to an IRS audit. -Grants which are NOT matched: $20,000 over 4 quarters, for the period of one year. -Matching grants, up to $40,000. $10k first, then $30k matched to follow, over 6 quarters (1.5 years.) Each community and/or applicant is eligible for up to $100,000 grand lifetime, from this program. Grants are awarded based on how applicants seek to embody in their ministries the values lifted up at the beginning of this document, as well as the impact from those values within the local community. Ministries that are meant to be sustaining, as well as ministries that are meant to be impactful for a particular time and place, are encouraged to apply. 3/4

4 New Spiritual Communities and ReNewing Churches: Grant Program Application Deadline: September at 11:59 PM EDT (Midnight) 1. Contact Information for Applicant Title: First Name: * Last Name: * Mailing Address: * Address (Line 2) City * State * Select one... Zip Code * Best Contact Number: * 1/13

5 Please enter a phone number at which we can contact you with questions or clarifications on your application. Cell phone number preferred. address: * Address (Line 2) for New Ministry What is the name of your Spiritual Community and/or Ministry? * Mailing Address: * Address (Line 2) City * State * Select one... Zip Code * Phone number: * What is the general contact address for your ministry? * 2/13 If your church has a UCC Data Hub assigned number, please enter it here.

6 UCC DataHub numbers are assigned by the conference. It is not necessary to apply for a grant, but Indicate your type of will application be necessary before becoming an official new church within the United Church of Christ. * First-Time Applicant Renewal Applicant 2. Spiritual Leadership Verification for Spiritual Leader Name: * Mailing Address: * Best Contact Number: * Please enter a phone number at which we can contact you with questions or clarifications on your application. Cell phone number preferred. Address (Line 2) address: * City * 3/13 Date of Ordination:

7 If applicable, please enter the date of your ordination. State * Select one... Zip Code * UCC Conference in which standing is held: UCC Association in which standing is held: * 3. General Information about your Ministry Mission Statement and Vision Please enter the Vision and/or Mission statements for your ministry/spiritual community: Maximum Number of Words: 300 What do you envision the lifetime of your community of faith or project to look like? Particularly for brand new communities, Indicate within if it will it be a stable and sustaining ministry or a ministry of impact for a particular time, in a particular place? (All situations are considered.) 4/13

8 Articulate succinct SMART goals for your community in 1, 2, and 5 years. What will be achieved as a result of this grant? Setting SMART goals allows you the best chances of success. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time bound. Specific: "I will host 10 community meals" not "I will feed the community." Measurable: Usually a number is involved - dollars, days, times per week, people engaged. It will be easy to see if you have achieved your goal. Achievable: Can be accomplished through a series of actionable tasks, and is within your control (Not, "I will win the lottery.") Relevant: Consistent with resolutions passed by General Synod. Time Bound: Includes a start date and a deadline. One goal for this spiritual community in 1 year is: One goal for this spiritual community in 3 years is: One goal for this spiritual community in 5 years is: Demographic Information 5/13 How do people in the community self-identify around race/gender/orientation, et cetera? *

9 How do you relate to the group whom you intend to serve? * How is this ministry WITH as well as FOR the intended community? * Grant Nuts & Bolts Which statement describes your ministry better? * We are an existing Church applying for a specific project of renewal. We are a brand new spiritual community. CASA grants come in two forms. Which type of grant are you applying for?* up to 20,000 not matched, over the course of one year up to 40,000 matching funds, with $10,000 at first, and the rest matched by CASA over a year and a half. For Matching Grants for Existing Congregations in Renewal: Please note that existing tithes and commitments do NOT count towards your matching funds. You will need unique income streams specifically designated for this purpose. For Matching Grants with Brand New Spiritual Communities: Please note that any income can be matched, including tithed income of your participants. Have you applied for other grants? If so, from whom, and for how much?* Has the spiritual community or its leader ever received a UCC grant before? If so, please say: 1- When? 2- For how much? 6/13 3- For what project was it related to? * We as so as to help continue to compile a list of resources to be made available to all of our churches. Even if you don't yet know the response, or it was a "no," please tell us so that we may compile a list.

10 To what financial resources does your community already have access? * For example, if you have endowments, savings, or investments, list the total amounts of those accounts. (Note: we crossreference with amounts reported Attach an Excel Budget of Revenue and Expense for this ministry and/or project. for the UCC Yearbook.) If you are an existing congregation, you need only have a budget for this particular project, indicating what you are contributing in the columns described below. If you are applying for the Matching Grant, please indicate the income streams clearly which you expect to be matched. Include these columns: 1. Revenue Sources 2. Is the Revenue Source UCC Affiliated? Yes or No? 3. Revenue Amount 4. Is the Revenue Received or Pending? List Expenses by line item. * Select File Maximum File Size: 20MB, Accepted file types:.pdf,.xls,.xlsx No file attached This budget should show both circumstances: what will happen if you do NOT receive this grant, as well as what it will be if you DO. 4. Short Answer Application Questions Short Answer Application Questions: I have read and understand the following instructions. Each of the 15 questions will invite short responses in a narrative form. You will have up to 200 words to answer each question. Not all questions MUST be answered, and we will evaluate your ministry based on whatever information is present through the whole of the application without penalty. 7/13

11 Please use the space to demonstrate the values described and the intended impact of how those values move within your spiritual community, and beyond. We recommend first answering the questions in a word document to save your answers, and then copying and pasting into this application form. * Yes, let's go! Opportunity and Assessment in your ministry To what opportunity is your community being called to respond at this time? What is the impact of this opportunity on your community? What is your idea for solving or addressing the opportunity outlined above? How will you go about assessing the specific needs of the community whom you hope to serve? How is your approach different/better than existing efforts? What do you see as its most innovative and promising aspects? How does your community address the underlying SOURCE of the specific needs in addition to their SYMPTOMS? 8/13

12 You, Your Ministry, and Your Community How is this ministry work an extension of yourself? In what ways are you challenging yourself? In what ways is this stretching you, and how are you on the line? What describes your community or the community you seek to build? How do you gather? Share on your understanding of your community s definition of sacred Love. "Love is..." Who are the parties involved and how do you hold each other accountable? Who (plural) can say Amen to what you intend to do? How does your community see itself connecting to something greater than yourselves? Who are the ancestors/mentors/forebearers to whom you look for guidance? Be as creative as you'd like in answering this question with what comes to mind first. These can be the saints, community partners, and/or individuals that are deeply impacted by the ministry you vision. Tell us some of the history and hope for your community. How do you see your community s story as part of the ongoing gospel story? 9/13

13 A Just World For All; through your community's work Justice is connected to the community surrounding in the building of coalitions and partnerships; so the faith community is also facing outward. Who are your partners and collaborators in the enactment of justice in your context, and how do you work together? In your fieldwork and preparation work so far, with whom have you spoken, or are in relationship? (people, organizations/nonprofits, surrounding churches) Justice is the equitable allocation of resources for God s beloved children. What is this faith community risking for the sake of justice? How does or will your faith community bring about a Just World for All? Justice speaks truth to power, and is what God s love looks like publicly. How does your ministry communicate truth to those who are in power in your wider community? 10/13 Support

14 What support do you have that will enable you to press through the joyful, yet challenging realities of implementing this ministry? * Maximum Number of Words: References Reference Options NOTE: You are advised to make these requests for References from those whom you choose as your FIRST PRIORITY, as it is due at the time of the application deadline. All References must be in place before your application can be submitted. You will receive a confirmation once all requested information has been received. As you begin your application, we recommend that you request your reference(s) first, particularly from your Reference. This will ensure that your reference(s) have time to complete the reference(s). Supply the contact information of your endorser within the Reference form(s). It is your responsibility to FULLY inform your Reference about your proposed New Ministry and/or Spiritual Community and its budget IN ADVANCE of entering their contact information into this form. Notify your endorser that an request for a Reference is on its way from automated. @smarterselect.com. The endorser will not be able to view your application from the automated . The will contain a request for the reference of your project and question text boxes within which the reference can be written. There will also be a text box for an electronic signature. Again, you are urged to educate your Reference about your project and its budget prior to submitting their contact information into this form. You are fully responsible for the completion of this endorsement. You will receive a confirmation once all required information has been received. We recommend that you Clear Request and then Resend Request if your Reference is not in place far in advance of the deadline. OPTION A: Letter of reference/endorsement from Conference Minister or Associate Conference Minister OR OPTION B: Letters of reference from 11/13

15 -a local pastor of a UCC congregation where membership and accountability is held -a leader of a community partner organization -an outside source of communal support (e.g. a coach, mentor, spiritual director, et cetera.) * OPTION A: Conference Minister or Associate Conference Minister OPTION B: Three letters as described Letter of Reference: Option A (NOTE: To receive a grant, if you go with Option B, you will need an EIN number and bank accounts already set up, and either be, or be in process to be, a nonprofit organization.) After having contacted your conference minister or associate conference minister and fully informed them about your project and it's budget, submit the following information here: Contact's First Name * Contact's Last Name * Contact's Address * Contact's Phone Number Contact's Title Contact's Organization Letter of Reference: Option B1 Letters of reference from: -a local pastor of a congregation where membership and accountability is held 12/13

16 -a leader of a community partner organization -an outside source of communal support (e.g. a coach, mentor, spiritual director, et cetera.) Contact's First Name * Contact's Last Name * Contact's Address * Contact's Phone Number Contact's Title Contact's Organization How is this reference related to your ministry? a local pastor of a UCC congregation where membership and accountability is held a leader of a community partner organization an outside source of communal support (e.g. a coach, mentor, spiritual director, et cetera.) 13/13