Last chance to register for Partners for Sacred Spaces seminar on November 8th! If you're considering a capitol funds drive, and/or want to study the use of your buildings for expanded mission and ministry, read on...
Dear Colleagues in Congregational Ministry,
I am pleased to announce that the Diocese of California is considering teaming up with Partners for Sacred Places -- a national non-profit and non-sectarian organization that promotes the good care and active use of religious properties -- to provide training and small technical assistance grants to help 8 to 12 congregations in the Diocese find new support to sustain and actively use their older buildings.
We will be offering this new training program to a select number of congregations that need to raise significant funds to repair or renovate their buildings within the next several years. This intensive program will require the commitment of a team of four people from your parish – you and three lay leaders with responsibility for finances, outreach, and property – to attend four daylong training sessions over the span of several months in 2004. The team will also be trained to prepare a case statement for successful capital funding, using Your Sacred Place is a Community Asset, a new Tool Kit published by Partners.
To tell you more about the training program and invite you to consider participating, the Diocese and Partners are hosting a special Orientation on Saturday, November 8th at 10:00 a.m. at Grace Cathedral, Wilsey Conference Rooms, San Francisco. Please do join us!
If you have any questions, call me at 415-871-7825 or email me at michaelb@diocal.org I hope you will find this exciting new program of interest, and hope that we have the opportunity to work with you on behalf of your sacred place.
Faithfully,
The Rev. Canon Michael L. Barlowe
Officer for Congregational Development and Enrichment