As part of the commitment to review and learn from our experiences, the Creative Ministry Fund Committee has recently modified the criteria and application form for future grants. The reason is to highlight and encourage applications representing new ideas and “outside the box” thinking.
While the nature of creativity often defies definition, the committee wants to encourage applicants from ministries which are original, ground-breaking, or which show risk-taking for the Gospel. “Cutting edge” ministries, appropriately discerned, planned, and begun, often have high potential value for the wider Church. The committee will welcome and support creative ministry initiatives that could be described by such words as: “entrepreneurial”, “progressive”, “outward-looking”, “hopeful”, “joyful”, “transformative”, “experiential” or -even - “edgy” !
Since creativity is generally contextual, one setting’s creative venture might be routine in another. The hope is that local congregations will be encouraged to explore what creativity means in the local context, but with an eye toward the broader community and culture.
Following you will find the revised criteria and application form, as well as information on the Creative Ministry Fund awards which have been made. You can find additional information at http://www.condev.diocal.org.
If you have any questions, or as you are considering new and creative ministries in your congregation, please contact me (michaelb@diocal.org or 415-869-7825). I look forward to assisting you as together we explore the creative work God is setting before us in the Diocese if California.
Faithfully,
The Rev. Canon Michael L. Barlowe
Congregational Development and Enrichment
Comments and Criteria for Funding
February 2004
When the Creative Ministry Fund was announced, we committed to a continuing review, based on our experience, of the criteria for the awarding of grants. Having now completed several grant cycles, and having examined many grant applications, we now offer these comments to guide applicants and interviewers:
The deadline for grant applications in 2004 are May 20 and September 23.
Please submit the application form and supporting materials to the Rev. Cn. Michael Barlowe at Diocesan House or electronically to michaelb@diocal.org.
The grant application in PDF format is available for download.
Our friends at Partners for Sacred Places are offering a new technical guide to addressing issues of physical accessibility in church buildings.
New Guide Available!
Accessible Faith: A Technical Guide for Accessibility in Houses of Worship
Congregations with older and historic houses of worship often want to make their buildings accessible but are daunted by the quagmires of design and legal and financial issues.
Partners for Sacred Places is pleased to join with the Retirement Research Foundation to offer a new practical guide – Accessible Faith: A Technical Guide for Accessibility in Houses of Worship. This publication provides a wealth of practical solutions for congregations seeking to make their sacred places more accessible. The guide opens with a brief look at disability and whom it includes (a lot more people than you might guess!) and how this issue intersects with congregations. From there, readers are given an introduction to how accessibility laws pertain to religious properties.
The core of the 52- page booklet consists of practical solutions to eliminating physical, auditory, and visual barriers, and to improving signage. The authors use a variety of case examples and support the text with numerous photographs, drawings, charts and diagrams. The guide includes sections covering design, funding, and construction processes, and concludes with a useful bibliography.
The guide can be found at www.sacredplaces.org . To order a printed copy from Partners for Sacred Places, visit www.spacredplaces.org/publications.html or call 215-567-3234. Price: $9.00 for shipping and handling.
A consultation for smaller congregations is going to be held in Salt Lake Citry June 4-7, organized by Ben Helmer of national condev office.
Maximizing Ministry in Smaller Congregations
The Rev. Ben Helmer, of the Congregational Development Office of the Episcopal Church Center, announced that a Small Church Consultation will be convened immediately following the Province VIII Convocation and Resource Fair being held at Westminster College in Salt Lake City in June.
The Convocation is slated to run from June 4—7, and the Small Church Consultation will begin immediately following its conclusion. The Small Church Consultation will begin on June 7th and end at midday on June 9th.
Participants will be able to engage a Strategy for Small Churches adopted by the General Convention in 2003, identify and share resources, stories of development and learn new strategies for vitality.
Fr. Helmer says, “People who participate in both the Convocation and Consultation will get an opportunity to receive special training in the Strategy for Small Church Development adopted by the General Convention.”
The Rev. Phina Borgeson, of the Diocese of Northern California, will serve as facilitator for the gathering.
Costs are partially underwritten by the Congregational Development budget of the Episcopal Church. The registration fee for the Convocation is $75.00 and housing at Westminster College is $45 per night. Registrations postmarked after May 15, 2004 will be assessed a $30 late registration charge.
To register, send email to bhelmer@episcopalchurch.org or call the Church Center at 800-334-7626 Extension 6283.