Scholarships and Grants
Leadership Training
Scholarships
Leadership development and training for additional skills are critical for
pastors and key lay leaders to help small, rural and urban congregations be most
effective in their ministries. The Small Church and Community Ministry Office
is linked with a number of training networks and seminaries that can help provide
needed skills assessment. In addition, there are scholarships to help clergy
and laity to attend workshops, conferences and training events that you think
will be relevant to your ministry.
In the area of Leadership Development, the Small Church and Community Ministry
Office provides the following resources:
The Small Church and Community Ministry
Office provides scholarships up to $200 for people to attend
training events.
The Small Church and Community
Ministry Office, in partnership with the Presbyterian Hunger Program provides
scholarships up to $500 to help Presbyterians attend training
events run by the
national networks of community organizing (such as IAF, PICO, DART and Gamaliel
Foundation).
Scholarship applications are accepted throughout the year. All applications
must include a current W-9 form.
Congregation-based Community Organizing
Grants
Congregational Based Community Organizing (CBCO) is a strategy
for rebuilding communities, revitalizing congregations and developing individuals
into effective leaders and change agents. A CBCO is generally a coalition of
congregations (usually interfaith in nature), service providers and community
groups whose common mission is to listen to community residents, identify critical
issues and respond in strategic ways that affect the quality of life of the
community.
The Presbyterian Church has been a catalyst in the evolution of this movement
since its inception in the 1950s. The denomination has been one of the major
funders nationally and hundreds of congregations have been involved at the grassroots
level.
Many CBCOs are related to national training networks (such
as IAF, DART, PICO and Gamaliel) or they may be more independent in nature and
training. What they share is a commitment that acting in the public arena from
a faith perspective is critical in holding institutions accountable for building
a just society.
CBCO
grant applications are due by November 1, 2008.
Attached to the application
is the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Proposal for 2009 Funds Grant Application
Budget Form. Grant awards will be made by the Presbyterian Hunger Program Committee
in March 2009.
If you have any questions about the grant application, please
contact the Small Church and Community Ministry Office at (888) 728-7228 x5244
or contact
us by email.
These grants fund new broad-based community organizations
that are less than three years old. These grants are committed for one year only,
but the organization is eligible to apply for two subsequent years. In other
words, an organization can receive a grant for a maximum of three years. The
grants sum range generally from $5,000 to $10,000 depending on the demonstrated
need.
These funds support the advocacy work of CBCOs in the
areas of homelessness and affordable housing. These grants are committed for
one year only, but the organization is eligible to apply for two subsequent years.
In other words, an organization can receive a grant for a maximum of five years.
The grants sum range generally from $5,000 to $10,000 depending on the demonstrated
need.
Submitting your application
By mail: Phil Tom
Small Church and Community Ministry Office
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
100 Witherspoon Street, Room 2065
Louisville, KY 40202-1396
(888) 728-7228 x5845
By email: Applications may be sent
via email to Eva Slayton in MS-Word or PDF format, but you will still have
to mail in six copies of your application.
Continuing Education
Grants awarded will help pastors attend training events
that will enable them to serve the church community. Pastors serving congregations
of 150 members or fewer may apply for funds to assist with the Doctor of Ministry
degree. These funds are available for the first three years of study. Read
more about continuing education grants.
Grants For Small Churches Located In Texas
The New Braunfels Presbyterian Church session, responding
to the many needs of small churches, created and funded an outreach program.
Qualifying churches in Texas can apply. The grants will be awarded to small churches
for a variety of requests to include educational or youth programs, outreach
projects, facilities, music and pastor study grants or other needs. Read
more about grants for small churches in Texas.
Boudinot Library Fund
Provides useful books to small churches (150 members
or fewer) that have limited resources to obtain books. The books are
to be selected by pastors for their use, but as the property of the church will
remain with the church. Contact
Laura Bryan at (888) 728-7228 x5735 for more details about
the award. |
