The Diocesan Dialogue
Current Issue
October 2007

DMP Awards Mission Grants

By Dick Snyder

Diocesan members of Domestic Missionary Partnership met recently to share information about new ministry projects, to learn about the reorganization of the national church (see nearby story), and to distribute grants.

DMP held its annual conference Sept. 5-9 in Boulder City, Nev. The Diocese of Utah is one of the original members of the organization, which traces its roots to Coalition 14.

The process for awarding grants was reviewed. Bishop Jim Adams of Western Kansas related he "had no hard feeling" but reminded the group that "last year you granted us nothing, for the first time in 105 years. You need to know that caused a ripple" of negative economic impacts on the diocese's plans to become financially self-sufficient.

Adams noted the small and rural diocese had historically received base budget support from the national church.

DMP's mission grants are for specific projects rather than for general budget support, explained Bishop Keith Whitmore of Eau Claire. Each diocesan member of DMP can submit requests for mission grants, which are funded by through DMP by the national church. Requests for next year totaled $254,623. It was announced at the meeting that only $147,004 was available. Whitmore noted that DMP's budget had been reduced by 25 percent by Executive Council. Diocesan representatives went into small groups and trimmed their requests where possible. Those revised requests, along with other revisions in the DMP budget approved by the Executive Committee, amounted to $189,299. Whitmore noted that the DMP Executive Committee might have to take additional action in reducing the grants later in the year.

Mission grants approved by DMP went to:

Diocese of Alaska for a program to fund workshops and networking to move women into leadership roles; $15,000

Diocese of Central New York to fund introducing an Appreciate Inquiry design plan at the 2008 diocesan convention, and thereby help parishes "dream about how they can live into mission;" $9,000

Trinity Memorial Church in Binghamton, NY, Diocese of Central New York, for an after school program providing a safe environment for at-risk children between the ages of 14-18; $12,000

Diocese of Eastern Oregon, for continuing education in faith based reconciliation, to develop leadership training for parishes and a program to bring seminarians into rural settings during the summer; $11,000

St. Alban's Church, Spooner, Wisc., Diocese of Eau Claire, to develop and operate a Crop Walk; $2,000

Diocese of Eau Claire for developing a deacon formation academy; $3,000

Christ Church, Chippewa Falls, Wisc., Diocese of Eau Claire, for mission work in Haiti; $18,000

St. Stephen's in the Fields, San Jose, Calif., Diocese of El Camino Real, for promotion and programs at a new 5 p.m. praise service on Saturdays; $10,000

Diocese of Idaho to help develop a process that incorporates Appreciate Inquiry into the search process for a new bishop; $15,000

Navajoland Area Mission to fund a meeting with Alaskan natives and Navajo in 2008 and to explore the possibility of on-going partnership and programs; $13,200

St Catherine of Siena in Reno, Nev., Diocese of Nevada, for planting a new church in Reno; $20,000

Diocese of North Dakota for ministry with Sudanese congregations in the diocese; $29,700

All Saints Episcopal Church in Pratt, Kan., Diocese of Western Kansas for sundries pantry to provide free toiletries and other items to those in need; $1,200

St. Francis Academy in the Diocese of Western Kansas for a creative arts therapy program; $15,000

DMP itself to help sponsor an expanded conference and to share learning next year, $5,000.

Other diocesan members, in addition to those receiving grants, are Arizona, Mississippi and Utah.

Next year's meeting will be Sept. 17-21 at the Duncan Gray Center in the Diocese of Mississippi.

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