During a pilgrimage across the Diocese of Pennsylvania, Bishop Daniel G.P. Gutiérrez found that congregations needed help with their aging facilities:
For some churches this meant a renovation to a room for youth; repairing an old HVAC system; improving access with handicapped ramps; repaving the parking lot; or replacing old windows with new energy-efficient ones. Unfortunately, many of the congregations that shared these needs did not have the funds to undertake such a project. With the approval of Standing Committee, the Growth Development Fund was created to help parishes make these improvements.
The diocese will distribute $30,000 to ten churches each year for five years. Churches have until Jan. 15 to apply for a grant.
Matthew Townsend is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual misconduct in Anglican settings. He served as editor of the Anglican Journal from 2019 to 2021 and communications missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Quebec from 2019 to 2022. He and his wife recently entered catechism class in the Orthodox Church in America.
