The 2018 General Convention earmarked up to $5 million to be spent during 2019-2021 for grants in support of programs addressing racial injustice and supporting racial reconciliation. The Church has now set a deadline of September 13 to apply for the first round of grants.
The program, called Becoming Beloved Community, was authorized by Resolution D002 at the triennial General Convention in July 2018, in Austin, Texas. Parishes, dioceses and other Episcopal-affiliated entities can apply for Seed Grants of up to $10,000 for new initiatives, or Impact Grants of up to $20,000 to expand existing programs.
Eligible racial-reconciliation projects are defined quite broadly, including things like speaker series and pilgrimages, as well as initiatives focused on issues such as immigration and incarceration.
In recognition of the Church’s intention of enforcing diocesan assessments, the news release ends with a warning: “Applicant understands that should its local diocese fail to pay its assessment in full or to apply for and receive a waiver, the diocese and the applicant shall be ineligible to receive grants or loans from the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society unless approved by Executive Council.”
Find out more information here.
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.
