Parish Mission Fund
last updated on: 15th May 2012
The Church Commissioners support clergy stipends, pensions, Bishop's costs, some Cathedral costs and pastoral reorganisation. But they also make available to dioceses money for new mission initiatives and in Leicester Diocese we've used some of this money to create a Parish Mission Fund. The Bishop’s Council has allocated £70,000 a year for mission initiatives.
What can we ask for?
You can ask for not less than £500 and not (normally) more than £3000 in any one year. A grant may be one-off or for up to 3 years.
What sort of thing will it support?
The fund is specifically to support mission work - which in our diocese can be interpreted as work that develops one or more of the nine marks of a healthy, mission-shaped church. It is also available for the support of Fresh Expressions of church. We would not normally expect to make grants for work to buildings and funds will not be granted retrospectively.
Who can apply?
Any parish is welcome to apply but priority will be given to applicants where:
+ the project is in furtherance of work agreed within the context of a developing Mission Partnership;
+ the parish(es) concerned have a good record of payment of parish share, or, if there are problems, where they are clearly being addressed.
How do we apply?
Forms are available for download from the bottom of this page, or by contacting Carol Gibbons at Church House. The next meeting is on 16th July, followed by 17th September and 12th November. Applications need to be in at least ten days, and ideally several weeks, before the meeting date.
Who will decide, and how?
The Parish Mission Fund committee decides on grants. It is chaired by Mike Harrison (Director of Mission and Ministry) and includes Richard Atkinson and David Newman (Archdeacons), Peter Yates of the Bishop’s Council, and Barry Hill (Mission Enabler) as a non-voting advocate for mission initiatives. The group meets around four times a year to decide on applications.
Employment of staff
If projects involve the employment of staff then there must be a clear job description, contract and management structure, which the committee will need to see. Advice on all of these issues is available from diocesan officers.
For details of the special Olympic and Para-Olympic inspired grants and resources pack click here
Resources:
Application Form (Revised March 2011)
