Applications accepted through Aug. 15 for Beloved Community ‘rapid-response’ grants

Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs
Posted Jun 19, 2020

The Presiding Officers’ Advisory Group on Beloved Community Implementation is pleased to announce the availability of grants to address the racial disparities laid bare by the coronavirus pandemic and for groups responding to racist violence and policing reform.

Across America, COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting people of color in terms of health outcomes, access to testing and treatment, safe work environments, and more.  At the same time, many recognize the pandemic of ongoing violence directed against black people and other people of color, especially at the hands of law enforcement personnel in communities in the Americas and beyond.

“The COVID-19 pandemic and George Floyd’s murder have made it painfully clear how far we are from God’s dream for us. We have seen again and again that prophetic action can turn a moment of pain into a moment of progress,” said Advisory Group chair, the Rev. Edwin Johnson, Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. “Our goal with these grants is to invest and partner with leaders and communities pursuing progress and healing in their contexts. The nature of the need and the opportunity is such that we want to move quickly and to prayerfully discern next steps together.”

These grants are drawn from funds allocated by General Convention in 2018 to build capacity and increase Episcopal engagement in Beloved Community. Applications open on June 19, 2020 and will be reviewed and granted regularly leading up to the deadline of August 15, 2020. Requests may total up to $10,000, and may cover programmatic and direct service activities. Priority will be placed on work done in long-term partnership within underserved communities. Congregations, dioceses, provinces, schools, seminaries, monastic communities and other Episcopal entities may apply.

All proposed projects must demonstrate adherence to relevant local, diocesan and state public health guidelines for gathering and interaction. More information about the criteria and the application process may be found at https://episcopalchurch.org/grants/becoming-beloved-community. Learn more about the Church’s work on Becoming Beloved Community at https://www.episcopalchurch.org/beloved-community, and see resources for “Responding to Racist Violence and Police Brutality” at https://www.episcopalchurch.org/responding-to-racist-violence.

Please direct questions about the Beloved Community Rapid-Response Grants to Advisory Group leaders Rev. Edwin Johnson at padreedwinj@gmail.com or the Rev. Meg Wagner at mwagner@iowaepiscopal.org or to Sarah Alphin, Associate for Evangelism, Reconciliation and Creation Care, at salphin@episcopalchurch.org.

Please note the following for dioceses of The Episcopal Church: 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.


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