In June, in response to the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent uprising for racial justice in Minneapolis, the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church gave ECMN a $150,000 Rapid Response grant. The purpose of the grant was to support ongoing efforts to dismantle systemic racism in Minnesota, both within and beyond the church.

Shortly after his June consecration, Bishop Craig Loya, tenth Bishop of MN, appointed a task force to discern the best use of those funds. This past week, the Episcopal Church in Minnesota announced the recipients of those funds as well as a new partnership aimed at continuing to support the work of dismantling racism in Minneapolis.

The following grants have been awarded:

$65,000 to Twin Cities Stand Together (TCST)

Twin Cities Stand Together is a grassroots network founded by some of the leaders and organizers who have built and maintained George Floyd Square (the ongoing sacred space, memorial, and autonomous zone at the site of George Floyd’s death). TCST was formed to meet the immediate needs of the community in the aftermath of the protests, including providing community security measures, meals, groceries, and basic necessities. Beginning in October, 2020, TCST will be leasing Gethsemane Episcopal Church in downtown Minneapolis to serve as a headquarters for their work. The space will include a community center and will serve as a hub of organizing for groups doing the work of dismantling racism. ECMN will partner with TCST to support this vital work.

$30,000 to start a new faith community at Gethsemane in downtown Minneapolis

This faith community will center its life together around the spiritual practices of anti-racism. Its practices and lessons learned will serve as a guide and resource for all of ECMN, as each faith community incorporates anti-racism into its discipleship.

$30,000 for Circle of the Beloved

Circle of the Beloved is a chapter of the Episcopal Service Corps based in North Minneapolis. Fellows live in intentional community and learn to foster racial healing and the building of the Beloved Community.

$25,000 for ECMN’s internal work of implementing a common anti-racism curriculum across the diocese

These funds will be used to work with the Absalom Jones Center to create anti-racism curriculum specific to Minnesota, to provide coaching and consulting for congregations and cohort groups, to commission liturgical resources that can be shared with the whole church, and to create a public art component of ECMN’s anti-racism work, led by the Rev. Canon Robert Two Bulls, Missioner for Multicultural Ministries and the Division of Indian Work with ECMN.