These are fixed block commitments paid monthly or quarterly to U.S. entities. We are committed to sustaining relations with provinces and dioceses and to meeting the locally established needs of our historic partners, including those dioceses serving Native American congregations, dioceses within Domestic Missionary Partners (the former Coalition 14), the Indigenous Theological Training Institute and the three historically black Episcopal Colleges .
Working in partnership with dioceses, provinces and networks throughout the Episcopal Church, the Congregational Ministries Cluster provides consultation services, training events, and some material and financial resources to help build the capacity for the ministry of the gospel through local congregations.
After listening to concerns from various dioceses and networks of the Episcopal Church, particular focus of training for the next triennium will be around themes such as the following: Leadership Development, Church Growth, Diversity, Spirituality, Worship, Outreach, Inclusiveness. Other themes may be added as they are identified. All these will serve to develop the capacity of the local congregation to proclaim the Gospel.
The Congregational Ministries Cluster will seek to involve additional networks, such as those concerned with spiritual formation, ministries to single persons, adult education, and those with persons with differing physical abilities and sexual orientation, in the partnership with dioceses. The goal is to help congregations to make disciples and apostles from among all persons living in their surrounding neighborhoods and to promote diversity in the Episcopal Church.
A particular effort has been made during the past twenty-five years to enable more inclusion and empowerment of women and the Native American, Black, Hispanic, and Asian ethnic communities in the life of the Episcopal Church. The demographic changes documented in the census figures of the U.S. population during this period support our efforts to increase our ministries among these communities and population groups. These efforts will be continued under the new Congregational Ministries Cluster teams with the assistance of networks such as the Council for Women’s Ministries and soon to be established advisory committees representative of the respective ethnic communities. This budget includes a $200,000 reserve fund for implementing a 20/20 initiative following completion of an Executive Council study.
Other Networks $238,000 $238,000 $238,000 $714,000
Other Costs $180,000 $182,000 $187,000 $549,000
Total Congregational Ministries $3,100,000 $3,152,000 $3,199,000 $9,451,000
Peace & Justice Ministries
The work of Peace and Justice Ministries equips Episcopalians to carry out their Baptismal Covenant to “strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.” The triennial budget enables justice ministries by:
Supporting ministries (domestic and international) that work towards Jubilee principles.
Providing resources to enable dioceses and congregations to develop strategies for leadership development focused on racial justice.
Growing the Public Policy Network and Jubilee Centers so that more people are serviced.
Advocating social policies of the church to government.
Providing aid and support to Anglican partners in need.
Monitoring the church’s investment portfolio for social responsibility.
Supporting the prophetic role and voice of the Presiding Bishop.