THE STRATEGIC MISSION GRANT PROGRAM

Year Established: 2005
 
Chair: The Rev. Karl-Griswold Kuhn, Missioner, Episcopal Student Center, Texas A&M University (home congregation)
 
Strategic Mission Grants are funds made available from the Bishop Quin Foundation and the Episcopal Foundation of Texas to directly support congregations in the Diocese of Texas with specific ministries aimed toward church growth. The Strategic Mission Grants program started in 2005 and has awarded grants to numerous congregations throughout the Diocese of Texas. The Strategic Mission Grant Committee consists of trustees from the Bishop Quin Foundation and the Episcopal Foundation of Texas. The Committee reviews applications and makes the final decision to award grants. Only congregations of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas are eligible.  Members of the committee are board members from either the Bishop Quin Foundation or the Episcopal Foundation of Texas.
 
Strategic Mission Grants fund programs at EDOT congregations that look “beyond the walls” of the church buildings to identify a need in the community. Fostering relationships in the community is a key element which often leads to the development of a community of faith.  Funded projects may focus on being out in the community of inviting the community into our churches. Capital improvement projects do not qualify for an SMG grant. Congregations cannot have more than one grant at the same time. Grants are typically paid over a three-year period.  The committee maintains a dedicated website where prospective grantees may learn more about the focus areas, see video examples of projects funded in the past, and submit grant proposals. That website address is: www.smgedot.org
 
Additionally, the Strategic Mission Grant Committee will award Strategic Welcome Grants.  The grants are awarded, up to $8,000, for campus improvement projects at smaller Episcopal congregations in the diocese. These grants are designed to make our churches more inviting, attractive, and more welcoming to the community. Grants have been awarded for interior and exterior repairs, deferred maintenance and safety hazards, and signage/lighting for parking areas. The Congregational & Mission Vitality Department at the Episcopal Diocese of Texas oversees the application process for the Strategic Welcome Grants including performing the review of submitted grants.  If all is in good order with the application, the individual requests will be forwarded to the Strategic Mission Grant for consideration for approval at their next meeting. For more information Foundations’ Executive Assistant, Vanessa Ruiz and an application can be obtained from www.smgedot.org

St. Thomas the Apostle 

Apollo: Respite For All is honored to share our story and there is a place for you in it! If you are interested in Volunteering or Signing Up a new Friend to be part of our community, you can learn more about Apollo: Respite For All and contact us through our website at www.sttaec.org/respite or email us at respite@sttaec.org. You can also keep up with what we are doing regularly through our Facebook page titled Apollo Respite for All, Nassau Bay.

Apollo: Respite For All is the first chapter in the state of Texas and we are hoping to see many more in the future. If you are interested in starting your own Respite For All Program in your community you can reach out to June Jernigan (Resource Director, Respite For All Foundation) at june@respiteforall.org for everything you need to get your Respite Program started or email respite@sttaec.org to speak with us more about how our program got started and how we can support you. There is a way for everyone to be involved, become a part of the Respite For All story today!