Missional Grants Committee

What does the Missional Grants Committee do?

The Missional Grants Committee assists — financially and organizationally — all diocesan congregations that desire and show potential for growth and diversification of their congregation. The committee utilizes evangelism, church growth and advocacy to develop intercultural ministry throughout the diocese.

The Committee reports monthly to the Bishop and has regular interactions with many other diocesan groups. From time to time, the Missional Grants Committee publishes internal management documents. Core values include:

Intentionality: Connecting our congregations with the context in which they do ministry.

Citizenship: Create in congregations — especially those in transition — a stronger sense of belonging; help the membership of a congregation be a mindful stakeholder.

Discipleship: Help congregations and their members achieve a deeper sense of spiritual identity and maturity. Confirms their essence and purpose as a Christian person.

These three values intersect and overlap, creating new synergies for growth and development. The Missional Grants Committee faithfully adheres to the Canonical mandate as defined in Canon 6.

2022 Missional Grants Committee Members:
Bishop Lucinda Ashby (Chair)
Deacon Rob Sommer (Vice-Chair)
Deacon Stephenie Cooper (Secretary)
Deacon Jim Arnold
Ms. Joanna Shreve (Recorder)
Rev. Filemon Diaz
Rev. Ale Trillos
Rev. Martin Juarez

Mission Opportunity Grants

The Mission Opportunity Grant (MOG) is a program created by the Board of Trustees (BOT) and managed by the Mission Commission. The MOG awards grants not exceeding $15,000 dollars to congregational missional initiatives as described in the application form. The grant is provided only once per program; it does not repeat.

The Missional Grants Committee is accepting applications for 2023 missional ministry grants. The Missional Grants Application form is available here. Two additional forms are provided for information and reference. The deadline for submission is November 1, 2022. Please submit all application to Joanna Shreve (jrshreve@aol.com) as well as any questions you may have.

El Comité de Suministros Misionales está aceptando solicitudes para las suministros del ministerio misional de 2023. El formulario de Solicitud de Suministros Misionales está disponible aquí. Se proporcionan dos formularios adicionales para información y referencia. La fecha límite para la presentación es el 1 de noviembre de 2022. Envíe todas las solicitudes a Joanna Shreve (jrshreve@aol.com), así como cualquier pregunta que pueda tener.

The Objective Development Form and the MISSIONAL SMART Goals sheet can help in crafting your grant application

Objective Development Form (English and Español)
MISSIONAL SMART Goals (English)
METAS (Español)

Managed by the Missional Grants Committee, this diocesan program is designed to assist congregations in expanding their missional efforts in the areas of church growth, diversification, and reinforcement. This program assists congregations for a maximum of three years – depending on performance – and provides an assistance of no more than $25,000 dollars per year. Applications are sent out to interested parties in June, and are due back by the middle of August. To learn more about this program or to explore the possibility of participating, contact the diocesan office.

Vision

• That a rich variety of congregations be developed to include diversity in language and culture.
• That congregations will intentionally worship and work across cultural lines, listening to and learning from each other, collaborating and working to fulfill the Great Commission.
• That the Diocese will encourage and support the spiritual and organizational growth of its existing congregations while exploring the need for good stewardship of diocesan resources.

Mission

We seek to serve and equip the people of the Diocese of El Camino Real for ministry in our multi-ethnic society through the following actions:

• Encourage and oversee our diocesan missional initiatives exercised through the Missional Partnership Program and Mission Opportunity Fund. This includes providing financial support and organizational management.
• Provide practical ideas and information for missional work, especially for merging congregations.
• Help to plant new congregations and develop existing missions.
• Assist in developing partnerships between congregations of different ethnicities and among individuals and churches ministering to specific groups.
• Create awareness and proposals for response to demographic patterns and shifts within our diocese (racial, ethnic, language, and other patterns).
• Visibility for missions and promotion of their wider participation in diocesan convention and operations.

For additional information, contact the diocesan office.