Diocesan Council Ratifies New Grants & Loans Committee
New Team to Streamline, Simplify Access to Diocesan Funds
By Tom Eshelman
Bishop Ely has appointed the newly formed Grants and Loans Committee of the Diocese and the members were approved at the December 17 meeting of the Diocesan Council. The members are Tom Eshelman (chair), Canon Lynn Bates (ex-officio), Benjamin Anderson-Ray, Laurie Chiperfield, Nanci Gordon, John Hartman, The Rev. Beth Ann Maier, The Rev. Todd McKee, The Rev. M.P. Schneider, Steven Smith and Kathryn Wright.
This committee will oversee all grants and loans funds available each year through the Diocese, including McClure, Irish, Butterfield, Alleluia funds and the diocesan budget funds available for Local Mission Approaches.
One of the charges of this new committee is to streamline the granting and loan process with a simplified single page application form. This new application form will be available on the Diocesan website by the end of January 2017 along with more information and specific guidelines.
The committee will begin receiving applications prior to the first deadline of March 15, 2017 and will meet in April to act on the requests received. Watch for more information about future application deadlines and committee meetings in the near future.
All members, especially clergy and vestry, are encouraged to take advantage of the available grant and loan funds, which can be used for building projects, social justice ministries, accessibility projects, youth service trips, emergency repairs, regional ministry initiatives, and more. Funding options include traditional grants, as well as financial awards that require matching funds, and low-interest, collateral-secured loans.
Each applicant will be assigned a liaison from the committee to help with the process and oversee the request for funding. Some requests may require a presentation to the committee as part of the application process, and any grants and loans that are approved will require a follow-up report on how the funds’ usage and their impact on the parish or community.
If you have any questions please direct them to Canon Lynn Bates at lbates@dioceseofvermont.org
Meet the members of the new Grants & Loans Committee
Tom Eshelman is a member of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington, and serves as Chair of the new G&L Committee. He is the retired director of the Episcopal Conference Center in North Carolina and previously served as a Diocesan Safety Manager in the Episcopal Safety Program, which is run by the Church Insurance Company.
Ben Anderson is a member of St. Stephen’s Church, Middlebury. He previously served on the diocese’s former Grants, Loans and Appeals sub-group.
Laurie Chiperfield, a member of St. Michael’s, Brattleboro, previously served on the diocese’s Congregational Support and Resource (CS&R) Committee.
Nanci Gordon, a member of Trinity Church, Rutland, has experience on both sides of the grant process — as applicant and administrator — through her associations with Rutland Area Prevention Coalition, United Way, the Bowse Health Trust, and currently with the College of St. Joseph in Rutland.
John Hartman is a member of Christ Church, Bethel. He is currently serving a term on the Diocesan Council and has previously served on the CS&R Committee.
The Rev. Beth Ann Maier is in active ministry with Church of the Good Shepherd, Barre, and Christ Church, Montpelier. She previously served on the Outreach and Social Justice Committee, which administered Initiative IV of the McClure Discipleship/Discovery 2000 Funds.
The Rev. Todd McKee is a non-parochial priest based in White River Junction.
The Rev. Empy Schneider is the rector of St. Mary’s, Northfield. She has served in numerous diocesan networks and committees including Diocesan Council, the Budget & Finance, and the CS&R Committee.
Steve Smith of St. James, Arlington has served on the former Grants, Loans and Appeals sub-group. He also has prior experience as Diocesan Treasurer, chair of the diocesan Loan Review Committee, and member of the CS&R Committee.
Kathryn Wright is a member of St. Mark’s, Springfield. She is also a former Diocesan Council member and Budget & Finance Committee member.
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