Diocese of North Carolina Announces Recipients of Phase I Mission Proceeds Disbursement
When the sale of the former Diocesan House location at 200 West Morgan Street was finalized in September 2023, Bishop Sam Rodman and Bishop Jennifer Brooke-Davidson formed a diocesan-wide task force to discern what to do with the $8.8 million net proceeds from the sale.
The task force, with approval from diocesan governing bodies, Diocesan Council, Standing Committee and Trustees, ultimately decided these funds would be used to support two areas: $3.8 million to cover the new Diocesan House lease and ongoing support of the diocesan offices, and $5 million to support new and existing projects and ministries relating to diocesan mission strategy priorities through grants, matching funds, seeding of projects and revolving loans.
“The work of our mission strategy and our journey to Becoming Beloved Community has always been about, first and foremost, the work happening in our churches and diocesan ministries,” said Rodman when the plan was announced. “As possibilities for the proceeds from the sale of Diocesan House were discussed, conversation returned again and again to the work happening within our churches.”
The disbursement was offered in three phases. In the first phase, $3 million dollars was designated specifically for historically Black and Latino congregations, as well as churches with an annual operating budget of less than $100,000. All of these churches were directly contacted by members of the diocesan congregational vitality team and invited to submit proposals and requests for funding.
The second phase, to begin in 2025, has designated $1 million dollars. Any church may apply for these funds, provided the proposed use is to fund works or projects done in collaboration, whether the partnerships are with Phase I-eligible churches, other Episcopal churches, community partners or other organizations. The only criteria is that the applying church be a church of the Diocese of North Carolina and a partner in the proposed mission strategy related work. The third phase, which will open following the completion of Phase II, will offer the last $1 million with no applicant restrictions.
PHASE I RECIPIENTS
By the close of the Phase I submission process, 29 proposals were received with a total asking of $7.54 million. Of the applications received, two churches were not eligible per the Phase I guidelines and have already been notified that their applications will be included in later phases. Three were eligible for fulfillment through alternative funding sources, and their requests were directed to those sources.
The task force met with many of the applying churches over the course of the summer to understand better their priorities and needs. The task force also met regularly with Diocesan Council, which had the final approval of fund disbursement, to keep them apprised of the process and progress, as well as to make recommendations on how the funds should be divided.
Throughout the process, “our goal was to shift the mindset [about] struggling congregations to seeing them as opportunities for missional growth and relationship building,” said the Rev. Dr. William Morley, a board-certified executive coach hired to consult and guide the process. “Our recommendations to Diocesan Council reflected a strategic effort to foster new beginnings [with the churches], rebuild trust and create a start to reshaping historical narratives.”
Announced first at the 209th Annual Convention, the 24 churches granted mission proceeds funding for their ministries, projects and congregational needs are:
Chapel of Christ the King, Charlotte: $80,000
Good Shepherd, Coollemee: $30,567
Iglesia El Buen Pastor, Durham: $250,000
St. Titus’, Durham: $275,000
Galloway Memorial, Elkin: $58,400
Redeemer, Greensboro: $200,000
St. Andrew’s, Haw River: $16,000
Church of the Savior, Jackson: $33,000
St. Matthew’s, Kernersville: $16,500
St. David’s, Laurinburg: $20,000
St. Alban’s, Littleton: $37,000
St. Matthias’, Louisburg: $112,621
St. Cyprian’s, Oxford: $175,000
St. Mark’s, Raleigh: $265,500
St. Ambrose, Raleigh: $250,000
Good Shepherd, Ridgeway: $39,500
St Matthew’s, Salisbury: $20,000
St. Mary’s, Speed: $25,000
St. Luke’s, Tarboro: $62,000
All Saints’, Warrenton: $280,000
La Iglesia de Guadalupana, Wilson: $250,000
St. Mark’s, Wilson: $150,000
Christ’s Beloved Community / La Comunidad Amada de Cristo, Winston-Salem: $250,000
St. Stephens, Winston-Salem: $100,000
“We are grateful to all who helped bring about this disbursement of funding that embodies our commitment to our congregations, who are the heart and center of our mission and purpose as we continue to build beloved community in the Diocese of North Carolina,” said Rodman.
The Phase I funds are scheduled to be disbursed to churches over the next 3 months. Phase II of the offering will open on January 15, 2025. Look for details in diocesan communication channels in the new year.
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