Congregational Development Commission

Our mission is to strengthen our congregations in the work of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the ministry of the baptized.

Our goal is to empower the leadership of our churches to guide their congregations to discern God’s call for their unique ministry as a congregation and to develop a clearly defined plan for growth which will include regular evaluations to ascertain progress toward those goals.

CONGREGATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS:  Preliminary proposals Grants are due March 1st of each year. For more details you can download and read the 2012 Grant Announcement.

The Commission receives initial grant requests by March 1st of each year and makes awards by mid-June. Grants are usually given on a matching basis, that is, up to 50% of the cost of a new or expanded program which supports a congregation’s plan for
growth. While Congregational Development Grants are not given for bricks and mortar, we support inventive, creative plans that seek to transform the life of the congregation.
Grants are given on an annual basis, with a three-year limit contingent upon annual evaluations of progress.

For more information, call Betsy Fornal, Canon for Congregations and Clergy at 274-4500 or betsy@episcopalri.org

The Congregational Development Commission supports and strengthens congregations by:

• Providing Commission members to meet with church leaders, help identify congregational needs for development, and assist in establishing goals as well as long-term budgeting and financial planning.
• Making grants to support Church programs in the areas of stewardship, evangelism and church growth.
• Sponsoring educational opportunities, such as our Learn and Lead series, which have given our congregations the opportunity to learn about stewardship and communications.
• Bringing in Convocation speakers such as Reggie McNeal, author of Present Future and Missional Rennaissance; and Diana Butler Bass, author of Christianity for the Rest of Us.
 

News from the CDC

Commission Members 2012

Casey Shobe, Chair, 401-783-4623

St. Peter’s-by-the-Sea, Narragansett

Betsy Fornal, Designee 401-274-4500 X225

Canon for Congregations and Clergy

The Rev. Dennis Bucco 301-723-9216 St. Luke's Church, Pawtucket

Jim Burgess 401-351-0287

All Saints’, Providence

The Rev. Susan Carpenter 401-949-2260

St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Greenville

Carol Drought 401-822-1692

St. Francis, Coventry

Joel Gardner 401-762-1352

Christ Church, Lincoln

The Rev. Mercedes Julian (401) 461-5811 Church of the Ascension, Cranston

The Rev. Kevin Lloyd (401)423-1762

Saint Matthew’s, Jamestown

Jackie Kirby 401-258-5449

Jamestown, RI

The Rev. David Lucey 401-253-7717

St. Michael’s Church, Bristol

Catherine Thenault 401-765-5146

St. James, Woonsocket