THE Mission Opportunity Fund of Chelmsford Diocese has awarded its first grants.
Eighteen exciting church projects are £450,000 better off as a result. And it is Essex and East London communities that are set to benefit.
The Diocese is committed to responding to God's mission to Essex and East London by being a transforming presence in every community.
The Mission Opportunity Fund aims to meet the challenge of living the Good News among - and for - all the people of this region. As the Diocese had hoped, grants were made to a range of places right across the Diocese. Some relatively modest amounts which were needed to get worthwhile projects up and running complemented a number of larger awards. Most of the awards requested staged payments over three years.
Rt Revd David Hawkins, Bishop of Barking, chaired the Fund's assessment committee. Bishop David has said: "After what seemed like a long lead in time from the Synod decision to having a pot of money to
open, it was exciting to be able to make the first allocations.
"I was impressed by the range and imagination of applications and the obvious prayer and effort that has
been invested in them.
"Of course, some parishes will have experienced disappointment and others delight. Having examined
all the applications carefully the Assessment Committee saw real merit in all initiatives but some matched up to the criteria of the Fund more closely than others.
"Our Area Teams and Diocesan Mission and Parish Development Adviser wish to support all applicant parishes in helping them make the difference between dreams and dreams come true. This fund and these first grants mark I believe, an important step forward for the Diocese in an expansive strategy for our mission to our local communities."
The Fund received a total of 28 applications for about £m. The Fund's allocation for 2009 came from bequests and grants from the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group and the Archbishops' Council. This allocation has now been spent.
Revd Charlie Kosla, Diocesan Adviser for Mission and Parish Development, will offer support to each project which applied to the Fund, whether or not it has received a grant.
The Diocese will monitor the projects to which grants have been made, and will share their progress as widely as possible. Parishes will be invited to submit applications to the Fund for 2010 in the autumn.
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