Mission Trust Fund
The Mission & Public Affairs Division administers modest Trust Funds creating opportunities to assist towards the cost of study projects. Applications are invited where the purpose of the study leave is to consider the mission of the church or particular mission issues.
Who may apply?
Primarily those who consider themselves members, ordained or lay, of the Church of England and those who belong to churches in membership of Churches Together in England. Ordinands, those planning sabbatical leave and voluntary organisations planning a project furthering the work of mission are also welcome to apply.
What level of grants are awarded?
Normally grants range from £100 to £400, with approximately fifteen awards made each year.
Who decides?
The Administrator initially checks any applications against the criteria, those, which meet the requirements are then processed and offered to the Trust Fund Committee for consideration. The Committee meets in March and November to decide on awards. As no awards are made retrospectively, some applications may not fit the timetable; in such exceptional cases a decision by correspondence between the Trust Fund Committee is possible.
Positive Criteria
- The grants must normally be for the expenses of an individual. The Committee will seek to distinguish between projects, which are solely for personal development, preferring those, which also benefit the Church as a whole.
- The Committee will thus be looking first and foremost for evidence that the applicant is going to spend time reflecting on the proposed project, and rather than it being just ‘an experience’. This implies that the applicant has:
- a clear idea of the purpose of the study visit;
- thought out how to use the information gained for the benefit of the wider church;
thought out the questions which the visit seeks to answer;
- The Committee will use its own judgement as to the likelihood of the objectives in the previous section being achieved as a result of the study visit proposal, but will take into account any supporting letters produced.
- The Committee will be predisposed to favour chiefly:
- those for whom this is the first such project, and who have had little or limited previous opportunity to observe Christian work (or its context) whether in this country or overseas;
- those who plan to stay in one locus and learn in depth, or who are attending a well-authenticated project.
- Arrears of study which are designed to widen horizons personally but particularly between traditions within the church and between churches.
- Visits which include areas of study which have the potential for enabling the applicant to develop further his or her vocation in God’s mission to the world.
- Overseas visits which appear to be chiefly for long and faithful service.
- Visits on behalf of a Diocese to its Companion Diocese overseas (this should be primarily the responsibility of the Diocese itself).
- The necessary costs of fees or other expenses of any degree course or other study courses.
Negative Criteria
Proposals which appear to the Committee to fall into the following categories are unlikely to be looked upon favourably, unless there is strong supporting evidence to suggest that an exception should be made:
Special Criteria for Young People
The Committee will look favourably at those at the beginning of their ministry for whom an overseas visit is an integral part of their training for some form of Christian service or a particularly important part of their preparation for such service.
Committee meets in Nov to decide on awards for coming year.
For further information, please contact:
Mr Edward Peacock
Mission Grants Administrator
24 Ferndale
Tunbridge Wells
Kent TN 2 3NS
Tel. 01892 543206
Email. peacockedward@hotmail.com