There is still time to apply for Episcopal Church Constable Fund Grants

Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs
Posted Feb 21, 2020

There is still time to apply for the 2020 Constable Fund Grants. The Constable Fund provides grants to fund mission initiatives not provided for within the budget of The Episcopal Church, as approved by General Convention 2018, with a stated preference for work in the areas of religious education. In 2019, Constable Grant awards ranged from $20,000 to $60,000 with $209,000 distributed among five grant recipients.

Applications may only be submitted by: (1) one of the Provinces of The Episcopal Church; (2) one of the interim bodies of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church; or (3) a program office of The Episcopal Church.   More information and the application form are available in English here, in French here, and in Spanish here. Please note that individuals, congregations, and dioceses must submit their grant proposals to their Province.  Each Province may approve one grant application for submission to the Constable Fund Grant Review Committee.

For the purposes of the Constable Fund, religious education is defined as follows: Religious education forms Christians for active service through a process of critical reflection on the events of daily life in light of the Gospel. It is also a process of examination and reflection on faithful engagement in service and formation. By learning to see God’s living presence in the world more clearly — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—a Christian is prepared for Christ-like, loving service to God, neighbor, and all creation. (Adapted from “Called to Teach and Learn, a catechetical guide for The Episcopal Church”.)

Deadline for applications is March 31, 2020. Applicants should check with their dioceses and provinces for information regarding provincial deadlines.

Grants will be reviewed by the Executive Council’s Constable Fund Grant Review Committee, and its recommendations will be submitted for review to the Executive Council’s Joint Standing Committee for Mission Within The Episcopal Church and then to the Executive Council for action.

Recipients will be notified after the Executive Council takes final action on the grant recommendations in June 2020.

For more information contact Rev. Molly James, deputy executive officer of General Convention,mjames@episcopalchurch.org, or Mr. George Wing, chair of the Constable Fund Grant Review Committee, winggeo@winglaw.com.

The Constable Grants are named for Ms. Marie Louise Constable, who was a visionary philanthropist. In 1935, during the Great Depression, Ms. Constable made a monetary gift to The Episcopal Church to establish the Constable Fund. Her desire and intent to add periodically to the fund during her lifetime was realized and culminated with a very generous final gift at the time of her death in 1951. The language of Ms. Constable’s will provides that the fund exists “in perpetuity … to apply the net income for the purposes of the [Domestic and Foreign Missionary] Society, preferably for the work in religious education not provided for within the Society’s budget.”

Please note the following for dioceses of The Episcopal Church: Applicant understands that should its local diocese fail to pay its assessment in full or to apply for and receive a waiver, the diocese and the applicant shall be ineligible to receive grants or loans from the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society unless approved by Executive Council.  In accordance with Canon I.4.6, (select the applicable response): The diocese pays its full assessment; The diocese has been granted a waiver for years (list); The diocese has made application for a waiver but has not been advised regarding a determination.


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