Initial 2008 Bishop's Circle Grants Announced
   A Focus on Faith Formation and Hospitality
   2007 Giving Tops $49,000

by Joe Bjordal

Thanks to a very generous response to the Bishop’s Year-End Appeal—over $10,000—total giving to the Bishop’s Circle in 2007 totaled $49,155. Other gifts and pledges were made in conjunction with the 2007 Annual Bishop’s Circle Banquets held in Rochester, Minneapolis and Duluth.

“I’m delighted and grateful for the generosity of so many that will make it possible for the Bishop’s Circle to provide funds for several innovative ministries in 2008,” said Bishop James Jelinek.

The Bishop has announced that $36,000 in initial grants will be made to seven ministries with a focus on faith formation and hospitality.

Two grants of $10,000 each will go to the campus ministry efforts of the University Episcopal Center (University of Minnesota) and All Saints Church, Northfield (Carleton College and St. Olaf College).

Jim Jacobsen, president of the University Episcopal Center board, said the Bishop’s Circle grant will provide about one-third of the new, streamlined annual budget, which includes worship space rental, the coordinator’s salary and program expenses.

“Without this grant, we would be in a position of looking for money rather than looking for ways to make ministry more effective,” Jacobson said.

Two grants of $5000 each will go to the Faith Formation Network in the Diocese of Minnesota and the Montgomery Migrant Ministry.

A meal, fellowship and a service of Holy Eucharist await seasonal workers at the Green Giant plant in Montgomery on Sunday afternoons.  The Montgomery Migrant Ministry, now in its 17th year, is a recipient of a 2008 Bishop’s Circle Grant.   Photo by Bob Padziesk

“The Faith Formation Network is an emerging network forming from a long and rich history of collegiality between youth ministers and Christian educators in the Diocese of Minnesota,” said Canon Bronwyn Clark Skov, who serves as staff liaison to the network.

The network provides a forum to share resources, plan collaborative events, pray together and support each other, Skov explains. She said the network primarily communicates via the Internet, although metro area members gather monthly at the Episcopal Center.

Skov also explained that she and MerLynne Byrne, children’s ministry coordinator at St. Stephen’s Church, Edina, provide a connection between the diocesan network and related networks at both the provincial and national levels of the Episcopal Church.

The Montgomery Migrant Ministry, becoming more commonly known as San Jose Obrero (St. Joseph the Worker), offers a meal, liturgy and hospitality to seasonal workers at the Green Giant plant in Montgomery on Sunday afternoons in the summer.

Founded as a ministry of Region V (although involving many congregations from throughout the diocese), the ministy is now in its 17th year and has become so established among the workers that its board of directors has moved from the concept of just a hospitality ministry to enabling and supporting a congregation that is in formation.

“I speak for everyone on the San Jose Obrero board in expressing profound gratitude for the Bishop’s Circle grant,” said the Rev. Jill Tollefson, deacon at La Misión El Santo Niño Jesús, St. Paul. “Having received this funding, our vision is to empower the members of this worshiping community to “become the church.”

Tollefson says the funds will assist with two urgent needs: the need for consistent, native-speaking, bi-cultural leadership throughout the summer and congregational development as members discern their roles in ministry.

She hopes that some of the necessary leadership will come through conversation with the Rev. Susan Moss, the new vicar at La Misión El Santo Niño Jesús.

$2,000 repeat grants will go to three churches in Region II: Trinity Church, Hermantown; St. Andrew’s by-the-Lake, Duluth; and St. Paul’s Church, Duluth. The grants will fund innovative efforts in faith formation.

As an example, last year St. Paul’s launched a new Sunday School curriculum based on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Each month during the program year, the children focused on one of the eight MDGs. Designed by Sue Van Oss, St. Paul’s Christian education director, the curriculum has been sought after for use throughout the Episcopal Church. The Bishop’s Circle grant was used to purchase software, student materials and to produce a comprehensive guide to the curriculum that can be shared with other congregations.