Seattle Presbytery Grants
Overview
Seattle Presbytery annually budgets funds to help support the mission and ministry of congregations and their members, and to advance the work of the presbytery through its commissions, committees, and task forces. SeaPres Grants funds come from the realized interest on the presbytery’s socially responsible investment from the sale of assets (properties), managed by the New Covenant Trust Company (of the Presbyterian Foundation).
Application
The grant application must be complete when submitted. This includes the session endorsement, a detailed program budget, and the plan to raise and invest matching funds if the grant is approved. See application for other required information and attachments.
To obtain a grant application, please contact EJ Lee.
Reporting: If you receive a grant, you may be asked to share your experience with the committee approving the grant and the presbytery including presentations, articles or consultations with other churches considering similar projects. This report will be an opportunity for grant recipients to share their experience with both the grant process and the project itself.
Endorsement: Grant application shall be endorsed by the Session of the church that applies for the grant. If the project involves more than one congregation, all Sessions involved in the project shall submit an endorsement.
Application Deadlines
Deadlines are the 15th of the month prior to commission meeting.
To contact the Executive Board, email office@seattlepresbytery.org.
COM meeting dates: Contact com@seattlepresbytery.org to confirm meeting schedule (typically first Thursday of each month).
CPM typically meets the first Tuesday of each month. Contact cpm@seattlepresbytery.org to confirm meeting schedule.
Grant Categories
Congregations
Pastor Leave Congregational Grant
$6,000
COM awards up to $6,000 to any congregation of Seattle Presbytery during a pastor’s absence (may include sabbaticals, family or medial leaves, etc.)
Legal Assistance
$5,000
The EB awards, in consultation with the Co-Executive Presbyters, matching funds up to $5,000 for legal assistance through the presbytery’s legal support team. Contact eps@seapres.org to initiate the process.
Immigration Legal Assistance
$5,000
Limited financial assistance to churches providing ministry support to either immigrant or refugee individuals navigating asylum or emergency visa matters.
New Mission Initiatives
$5,000
The EB awards one-time matching funds of up to $5,000 to support a new local (or global) mission endeavor of a congregation. (Excludes new worshipping communities and their leadership).
Facilities & Capitol Initiative
$25,000
The EB awards, at the recommendation of the Property and Finance committee, matching funds for facility repairs and upgrades to a congregation’s building or property. Grant requests must be submitted prior to project completion. Grant submissions must include project budget and current church financial statements.
Pastors
Sabbatical Grant
$6,000
The Commission on Ministry (COM) awards matching funds up to $6,000, for a session approved sabbatical.
Emergency Assistance
(amounts vary)
The COM provides matching funds to pastors who apply to the Board of Pensions for financial assistance. Grants are awarded on a case-by-case basis.
Continuing Education Grant
$1,000
The COM provides matching funds up to $1,000 to pastors for continued ministry related study or training. The COM covers half the cost (up to $500) of any minister or candidate who takes Transitional Ministry Workshops (TMWorkshops covers the other half.)
New Worshipping Communities
Matching Grant
$6,000
The EB awards matching funds to any new worshiping community who receives any 1001 New Worshiping Community Grant.
BIPOC Leaders
SeaPres BIPOC Scholarship
(amounts vary)
The BIPOC Scholarship is established to support BIPOC employees, members, inquirers, candidates, and ministers of Seattle Presbytery and its churches who wish to pursue theological education and training for ministry. The program is managed and funded through a collaboration between the Race & Equity Task Force and the Executive Board, with additional support and guidance from the Presbytery staff. Scholarship funds are awarded through a reimbursement process to help minimize tax implications for students. Participants may submit receipts for up to 50% reimbursement of tuition and/or fees for the duration of their education.