Building the Church of the Future

We are creating a church that is growing in numbers, in spirit, and in the
ways people are connected to each other, our communities, and the world.

Our Current Funding Priorities

The Relational Evangelism Pilot Project

This program was launched in August of 2008 by the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts to grow young adult engagement and strengthen the future church. By increasing the number of active members, this program actively supports the Diocesan mission of service, and invitation to share in the bringing forth of God’s just reign.

The Pilot Project offers young adult women and men (18-35) an opportunity to work part time for the church in an exciting new role of relational evangelist. Relational evangelists are reaching out to college students and young adults who are searching for a sense of community, yearning for spiritual growth, and eager to serve Christ through action. They work on either a campus or a parish in order to increase the numbers of young adults actively engaged in their ministries.

Read past issues of the Relational Evangelism newsletter>>

The Urban Residents Program

This ministry of the diocese deploys newly ordained clergy in congregations committed to vital ministry and mission in the city. The program seeks to address two urgent needs:

The need to infuse creative energy and leadership into our city parishes
The need to equip clergy to face the challenges and complexities of urban ministry

Read past issues of the Urban Residents newsletter>>

Ministries establishing partnerships and connections across boundaries

Stewardship

What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me.
Psalm 116:12

For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.
Luke 6:38

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Hebrews 13:16

As Christians, each of is called to be a good steward of the gifts that God has entrusted to our care. Part of our call, our vocation, involves putting those gifts to work to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can do that through our stewardship and planned gifts to our parishes and to the Diocese.

While stewardship does indeed involve giving away money, it is more than philanthropy. Just as Christians are called to worship in community, participate in Eucharist, serve the poor and needy in the wider world, and share the Gospel with others, they are called to be good stewards, to thank God by giving back a portion of what God has given to us. Time, talent and treasure are the three ways we can display our gratitude.

Planned Giving

The planned giving ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts seeks to:

Help individuals who wish to make a bequest or deferred gift to benefit their local parish, the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts or the Episcopal Church
Assist congregations interested in developing programs to promote stewardship through bequests and deferred giving

For individuals

Did you know that you can make a gift to the church and receive income and enjoy tax benefits? By making a bequest or a life income gift, individuals can support the work of their parish, Diocese, or denomination while providing for the needs of loved ones.

Bequest: Perhaps the simplest form of planned gift, a bequest is a provision of one’s will whereby something is left upon that person’s death to another individual or organization. Any asset may be given by bequest – securities, cash, real estate, artwork.
Life income gift: Life income, or planned, gifts, often involve assets accumulated over a life-time and are often capital gifts; they can provide income to the donor during her/his lifetime and include annuities, pooled income funds, retained life estates, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts and life insurance.

For parishes

Developing a viable planned giving ministry requires not only strong and committed lay and ordained leadership, but also the broader perspective of people involved in outreach and pastoral care ministries to ensure that the planned giving effort is truly a ministry.

Success depends on preparation: the parish leadership must be ready to discuss sensitive topics and they must develop an endowment policy which specifies the types of gifts the parish will accept and under what conditions, as well as a management plan for the received assets.

Once a planned giving ministry has been launched, parishioners must be educated about stewardship, end-of-life issues and finance through both educational programming and from the pulpit. The importance of committed clergy cannot be overemphasized.

Contact Us

For more information, please contact Lynd Matt, director of resource development (lmatt [at] diomass [dot] org, 617-482-5800, x515).

You may also find the following sites helpful:

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