GRANTS
Strategic Service & Witness Grants
The Synod of Lakes and Prairies has a long-standing commitment to college, church-related and ecumenical ministries within the bounds of the Synod. The Synod’s Strategic Service and Witness Committee fulfills its mission by supporting and maintaining relationships with these varied ministries while contributing to their success through its grant program.
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A New Thing
The Synod of Lakes and Prairies recognizes that vital congregational ministries and community engagement may face urgent challenges in response to denominational requirements or unprecedented social or structural changes. The Strategic Service and Witness Committee created “A New Thing” grant category to respond to emerging innovation in ministry and one-of-a-kind critical needs that are not covered in the Synod’s other grants. Committed to discovering faith-based opportunities for new initiatives, we are open to God’s call in Isaiah 43:19: “ I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth; don’t you perceive it?”
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Download the application as a Word document or a PDF.
Camp & Conference Centers
The Synod of Lakes and Prairies has a long history of partnerships with church camps and conference centers within the bounds of the Synod. The Strategic Service and Witness Committee will consider grant requests that help established camp ministries improve their administrative and communication systems, provide seed money for new programs; or support expanding their community engagement fellowship networks. Those who are involved with ministry, education, and faith development in a camp or conference setting within the bounds of the synod are encouraged to apply.
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Download the application as a Word document or a PDF.
Collegiate Ministry
The Synod of Lakes and Prairies has a long-standing commitment to colleges as well as church-related and ecumenical ministries within the bounds of the Synod. The Synod’s Strategic Service and Witness Committee will consider grant requests that build capacity for creativity and diverse perspectives, that help provide outreach support for emerging ministries, or that help support leadership development through educational opportunities for professional or volunteer leaders. Those who are involved in ministry with college students, or ministries of organizations with ecumenical ties to colleges in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies are encouraged to apply.
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Download the application as a Word document or a PDF.
Diversity, Equity & Accessibility in Ministry
The Synod of Lakes and Prairies is a great mosaic of unique cultural identities, histories and people. The Diversity, Equity and Accessibility in Ministry grants are designed for projects that demonstrate a commitment to inclusive opportunities for all people and God’s creation, that emphasize the importance of advocacy and empowerment respective of churches and communities we serve and that seek to tear down walls that separate God’s people from each other. Decades of systemic discrimination and exclusion have been key drivers of inequities and disproportionate representation. Those interested in addressing the root causes of discrimination and assessing its impact on ministry should apply.
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Download the application as a Word document or a PDF.
Matthew 25
In May of 2019 the Synod of Lakes and Prairies became the first Synod to sign on to the Matthew 25 vision and initiative of the PC(USA). The focus of the Matthew 25 Grants is to build congregational vitality, dismantle structural racism and eradicate systemic poverty. Projects that feature congregational vitality will reflect discipleship, evangelism, outward focused ministry, leadership, worship, relationships and healthy systems. Projects that address structural racism will focus on past and present discrimination, inequities of access, power or representation and offer ways to repair the harms of racism. Projects that address systemic poverty will focus on the root causes of economic injustices and seek to transform laws, policies and practices to become development strategies, collaborative problem solving and asset-based initiatives.
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Download the application as a Word document or a PDF.