The Mission Initiatives Fund Grant

The Mission Initiatives Fund Grant

Grants  from the MIF are to assist new mission initiatives that are clearly aligned with the priority of the mission of God including the establishment of new congregations and that fall within any of the following categories:

1. for new mission projects;
2. for new leadership for those mission projects;
3. for new innovative models of church, ministry and mission;
4. for ongoing training and resourcing of existing leadership; or
5. for purchase of land for new mission centres and growing residential areas.

Projects for which applications are made must be clearly related to the mission of God, and be a new initiative for the parish.

There are also some general priorities that may apply:

1. Initiatives to reach new groupings of people.
2. Initiatives to help people journey towards faith in Jesus Christ.
3. Initiatives to help develop missional leaders.
4. Initiatives that are innovative in ways of doing mission and being church.

Applications can be made for leadership development in mission, for example for seminars and conferences, and courses. Also for sponsoring speakers etc. for local mission.

Grants will not be made for the usual operating costs of parishes or for initiatives that are for the primary benefit of current members. Given the fund’s current limitations only modest grants can be considered and not every project will be funded.

Note: other funding sources are available to congregations, apart from MIF grants.

The Process for grant applications

1. The completed application form (or downloaded from the Presbytery website and emailed to the Administrator)
2. If the initial appraisal of the Application is positive a face to face interview will be arranged. Questions may be asked about associated requirements, e.g. employment contracts, accountability processes, other needed resources, etc.
3. On final project approval a grant is made, immediately or at the start of the project. There may be conditions to the grant.
4. Agreement is reached about monitoring and evaluation, timing depending on the project.
5. Mission projects, and significant learnings about mission, will be shared with the wider Presbytery and the PCANZ.
6. In some cases grants for multi-year projects may be considered.

Applications to include the Parish’s Mission Plan and latest annual financial accounts.

Some mission initiatives may require the approval of Presbytery. Such an approval would precede consideration of a MIF Grant. Applications can only be on behalf of parishes or of the Presbytery as a whole, not individuals.