Resources for Clergy and Parish Leaders

This section contains resources for clergy, parish and program leaders. Parish Resources may be found below. Other resources for clergy and parish leaders may be found on the menu on the left side of this page.

Parish Resources

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Discernment in the Diocese of Maryland

Exploring Baptismal Ministry and Discerning Ordained Vocation are "about transformation in the midst of searching for the will of God in one's life."

Learn more about Discernment in our diocese

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Characteristics of Vital Congregations

Every now and then it’s good to take a look at how we’re doing as a congregation. The Diocese of Massachusetts has offered this gift to the wider church as way to see just what are the characteristics of a vital congregation. There is something here for every congregation who wants to check in on how they’re doing. Download and read Characteristics of Vital Congregations (Adobe PDF).

Allocations and Appeals

It is budget time again and many of us have begun preparations for the 2012 financial year. The Diocesan Allocation forms were mailed to each congregation in June, 2011. Please sign and return these forms no later than December 15, 2011. While we are grateful for each signed pledge form, we understand not everyone can meet their current level of obligation. Therefore we have begun the appeals process for the 2012 congregational allocations.

To assist our congregations more efficiently, we are not going to post our application on the website this year but rather ask that you contact Karen Stewart in the Business Office to request a copy be emailed to you. The application will then be emailed to you in Microsoft Word Format. Please contact Karen Stewart in the Diocesan Business Office by either calling 410-467-1399 ext 385 or by emailing your request to Karen Stewart.

We request that you submit your application for an appeal before December 31, 2011. This will allow time to process and schedule meetings as well as determining congregational needs before the start of budget year 2012. Understanding that congregation stewardship campaigns may still be underway on December 31, 2011, we have changed to submission deadline for appeals application submission to January 31, 2012. PLEASE NOTE, we will NOT accept ANY appeals application after this deadline. Please feel free to contact Karen (kstewart@episcopalmaryland.org) if you have any questions or concerns.

As always, we look forward to our joint ministry in 2012.

Stewardship Resources

Follow the links below to download resources for parish stewardship.

A bibliography of stewardship resources

Powerpoint Presentations
Defining Stewardship
Stewardship Statistics and Generational Differences
Learning from Las Vegas
Talking about Stewardship with Children and Adults
The Narrative Budget

Budgeting Documents
Narrative Budget Template
Volunteer Hours Template

More resources may be found on our Stewardship page

Socially Responsible Investment Fund

The Investment Committee of the Diocese of Maryland is pleased to announce a new investment opportunity within the Diocesan Investment Portfolio. The Investment Committee has established a Socially Responsible Investment Fund and added it to our existing portfolio. This fund does not replace an existing fund but rather adds to the investment options available to all congregations. This fund is a balanced fund with socially responsible filters allowing us to control the companies in which we invest. The investment policy related to these funds is below. Please feel free to contract Jill Robinson, our Investment Committee Chair; Doug Vaughan, our Treasurer; or Karen Stewart, our Assistant Treasurer and Comptroller, with any questions you may have.

Download our Statement of Social Responsibility (Adobe PDF)

 

The 2011 Diocesan Budget

Click here to download the 2011 Diocesan Budget in Adobe PDF format.

Click here to download the 2011 Budget Explanations in Adobe PDF format.

Download the Audited Financial Statement for 2010 in Adobe PDF format.

The Robert W. Ihloff Fund for Congregational Development

The Robert W. Ihloff Fund for Congregational Development was created by Diocesan Council to honor the ministry of the Right Reverend Robert W. Ihloff, 13th Bishop of Maryland. The corpus of the fund generates an annual income which will be made available to congregations and programs according to the policies approved by Council. The Nomination Form includes explanatory material that will help interested parties determine if their ministry interests qualify for Ihloff Funds.

Nominations are due March 1 of each year. Nominations are to be addressed to the Canon for Evangelism and Ministry Development, the Rev. Canon Daniel Webster, The Diocesan Center, 4 East University Parkway, Baltimore, MD 21218.

Download a Nomination Form (Adobe PDF)

Download an Ihloff Fund Budget Sheet in Adobe PDF format (*.pdf)

Download an Ihloff Fund Budget Sheet in MS Excel format (*.xls)

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Endowment Grants for Ministry

Download the Endowment Grants for Ministry application and instructions (Adobe PDF)

Download the Grant Application Budget Form in Adobe PDF format (*.pdf).

Download the Grant Application Budget Form in MS Excel format (*.xls).

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The Middendorf Revolving Fund

The guidelines and application for the Middendorf Revolving Fund may be accessed by clicking the links below. Both documents are in Adobe PDF format.

Questions about the Middendorf Fund or the application process should be directed to the Diocesan Business Office either by calling (410) 467-1399 or e-mailing kstewart@episcopalmaryland.org

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Continuing Education Grants for Ministry

The Continuing Education Committee of the Diocese of Maryland provides grants to be used to further education for the Christian ministry of the laity and clergy of the Diocese. Your grant request should reflect a carefully considered program that provides the kind of continuing education that will enhance your own participation in ongoing ministry as well as strengthen the ministries of the congregation you serve and the Diocese as a whole.

The guidelines for these grants may be found here.

The grant application form may be found here.

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Millennium Development Goal Grants

The Millennium Development Goals Committee, charged with fulfilling the Diocese of Maryland's 0.7% contribution to the Millennium Development Goals, is accepting applications for the grants.

Visit the Global Mission Website to learn more about the Millennium Development Goals and to download the grant application.

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Guidelines for the Use of Alcoholic Beverages at Church Functions

Download the Guidelines for the Use of Alcoholic Beverages at Church Functions (Adobe PDF

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Preferred Product and Service Providers

Local and regional product and service providers have afforded the diocese select pricing and discounts. We have reached out to these vendors in order to extend the benefits that they’ve previously given the diocese, in turn, to our parishes. Click here for a list of the preferred providers for the Diocese of Maryland.

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Wardens' Handbook

The Wardens' Handbook is available in Adobe PDF format by clicking the link below.

Wardens' Handbook

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Clergy/Parish Directory

Episcopal Parish Quickfind

Episcopal Clergy Quickfind