ADM’s COVID-19 Church Response Program is designed to respond to current needs, equipping Christian women to
‘do mercy and justice’ through their church communities.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a range of negative impacts in our communities. Financial insecurity, disruption to education, relational stress, mental health impacts and social tensions, to name just a few. Vulnerability and insecurity have deepened for many who were already facing challenges before the pandemic.
Throughout history, when crisis has struck, Christian women have often been at the forefront, serving the vulnerable and sharing God’s love in practical ways. Anglican Deaconess Ministries (ADM) aims to continue this legacy.
ADM’s COVID-19 Church Response Program is designed to respond to current needs, equipping Christian women to ‘do mercy and justice’ through their church communities.
You are uniquely positioned to see areas of need in your community. You may already have ideas on how to meet these needs, you may be seeking solutions, or you may simply have a heart to serve. ADM wants to partner with you to address the needs of your community through the COVID-19 Church Response Program.
The program is set out in two-stages. The first stage is a Community Transformation Workshop, the second stage is the awarding of funding to seed church-based initiatives responding to need.
Successful applicants will receive grants of up to $5,000.
Please note: Due to this being a ‘pilot-style’ program, we are mindful of the need to run the initiative in a careful manner. As such, we have made the decision to limit invitations in this program to Christian women attending a Church in the Sydney Anglican Diocese. Please get in touch with our Mercy and Justice team (libby@deaconessministries.org.au) to be informed of similar opportunities that may be available in future.
Please note: Participation in this program has now closed and grants have been awarded.
COVID-19 Church Response Program Grantees Announced
— 21 April 2021
Six women serving in local churches throughout Sydney have received funding to support church-based mercy ministries through ADM’s COVID-19 Church Response Program.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact local communities, ADM has awarded $26,000 through this program to resource and equip women as they address these challenges, and as they share Christ’s love in practical ways. This program resources women to respond to unique areas of need within their local communities, and to express faith in action through their local churches.
Read more about ADM’s COVID-19 Church Response Program:
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Stage One:
The Community Transformation Workshop
Identify needs in your local community and the unique opportunities to respond effectively as the local church during this free one-day workshop to resource Christian women.
The workshop will equip you in identifying community needs and prayerful observation of gaps not being met, and opportunities for serving alongside and within your local community. Along with this, attendees will reflect on the resources, assets and capabilities of their local church that position them well for effective responses. The workshop ultimately supports you to build a sustainable and scripture-led picture of your community’s needs and the ways God may have positioned you to respond.
Cinnamon Network are co-delivering this workshop with ADM, leveraging their 'Community Transformation Pathway' program that supports local churches to discern how they might serve and impact the community their church is rooted in. This program has over 10 years of proven outcomes with the Cinnamon Network International community.
We invite women to attend this online, daytime workshop either as an individual or with up to three others from their church, and with the support of their Minister.
Attending this day is a prerequisite for applications to the stage two funding opportunity available in this program.
Stage Two:
COVID-19 Church-Response Grant Funding
Available to those who have attended the Community Transformation Workshop, grant funding supports initiatives led by women in their local churches that respond to community need caused by COVID-19’s impacts.
Programs funded through this initiative may include:
Programs serving international students facing financial and community hardship.
Programs addressing the mental health challenges and needs of young people.
Support service responding to local Domestic and Family Violence needs, perhaps partnering the church with an accredited service provider.
A safe meal provision service to those with disabilities or facing home-bound isolation.
Free training and guidance program for those seeking employment, supporting vulnerable groups such as older women, young adults seeking to enter the workforce, etc.
Please note that all programs that seek to offer services to the community, to families and children are required to be in alignment with the Safe Ministry guidance from the Sydney Anglican Diocese.
Key Dates
Sunday 22 November 2020 – Application/registration for workshop closes
Thursday 26 November 2020 – Community Transformation Workshop, 10am-2pm
Friday 15 January 2021 – Closing date for attendees of the Workshop to submit their programs for grant funding of up to $5,000 to ADM.
Eligibility
To be eligible to participate in this program, you need to:
Be a citizen, resident or refugee of/in Australia
Be 18 years or older
Be a Christian woman attending a Church in the Sydney Anglican Diocese
Have a personal commitment to ADM’s theological principles, vision and mission
Not be current or past (last 5 years) personnel (including without limitation employee, consultant to or board member) of ADM.
You will also need to upload a letter of support from the Senior Minister or a member of the ministry team at your local church with your submission to apply for funding in the second stage.
For questions about the program, please email our Mercy and Justice Program Manager, Libby Sanders.
Please find below the ‘Guidance, Information and Conditions’ document below, which details the key information regarding the Program for all interested participants and funding applicants.