ADM awards $25,000 for its inaugural Women in Ministry Support Scheme
Eight of the grantees from ADM’s WIMSS program attended a morning tea at ADM this February to meet one another and celebrate their ministries.
Monday 8 March, 2021
Twenty women serving in churches across Sydney and beyond have received funding to support their ministries in 2021.
Amy Townsend, the Membership and Ministry Director at Grace City Church, is one of 20 recipients of funding for ADM’s first Women in Ministry Support Scheme (WIMSS). “As a woman in ministry, I feel incredibly supported by ADM and I’m so thankful for the grant,” she said.
Amy has received funding to support her new growing family, contributing towards lost income from her full-time ministry position during maternity leave, which will begin in just a few weeks.
“Living in Sydney is difficult financially and many women don’t take maternity leave or take much time off. The grant relieves the pressure of having to go back to work and I’m really thankful for that because motherhood is incredibly valuable and a privilege,” she said.
This is the first year that individual grants between $200 and $2,000 have been awarded by ADM to help Christian women pay for theological education, professional development, ministry resources and cover costs after having lost income due to maternity leave.
With the impacts of Covid-19 still being felt, the funding will help those who lost or have had their household income reduced to purchase the resources they need – including laptops or digital commentaries – to continue to minister in online and offline contexts.
For other women, the funding will allow them to support themselves while working on a volunteer or part-time basis or as unpaid student ministers. It will provide a small stipend for those who have taken time off work to undergo theological training full time.
Anna Hoole, Preaching Minister, St Philip’s Anglican Church Eastwood
Elizabeth Spencer leads the Engage team at Minchinbury Anglican on a part-time volunteer basis. She received funding to purchase commentaries to help her grow in her understanding of Biblical theology and as she develops programs for her team and disciples other women.
“I love books and I love to lend books to other women,” Elizabeth said. “Reading through books one on one is one of the key ways I see the discipleship of women develop. This grant means I have the resources I need to do the thinking I need to do and this will also help me as I produce a training program for the welcoming and pastoral care teams.”
Kayleen Manton is a pastor of the Kuku Yalanji people from Cape York, Queensland and with her husband has led Mt Druitt Indigenous Church, now part of Minchinbury Anglican, for the past 21 years. She provides culturally-appropriate pastoral care in the church; coordinating emergency relief, writing letters for community members attending court or needing referrals, as well as counselling those grieving lost loved ones or needing care.
“This funding has given me more space and time to do work on my own timeline. It means I no longer have to wait for my husband to finish his sermon to use his laptop. I will also have the freedom to be flexible, which is really important for my ministry.”
Kayleen received funding to purchase equipment – a laptop and a printer – that will help her conduct both her ministry and her work on the board of Bimbadeen Aboriginal Training College effectively. “This funding has given me more space and time to do work on my own timeline. It means I no longer have to wait for my husband to finish his sermon to use his laptop. I will also have the freedom to be flexible, which is really important for my ministry.”
ADM’s Women In Ministry grantees chat during the morning tea at ADM. Left to right: Elizabeth Spencer, Amy Townsend, Caitlin Ogg and Anna Hoole.
ADM CEO Rev. Jo Gibbs said, “ADM is delighted to offer this funding scheme to support the incredible work women in gospel ministry do in churches across Australia. My prayer for each of the grantees is that the funds would not only provide much needed practical financial support for their ministry, but that they would also be encouraged as the value of their important ministries is recognised.”
ADM’s purpose is to grow gospel-shaped women serving Christ in the church, community and the world. Since 1891, ADM has supported and encouraged Christian women. ADM’s Women in Ministry Support Scheme continues the work in 2021 by focussing on the unique resourcing and development needs of the following 20 women in ministry roles across Australia.
Read about the 2020 WIMSS grantees:
Contribution to lost income during maternity leave
Amy Townsend
Membership and Ministry Director, Grace City Church
Grant awarded as a contribution to lost income during a period of maternity leave from a paid, continuing ministry position.
Set-up expenses for a new ministry
Verma Barker
Healing Art Project ministry, Macarthur Indigenous Church
Grant awarded to buy supplies for art workshops for a church program designed to engage women in the local community.
Lynette Cain
Pastoral consultant MBM, Multicultural Bible Ministry, Rooty Hill
Grant awarded as seed funding to establish ‘Focus on Ministry’ retreat groups for women.
Kate Pearse
Care and Support Minister, St Jude’s Anglican Church
Grant awarded to purchase books to set up a resource library.
Professional development
Kate Cole
Community Engagement Ministry, Corrimal Anglican Church
Grant awarded to complete her Mental Health First Aid course.
Kate Cole serves in the Corrimal Anglican church’s community pantry ministry
Martine Wilson
Ministry Trainee at Darebin Presbyterian Church
Grant awarded for MTS Recruit and G8 conferences and to purchase books.
Mel Bell
Children’s Minister, St Andrew’s Anglican Church Roseville
Grant awarded to complete Resilience Centre’s Solution Focused training course.
Resources including books, commentaries or apps
Anna Hoole
Preaching Minister, St Philip’s Anglican Church Eastwood
Grant awarded to purchase digital New Testament commentary and Logos Bible Software.
Elizabeth Spencer
Engage Pastor, Minchinbury Anglican
Grant awarded to purchase commentaries and books to support development and ministry.
Elizabeth Spencer
Jana Koulouris
Discipleship and training of women at St George North Anglican Church
Grant awarded to purchase a new laptop for ministry work.
Kayleen Manton
Aboriginal pastor of the Kaku Yalanji people, Mt Druitt Indigenous Church
Grant awarded to purchase a laptop, printer and software to support ministry work.
Sarah Seabrook
Women’s evangelist and trainer, Evangelism and New Churches, Sydney Anglican Diocese
Grant awarded to purchase books, office equipment and resources to support her work.
Sarah Seabrook
Theological education
Caitlyn Ogg
Unpaid student minister at Bathurst Presbyterian
Student at Moore Theological College
Grant awarded to help with the costs of theological education.
Elowyn Wiliams Roldan
Unpaid student minister, Multicultural Bible Ministry, Rooty Hill
Student, Moore Theological College
Grant awarded to help with the costs of theological education.
Kylie Polkinghorne
Community Connections minister, South Wagga Anglican Church
Student, Moore Theological College
Grant awarded to help with the costs of theological education.
Kylie Polkinghorne
Linda Stephens
Children’s minister, St Paul’s Anglican Church Castle Hill
Student, Morling College
Grant awarded to help with the costs of theological education.
Linda Stephens
Merryn Wilson
Multicultural Bible Ministry, Rooty Hill
Student, Sydney Mission Bible College
Grant awarded to help with the costs of theological education.
Naomi Deck
Mercy Ministries Director, Church by the Bridge Kirribilli and St Augustine’s Neutral Bay
Student, Sydney Mission Bible College
Grant awarded to help with the costs of theological education.
Sophie Hawkshaw
Media and Creative Ministry Trainee, St Barnabas Anglican Church Broadway
Student, Moore Theological College
Grant awarded to help with the costs of theological education.
Sophie Smith
Youth leader, Maitland Evangelical Church
Student, Moore Theological College
Grant awarded to help with the costs of theological education.