The Reverend Patricia Eustis, Rector of Trinity,
Cranford, and Ellen McConnell of Trinity, South River, were elected to
manage the Convocation's dormant bank account. (The member churches at one
time paid dues, but no longer.)
The Convocation voted that a promised visit by the
Bishop would constitute the fall meeting, so that it would not be necessary
to meet twice more this year.
The speaker, the Reverend George L. Campbell, Rector of
Christ Church, South Amboy, gave us some interesting things to think about:
Recognizing that the Federal Government is no longer
supporting some of its neediest citizens in some of the ways it used to, it
occurred to Fr. Campbell and his parishioners that, if they could organize a
Faith-Based Organization, they could do more than they presently do for
their neighbors. They got together a grant application and succeeded in
getting a grant. In place of a building on their premises that they
previously used as a thrift shop, the earnings of which were spent where
needed in the community, they will have a new building to house the FBO. The
old thrift shop building, you may recall, was damaged several years ago in a
fire. The church also received insurance money for the rebuilding. Christ
Church will own the new building housing the FBO, and the FBO will
pay rent to Christ Church. The FBO will
also pay Fr. Campbell an appropriate salary for one year (during
which time he will not accept his stipend from the church) as he organizes
it and gets it on its feet. Those in need will receive considerably more
assistance than Christ Church could possibly have provided in the past.
In addition to the thrift shop, they will now house classrooms for computer
and English literacy, as well as rooms that the Raritan Bay medical center
can use for pre- and neonatal education for parents. This will all be at no
cost to the patron. The vision of Fr Campbell and the FBO was most
impressive.
Fr. Campbell told us a little about how to establish
and fund a Faith Based Organization. Most important is that the Rector and
Vestry have a "vision," a clear understanding of what is needed in
the community (outreach, not parish-related) and how the new
organization might meet that need They also must be able at the end of a
year to prove that they have met that need, so that the organization can
continue as a funded FBO. The FBO must gain
501c3 status in order to operate as a non-profit agency. The church
must then decide which Government agency (such as Education or Housing and
Urban Development) would be appropriate to apply to, and write a convincing
grant application. Fr. Campbell stressed
that in each case, of incorporating as an FBO and of applying for 501c3
status, doing it right the first time was the most essential aspect.
As part of this a small Board of
Directors (they have 6 people) should be
appointed. He also stressed that content of the Board was critical for
getting grant applications seen and reviewed and getting to the "top of the
pile". He suggested, in order, that those most likely to get attention
were descendants of native
Americans, veterans, "minorities" and
women. He recommended not having
the Rector on the Board. For Christ
Church, the Rector will direct the Board of Directors of
their FBO for the first year, and the organization will then be on
its own, a boon to those who need its help
in their area. Fr. Campbell is
willing to come and speak or help out any parish that
decides to take on such a ministry in their community.
