The Need

We fervently believe that the Church is emerging from a period of pruning poised to grow, flower, and thrive in ways we do not completely understand yet. Recognizing the changing needs of our congregations and evolving trends in vocations for ministry, the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire is working toward a capital campaign to raise funds to help churches, ministries, clergy and lay leaders flourish.

Over the past few years numerous examples reveal to us how the Vine of the Church of New Hampshire is a vigorous and robust planting that God urges to grow within and among us.

• New expressions of Church at Emmanuel, Ashland, Holderness, an Plymouth; The Church of the Woods, Canterbury; Messy Church at Epiphany, Newport; the Mission of Franklin; and the Digital Mission of New Hampshire.
• The development of lay leadership in several congregations, including St. Stephen’s, Colebrook and St. John the Evangelist, Dumbarton.
• Launch of a New Hampshire-based School for Ministry — training for new clergy and lay leaders alike.
• New Curates to help nurture and grow worship communities at Church of the Good Shepherd, Nashua; All Saints’ Church, Littleton; and St. Paul’s, Concord.

Now is the time to build upon our deep roots and cultivate and grow the living plant that is our Church—a robust, spiritually vibrant Church that will serve the people of New Hampshire to more deeply engage in God’s mission of love, justice, and healing.

Funding these Initiatives will directly impact our church’s ability to form, attract, keep and nurture quality clergy and lay leaders.

1. Episcopal Missional Communities

Continued support for clergy and lay leaders, providing for resources, tools, and other assistance critical to strengthen newly established missional communities.

Missional communities are emerging and highly adaptable new shoots of the vine that offer alternative forms of worship and community. Meal-time worship, outdoor/environmental churches, and online services and prayer are all examples of different ways of “being church” that are being raised up in New Hampshire. Launching a missional community requires substantial resources. Funding for this initiative, allows us to continue to partner with The Episcopal Church and other granters to nurturing new growth and new life. Without funds for Missional Communities The church in Franklin would be closed.

2. Bishop’s Curates Fund

Ensuring that the Diocese will continue to attract talented young clergy and that local parishes will benefit from the energy, talents, and perspective of newly ordained clergy.

The Bishop’s Curates fund provides support for congregations to help them hire promising, newly ordained clergy—clergy that they otherwise would not be able to afford. Curates bring new ideas, energy, and vision to the congregation and the Diocese.

3. School for Ministry

Salary for a full-time Dean, stipends for faculty, coverage of curriculum fees, scholarships for students, and upkeep and improvement of the school’s space.

The School for ministry was launched in 2020 to develop leaders—both lay and ordained—called from throughout the region. The school serves students both online and in person at Trinity Church, Tilton. As a local resource, it offers students lower costs and an attractive alternative to attending a residential seminary full time. The school also has a particular focus on the development of bi-vocational leaders. Without the School for Ministry we would not have a priest at Emmanuel Church in Plymouth, Ashland, and Holderness.

4. Ministerial Development Fund

Expanding assistance to help build strong congregations with dynamic clergy.

The Ministerial Development Fund brings high-potential early- and mid-career clergy together with congregations, who have similarly great potential, but who are not able yet to support full-time clergy. The Fund provides three fully funded years, and reduced support for two more years, to encourage dynamic clergy leaders to engage and grow their congregations and establish financial sustainability.

5. Coaching Fund

Enhancing clergy leadership and communications skills, and developing and adapting to changing times, expectations, and ministries.

The Coaching Fund provides professional coaching for clergy and lay leaders who are stepping into new calls, or those in need of support or new direction to help navigate the landscape of their congregations. Coaching is a proven approach that helps leaders clarify and define specific goals, challenges, and next steps, and provides guidance that leads to successful change and leadership growth. Without the Coaching Fund many clergy would have been sunk by the ministerial challenges of the COVID epidemic.

Hear from lay leaders how these funds impacted their churches.

Please tell us what you think!

We want to hear from YOU. Please click the below link to let us know what you think about these initiatives. All responses will bring us closer to learning a common vision for our work together.

Q&A