Creating, Forming, Nurturing, and Finding Leaders

Curacy Funding

The Episcopal Diocese of Michigan curacy program is designed to support newly ordained persons (curates) in their formation.  Congregations that hire newly ordained people will be asked to create healthy, faithful, and effective learning sites where a newly ordained person can try new things and work with colleagues, parishioners, and staff to not only develop their own competencies, but also contribute to congregational health and vitality of the church.

Curacy Funding comes from the McElroy Trust.  This trust  was established to “assist worthy persons to study for and enter into the Episcopal ministry under the sponsorship of the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan”

There are three types of funded positions available through curacy funding.  Learn more about the types of  Curacy Funding and the Teaching Congregational Model, please view this slideshow.

Applications for each are submitted through the forms linked below.  Please reach out to the Rev. Canon Susie Shaefer with questions.

1. Teaching Congregation

• APPLICATION FOR TEACHING CONGREGATIONS

(application due by December 15)

• This is for congregations that discern a specific call to train, teach and form curates
• Congregations may apply and be granted curacy funding for 3 years, which may be renewed. (Congregations may ask for up to ½ of the cost). 
• Congregation  must interview candidates from the Diocese of Michigan, but may hire from any diocese in the Episcopal Church
• Curates find a new call after 3 years

2. Curacy Funding for rectors/vicars/priest-in charge or associates/assistants

• APPLICATION FOR CURACY FUNDING

(application due by December 15)

• Congregations may apply for funding (usually asking for ½ of the cost) 
• Curates can stay in their position past the three years
• Funding would be stepped down over the three years

3. Summer Seminarian

• APPLICATION FOR SUMMER SEMINARIAN

(application due by April 25)

$5000 For a Summer Internship (Seminarian)

• Churches can apply to provide a seminarian with extra Field Ed intensive over a summer
• Expectations  for the intern include: 
  • • 10 weeks of working 20-25 hours a week in the congregation
    •  regular meetings with the rector/priest-in-charge, 
    • full involvement in the life of the congregations
    • an evaluation written by the rector

To better understand the changes in Curacy Funding and the Teaching Congregational Model, please view this slideshow.