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 ways to apply for this funding.  Applications to be sent to the Rev. Canon Ellen Ekevag eekevag@edomi.org

1. Teaching Congregation

• DOWNLOAD APPLICATION TEACHING CONGREGATIONS

(application due by December 15, 2023)

• 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 and associates/assistants

• DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FOR CURACY FUNDING

(application due by December 15, 2023)

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

3. Summer Seminarian

• DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FOR SUMMER SEMINARIAN

(application due by April 24, 2024)

Funding for congregations hiring a newly ordained person in order to grow the ministry of the church 

• Congregations may apply for funding (usually asking for ½ of the cost) • Funding would be stepped down over the three years

Funding for “Teaching Congregations” that apply and are chosen to mentor curates.

• 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). • Congregations must interview candidates from the Diocese of Michigan, but may hire from any diocese in the Episcopal Church 

$5000 For a Summer Internship (Seminarian)

• Churches can apply to provide a seminarian with extra Field Ed intensive over a summer
• Expectations 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.