Coalition 14 Devises New Funding Strategy
Episcopal News Service. March 14, 1990 [90057]
Dick Snyder, Editor of The Desert Church in The Diocese of Nevada
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.-- Despite some misgivings, Coalition 14 (C-14) delegates changed the method for funding Native American ministry during their annual meeting. The coalition allocates an Episcopal Church block grant of $1.4 million, three-quarters of the grants going to Native American ministry.
C-14 voted to endorse the creation of an Episcopal Committee on Indian Work (ECIW) that would be responsible for allocating all grants for Indian work starting in 1992.
The coalition was formed in 1971 by 14 aided dioceses, or missionary districts, that agreed to full disclosure of their diocesan budgets, mutual accountability, and a challenge process to allocate funds among its member dioceses. The money that had been granted on a piecemeal basis from the national church prior to that was then given to C-14 in block grant form from the church.
Some coalition delegates expressed concern that ECIW has no plan or strategy to allocate funds, in comparison with established guidelines, mutual accountability, and challenge procedures already in place. Other delegatesworried about the future level of program support in dioceses currently receiving funding through the coalition. But in the end, delegates responded favorably to supporting ECIW following a speech by Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning and an explanation about ECIW by several people who played a key role in creating it.
The creation of ECIM, approved by Executive Council in November, shows the "commitment on my part to Native American ministry," said Browning. He said it was clear to him that the church has not been doing enough to promote self-determination and empowerment, to combat racism against Indians, and to develop indigenous leadership training.
Browning added that even without the role of allocating funds for Indian work, "there is no doubt in my mind that there is a purpose" for the coalition "in the wider mission of the church.
Bishop Craig Anderson of South Dakota, chair of the Presiding Bishop's Blue Ribbon Task Force, and the Rev. Phil Allen, chair of the National Coalition for Indian Work, told the C-14 delegates that ECIM will endeavor to develop a coordinated and comprehensive approach toward Indian ministry.
Speaking in a panel, Allen and the Rev. Quentin Kolb, of Utah, said there are many organizational questions yet to be answered by ECIW, but they favored using the C-14 model for awarding grant money.
Bishop William Wantland of Eau Claire, an ECIW supporter, added that ECIW will actively seek sources of funding inside and outside the church. Allen added that Native Americans and Alaskan Natives favor using their own "guidelines and structures" to allocate funds, rather than use someone else's. Bishop Tom Ray of Northern Michigan said that the funding question has been "bewildering and somewhat paralyzing us" in recent years.
There have been increasing requests for funds from the member dioceses, with no increase in the block grant from the national church. Ray added that the basic question "is self-determination. They [Indians] always tried to get our attention, always had to come to us." He favored the action to support ECIW but cautioned ECIW to be concerned with questions about diocesan autonomy.
The vote to support creation of ECIW was almost unanimous. Following the vote, delegates began making decisions about the future of the coalition.
Bishop Rusty Kimsey of Eastern Oregon said the history of the coalition was in strengthening and developing mission and ministry in small and rural congregations, and that the coalition should again be a central forum for small church development. The coalition needs to return to that vision "now that we are freed from the funding question," said Kimsey. He added that he hopes that the coalition will continue its "intimate relationship" with the Native American community.
Bishop John Ashby of Western Kansas, president of the coalition, said he believes the future of the coalition will be in working with other regional groups interested in rural and small communities. Ashby was authorized to appoint a committee to represent the coalition with ECIW leaders in negotiating several matters, including how much money will go from C-14 to ECIW and if coalition members can also participate in ECIW. He was also authorized to invite representatives of similar church groups, such as APSO and LAND, to next year's meeting.
In addition to the funding process, the coalition also agreed, through covenant, to work for "common concerns and opportunities" in the church's mission and ministry, including development of new styles of ministry, selfdetermination, lay and clergy training, and development of program and budget guidelines.
Membership is open to any diocese that subscribes to the purposes of the coalition, whether or not the diocese receives funding through the coalition.
Present members are Alaska, Arizona, Eastern Oregon, Eau Claire, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Northern Michigan, Rio Grande, San Joaquin, South Dakota, Utah, Western Kansas, Wyoming, and the Navajoland Area Mission.