Lay Education Grants

CENTRE FOR THEOLOGY & MINISTRY

LAY EDUCATION GRANTS POLICY

INTRODUCTION      

The Centre for Theology and Ministry includes funds within its budget to assist lay people of the Uniting Church Synod of Victoria in undertaking approved courses of education for ministry.  Whilst not being limited to this purpose, these funds are available specifically for lay people involved in programs of systematic or formal study related to ministry practice.

Applications for assistance must be made on the Lay Education Grant Application Form (below) and will be assessed by the Lay Education Committee which is accountable to the Centre for Theology and Ministry for the distribution of such grants.

In addition to Lay Education Grants, Continuing Education Grants continue to be available for both lay and ordained persons seeking assistance for programs and/or training that is not towards a formal qualification. Application can be made on the Continuing Education Grants Application Form.

POLICY GUIDELINES

1. The Centre for Theology and Ministry does not normally pay the full cost of any program or event and expects the applicant will make a contribution to the cost of their continuing education. Hence the maximum grant is normally limited to 80% of the cost of any program.
2. Travel costs will not normally be included in the grant allocation. However, in recognition that travel constitutes an additional burden for country people, the Lay Education Committee will exercise its discretion in including an amount for travel costs where the applicant can demonstrate assistance is needed. A contribution towards travel may also be made at the discretion of the Committee where an applicant can demonstrate that the primary purpose of the travel and the majority of the time spent at the destination will be for education for ministry purposes.
3. The Committee will seek to distinguish between studies whose primary purpose is personal growth and those that have a direct relation to the practice of ministry, with a degree of priority being given to the latter category.
4. Lay people are encouraged to seek the support of their Congregation and/or Presbytery as to the appropriateness of the course or program of study in encouraging and enhancing the applicant in ministry.  Applications will be strengthened by documented support from the Presbytery or the congregation (or other body appropriate to the ministry of the applicant).
5. The Committee will give preference to those applications that reflect the priorities for ministry reflected in its Theological and Educational Statements.  These are available from the Centre for Theology & Ministry upon request.
6. The Centre for Theology & Ministry will not fund study or programs for Synod or Assembly staff which should be funded out of the staff development budget of the Synod or Assembly agency, or for staff development in community service and similar agencies of presbyteries and other sponsoring bodies.
7. A condition of the grant is that at the conclusion of the study a report be made to the Lay Education Committee giving; (i) an assessment of the course (as a guide to others who may consider this course in the future); (ii) identification of the extent to which the educational goals were reached; (iii) comments on the applicability of the course of study to the person’s ministry.
8. Grants can be made to individuals or groups who are undertaking approved courses.   In certain circumstances, a grant may be given to providers of programs to assist in the establishment and delivery of approved courses.  Presbyteries and other bodies may be assisted to offer programs jointly with the Centre for Theology & Ministry. In the case of a congregation making application for group assistance, grants will not normally exceed the financial contribution of the congregation to that study or program.

ELIBIGILITY

1. Applicants must be members of the Uniting Church.
2. Preference will be given to those intending to complete a course of study rather than individual subjects.
3. The Centre for Theology & Ministry reserves the right to consult with an applicant’s congregation/presbytery or other appointing body to seek further information as to the appropriateness of the proposed work for their ministry.
4. The Centre for Theology & Ministry will be guided by the following additional considerations:
   1. the priority an area of work has vis-à-vis other applications
   2. the extent to which the proposed work fulfils the primary criteria developed in the Centre for Theology & Ministry’s Theological and Educational statements
   3. the appropriateness of the proposed work to the applicant’s ministry
   4. whether the applicant has received previous support for work in the area
   5. the supportive testimony of congregation, presbytery or other appropriate referees or the absence of such support.
   6. The degree to which the applicant’s congregation is willing to assist financially.

EXCLUSIONS

1. Lay Education grants will not normally be available for:
   1. travel costs (see Policy guideline #2 above)
   2. candidates for ministries of the Church who are in receipt of other educational financial assistance from the church
   3. members of the teaching  staff of colleges and universities
   4. Synod, Assembly or other staff (for staff development programs see Policy guideline #6 above)

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

1. Requests for grants will only be considered on the Lay Education Grants Application Form which is available for download below, or on request from the The Centre For Theology & Ministry.
2. Applicants who have requested or received funding from other bodies are expected to declare that information to the Lay Education Committee.
3. Applications will be considered at the regular meetings of the Lay Education Committee.
4. No retrospective applications will be accepted.

July 2008

For more details email Carmen [dot] Schmandtke [at] ctm [dot] uca [dot] edu [dot] au or phone (03) 9340 8824.

File: 

Lay Education Grants Application form 2008 (PDF version)

Lay Education Grants Application form 2008 (MSWord version)