Our Diocesan Foundation – Moving Forward Creatively and Energetically
“We must knock at every…door and rouse the inhabitants to devote a small portion of what God has bestowed upon them to promote a just work.” With these words, the Diocese of Ontario was conceived in 1854 by Bishop Strachan, but it took eight long years of struggle to bring it into being in 1862.
“We must knock at every…door and rouse the inhabitants to devote a small portion of what God has bestowed upon them to promote a just work.”
It took nearly that long to establish our Anglican Diocese of Ontario Foundation, first proposed in 2003 by Bishop George W. Bruce and a group of senior diocesan lay and clergy leaders. By 2009, all the legal hoops and planning were met, and fund-raising began through individual and parish memberships in a new, independent charitable organization, supplemented by a substantial legacy gift, memorial gifts, a bishop’s dinner, and a revenue-sharing agreement with General Synod, leading to a successful diocesan appeal, Love in Action.
To date $ 141,121 grants have been made by the Foundation to parishes and diocesan groups for a wide variety of ministries and programmes, ranging from accessibility grants to support for new parish thrift shops and our Anglican-Roman Catholic refugee support group, DOORS. Archdeacon Bill Clarke, president, sums up the purpose of the Foundation: “Our Foundation is here to help generous people support the imaginative visions of others for ministries in the Diocese of Ontario.”
At a Spring retreat of the Foundation’s directors, a renewed mission statement was drafted: “The Anglican Diocese of Ontario Foundation supports innovative approaches to the building of God’s Kingdom through Christian education, service, and a bold celebration of the Anglican tradition. As responsible stewards of God’s Gifts, the Foundation provides funding to revitalise Anglican parishes, and supports ministry to the broader community.” The directors added, “Our vision is to build a community in which the faith-filled generosity is an important vehicle through which the love of Jesus Christ becomes known.”
Eric Friesen, broadcaster, writer and speaker on music culture and faith, director of the Foundation, and member of St. George’s Cathedral, sums up the purpose well: “I have been captured by a double vision for the newly revitalized Foundation: to support and revitalize our parishes in both creative and practical ways, and then, with this Foundation strengthened, to serve our broader community in the kinds of missions which are crying out for support. Since we live in the federal prison capital of Canada, we have a special responsibility to enhance the spiritual and material lives of inmates, and the need to support and root new immigrants here should also be a priority. All of this and more we can do with your parish and individual support.”
“Fearless Generosity”, the Foundation’s annual appeal for 2019-2020, was officially launched on Sunday, October 6th, 2019, inviting parishes and individuals to become members. Letters, brochures, posters and visits will help promote the appeal in coming months, which in turn will help make additional grants available for a wide variety of ministries and programmes. Grant applications may be made four times a year on the 15th of December, March, June, and September. Application forms for memberships and grants are available on the Foundation website, www.dioceseofontariofoundation.ca or by contacting Archdeacon Bill Clarke, president, or Archdeacon John Robertson, development consultant, by email: foundation@ontario.anglican.ca
Registered Office: St. Thomas Anglican Church, 130 Lakeview Ave., Kingston, ON K7M 3T5
Charitable Registration Number: 85345 1680 RR0001
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