FLOURISHing in Faith and Finance
3 John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. (NSRV)
Our current grant from Lilly Endowment requires that we match their grant funds, dollar for dollar. Donate
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All grants for the current funding have been awarded. For further information about the FLOURISH! Program, please contact our office.
Sarah Riester, FLOURISH! Program Administrator
sarah@indianadisciples.org
“FLOURISH!” –verb: grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way. Flourish is both an action and a result that comes from laying the right foundation. To “flourish” is our desire for every clergy person serving the Christian Church in Indiana. It is also God’s desire for us as well. Yet, various financial challenges often limit the ability of our clergy to do so. Whether faced with high educational debt, inadequate healthcare, or limited salary, many clergy in our region face financial challenges while still working to honor their call.
In an effort to alleviate some of the economic challenges facing pastors, the Christian Church in Indiana in partnership with Lilly Endowment Inc. has created the FLOURISH! Program. Through this program, clergy and congregations may find the education they need to grow their financial base through our Financial Literacy Academy. In addition, through the Financial Relief and Compensation Support Grants, both clergy and congregations may find direct financial resources to assist clergy in reducing debt, funding retirement, supplementing healthcare needs. In 2019 and 2020, a total of 24 Financial Relief Grants (for individuals) and 2 Compensation Support Grants (for congregations) were awarded. Following the grantee selection, pastors enter into an educational portion of the grant which is a two year process. The first cohort of grantees completed their education requirements in late 2020 and the second cohort will complete their requirements in 2021.
At the close of 2020, we recognized that we have funding available to award a third cohort of Financial Relief Grantees! Eleven additional pastors will be participating in Financial Literacy Academy sessions beginning in 2021 with grant awards distributed in December 2022.
The Financial Relief Grant was open to commissioned and ordained clergy with standing through the Christian Church in Indiana. All Indiana Disciples congregations were welcomed to apply for the Compensation Support Grant. Our goal is to help develop and support healthy clergy who provide bold and confident leadership to build strong churches, who are a beacon of hope to their community and the world. The Financial Literacy Academy is available to all clergy and church leadership within the Christian Church in Indiana regardless of grant status.
Financial Relief Grants
Financial Relief Grants are awarded directly to clergy for the purposes of debt relief, medical costs, and/or retirement planning. Grantees must complete two years of Financial Literacy Academy sessions, peer group meetings, and meeting with a financial advisor before grant funds are released.
2021 Financial Relief Grant Applications were due February 25, 2021. Grants have been awarded to the new cohort of clergy grantees. The guidelines, budget worksheet, and tax notice are posted below for reference by any interested parties, including Financial Relief grantees.
Compensation Support Grant Guidelines
The Compensation Support Grant Guidelines are linked below for reference by any interested parties, including current Comp Support grantees. Additional Compensation Support Grants are not being awarded in 2021. Funds for Compensation Support Grants must be matched by the congregation awarded the grant. Funds are distributed at year end on a laddered schedule.