Applications being accepted for 2007 Church Planting Grants

SYOSSET, NY [OCA Communications] — The Orthodox Church in America’s Department of Evangelization is accepting applications from missions wishing to receive 2007 Church Planting Grants.

Mission Planting Grants are given to a limited number of new missions that have met the criteria for the grant. The number of missions that receive grants is limited to the amount raised by the OCA’s annual February Mission Appeal. A mission may apply for the grant a maximum of three consecutive years. Each granted mission receives $15,000 per year, with a matching amount provided by each mission. Grants must be used exclusively to fund full-time resident mission priests.

“Experience has shown that missions with full-time priests develop into parishes much more quickly than those that are served sporadically by ‘supply’ clergy,” according to the Rev. Eric Tosi, chairman of the Department of Evangelization. “The grant allows mission priests to devote all of their energy and talent to ‘growing’ the mission into a parish.”

To date, nearly 20 grants have been awarded to OCA missions.

Additional information and applications may be downloaded from the the Department of Evangelization section on the OCA web site (scroll to bottom of page); by calling Fr. Tosi at 702-898-4800; or by sending an e-mail to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Deadline for applications is August 31, 2006.