The Sustaining Congregational Excellence (SCE) program is predominantly for smaller congregations in the Christian Reformed Church in North America. (A smaller congregation is any congregation that has 150 active professing members or less—based on data in the current Yearbook.) These congregations are encouraged to partner with a smaller congregation in a Health & Renewal project.
The SCE program has two main elements.
- Grants: for Health & Renewal, Technology & Equipment, and Coaching
- Learning Events: a number of peer learning events will be held annually across Canada and the US
Grants: There are three grants available from SCE.
1. Coaching
a) Coaching for Churches (CC) - These grants are an opportunity for an SCE coach to walk alongside
the pastor and one ministry leader (or two ministry leaders if the church is vacant) as together
they explore issues specific to the church's ministry. Submitting a grant application doesn't
mean a congregation is unhealthy. Not at all! It means there's a desire to explore, with a coach,
ways to renew or refresh its vision and/or its ministries.
DEADLINES: Application due dates are March 1 and September 1.
English
Korean - 
Español - Ayudas económicas para Cómo asesorar a las Iglesias
b) Coaching for Pastors (CP) - These grants are an opportunity for an SCE coach to walk alongside a
pastor in exploring issues specific to the pastor and his/her ministry. Submitting a grant
application doesn't mean a pastor is unhealthy. Not at all! It means that he/she desires to
explore, with a coach, some aspect of his/her ministry or calling which will result in a healthier
pastor.
DEADLINES: Application due dates are March 1 and September 1.
English
Korean - 
Español - Ayudas económicas para Cómo asesorar a los pastores
2. Health & Renewal (HR) - These grants encourage congregations to think creatively about how they can nurture the health of their congregation and how they can impact the community in which they minister. Submitting a grant application doesn't mean a congregation is unhealthy; it means it wants to renew or refresh its ministries.
DEADLINES: Application due dates are June 1 and December 1.
Please note new policy effective September 1, 2009:
- Churches may receive a maximum of 2 HR grants in a 5-year period.
English
Español - Ayudas económicas para la Salud y renovación
3. Technology & Equipment (TE) - These grants are available for churches to purchase, lease or update technology and equipment resources for their congregations. Resources can include a computer, copier, telephone, answering machine, hearing assistance equipment, fax machine, sound system, power point projector, or other equipment that will assist the congregation in its ministry.
DEADLINE: the first of every month.
Please note new policies effective for the September 1, 2009 proposal deadline:
- Proposals for second and third requests won't be accepted until the fourth quarter (April 1 - June 1). Until the fourth quarter, priority will be given to first time requests. Note: There's no guarantee that second or third time requests will be funded. It will depend on available funds.
- Churches requesting a second TE grant are required to contribute 25% toward the purchase price of the equipment.
- Churches requesting a third TE grant are required to contribute 50%.
- Churches may receive a maximum of 3 TE grants in a 5-year period.
English
Korean -
Español - Ayudas económicas para Equipo y tecnología
If you would like, contact us:
by email: sce@crcna.org
by phone: 1-877-279-9994 X0805 (toll free)
(to be completed soon)