Episcopal Press and News
Diocese of Utah Awards $622,000 in Social Ministry Grants
Episcopal News Service. October 26, 1989 [89208]
SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 13 -- When the Episcopal Diocese of Utah sold St. Mark's Hospital in Salt Lake City almost two years ago, it made possible an expanded ministry of social service -- millions of dollars worth of mission.
At the beginning of the Bishop's Weekend, an annual fall gathering sponsored by the diocesan office of program and education, the diocese announced a total of $622,000 of grants to 55 groups and organizations providing social ministry to people in need.
About one-third of this year's grants goes to programs and services for the poor and homeless -- funds for impoverished Native Americans and for centers providing emergency money for rent, medicine, and other necessities.
The second largest number of grants goes to victims of domestic violence and child abuse and programs for family counseling, a total of $115,000. Programs to help the disabled and ill, including persons living with AIDS, received 17 percent of the grants or $108,500.
Also receiving grants were food banks and soup kitchens in both urban and rural areas; chemical and alcohol dependency programs, youth programs, foster care programs, and area hospices.
"The Diocese of Utah has radically changed," Bishop George Bates told the 600 gathered for the Bishop's Weekend. Although the diocese is able to dispense large amounts of money, many more needs go unfunded, he added. A total of 114 agencies asked for grants totaling $3.4 million. "We get to give away a lot of money, but we must remember the stewardship of limited gifts," said the Rev. Bradley Wirth, canon to the ordinary. "Advocacy is still needed."
Many of the agencies or groups receiving grants are endorsed or sponsored by the 22 congregations of the diocese.
Last year, the diocese disbursed more than $1 million, including $600,000 to assist completion of a shelter for homeless men in Salt Lake City.