"Connecting with new populations is a particular challenge for mainline Protestant churches," said Dr. Cooper, Trinity's seventeenth rector. "The average age of Episcopalians is 60, but the average American is 32. Yet many Christians under 35 who leave mainstream churches yearn for a larger purpose to their lives. With these grants we're reaching out to those who are seeking new spiritual connections."

Research also shows that Latino immigrants are settling in increasing numbers in cities and towns across the United States. Like Generation X, Latinos and other immigrants are searching for community, connections with others, and meaningful lives grounded in faith. Both groups reflect the changing face of the Episcopal Church.

Embracing these challenges for service and opportunities for evangelism, Trinity-St. Paul's will award 19 grants to such diverse recipients as a Seattle storefront coffeehouse church and the Yonkers Alliance for Latino & Immigration Services.

Other programs to be funded include an Internet system at Cuttington University College in Liberia and an HIV/AIDS ministry in Zambia through the Diocese of Northern Zambia.

The Church of the Apostles in Seattle holds weekly worship services using modern music, art and technology at its storefront café, Apostles' Living Room. The $90,000 three-year grant from Trinity will help the church engage a growing and diverse congregation of young people with little or no experience of Christianity, or whose traditional church upbringing has lost its relevance. Having outgrown their space, worshipers will rent and renovate an old church. They also plan to produce worship CDs, DVDs, videos and study guides to share their model with other churches.

In a similar ministry to disaffected Generation X'ers, Church X of Belmont, Massachusetts, will receive $40,000 over one year for its program, "Powered by God for Daily Life and Work." Focusing on inclusive evangelism, the initiative leads "unchurched" individuals in spiritual formation and equips them to apply their faith in practical ways. The church integrates innovative liturgy, multimedia and group discussions with Sunday worship and holds weekly services in a secular facility that, according to parishioners, does not carry the "baggage" of the institutional church.

A one-year grant from Trinity will help provide documentation and citizenship activities to Latino immigrants in metropolitan New York. The Yonkers Alliance for Latino and Immigrant Services will receive $30,000 to help immigrants apply for citizenship and earned income tax credit.  The alliance, formed in 1999 at the Episcopal Iglesia de San Andres, is a partnership of local government, nonprofit and religious groups. It serves roughly 40 clients a month, and hopes to double that number with additional funding. 

Across metropolitan New York, immigrants are a core part of the labor force. Officials estimate that more than 100 countries are represented in southwest Yonkers, with Latinos comprising half the population. The Alliance provides documentation and support services that will enable immigrants to find jobs, become self-sufficient, and contribute to the community.

"Trinity Church-St. Paul's Chapel supports leaders looking for innovative means of preaching the Gospel and serving the world," said the Reverend Canon James G. Callaway Jr., Trinity's deputy for Faith Formation and Development. "We are especially seeking ministries that reach young adults on their own turf."

Grants announced today are the first of three cycles annually by Trinity to meet four objectives: strengthening the Church in the Global South, social transformation in metropolitan New York, spiritual formation and development, and strengthening telecommunications in the Anglican Communion.

A complete grants list follows.

Trinity Church is one of America's oldest philanthropies, for over three centuries identifying new leaders, innovative ideas, and exceptional opportunities to transform the Church and help the Church change the world. The Trinity Grants program uses the tools of philanthropy to strengthen the Church's witness, both locally and globally.
 
Firmly rooted in the history of the city of New York and the nation, Trinity Church was established under British royal charter in 1697.  The parish, consisting of Trinity Church and St. Paul's Chapel, has a diverse congregation drawn from the New York region and offers 18 worship services during the week as well as daily interdenominational prayers for peace at St. Paul's Chapel.

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For more information on Trinity Church and St. Paul's Chapel, go to www.trinitywallstreet.org.

PARISH OF TRINITY CHURCH GRANTS -- MARCH 2005

Church in the Global South

Diocese of Northern Zambia, Central Africa, $57,000. Over one year to fund a comprehensive diocesan HIV/AIDS Ministry in Northern  Zambia. 

Diocese of Byumba, Rwanda, $35,000. To fund the third year of Integrated Community Development program.
 
Diocese of West Buganda, Uganda, $30,000. Over one year to continue the funding of the Basoka Kwavula Women's Credit Scheme (BKWCS).

Diocese of Mauritius, Indian Ocean, $12,000. Over one year to fund a new diocesan lay and ordained training program.

The Domestic & Foreign Missionary Society, New York, NY, $75,000. Over one year to bring 44 Anglican women leaders from the Global South to attend the 49th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW). 

Total Church in The Global South (5 items) $209,000
 
Strengthen Telecommunications

Province of Tanzania, $110,000. Over one year to fund Phase I of the Telecommunications Network of the Anglican Church of Tanzania (ACT).

The Church of North India, New Delhi, India, $35,230. Over one year to fund the purchase of contemporary telecommunications equipment for the twenty-six dioceses of the Province of the Church of North India (CNI).

Province of Congo, Kampala, Uganda, $7,563. Over one year to purchase solar energy for the Dioceses of Katanga, Boga, and Nord Kivu to power their telecommunication.

Diocese of Southern Malawi, Central Africa, $17,000. Over one year to fund the purchase of contemporary telecommunications equipment for the newly established national Leonard Kamungu Theological College.

Cuttington University College, Monrovia, Liberia, $44,000. Over one year to fund the installation of an Internet system at Cuttington University College (CUC) in Suakoko, Liberia. 

Total Strengthen Telecommunications (5 items) $214,990

Spiritual Formation/Development

The Church of the Apostles, Seattle, WA, $90,000. Over three years to fund staff salaries for an innovative program of evangelical outreach to a postmodern generation of seekers.

St. Luke the Evangelist Episcopal Church, Houston, TX, $62,000. Over three years to fund development of a culturally alternative Godly Play program in an African-American
church.
 
The World Community for Christian Meditation, Calabasas, CA, $90,000. Over three years to support the Contemplative Parish Project in the Diocese of Los Angeles.

Church X, Belmont, MA, $40,000. Over one year, renewable for up to two additional years, to fund "Powered by God for Daily Life and Work" initiative that invites spiritual formation for unchurched young adults.

Total Spiritual Formation/Development (4 items) $282,000

Metropolitan New York

Yonkers Alliance for Latino and Immigrant Services, Yonkers, NY, $30,000. Over two years to create a sustainable public-private partnership for immigrant services in southwest Yonkers, NY.

St. George's Church, Newburgh, NY, $20,000. Over one year to create additional safe and affordable housing in Newburgh, NY.

Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison, Ossining, NY, $15,000. Over one year to provide baccalaureate college courses for 75 inmates at Sing Sing Penitentiary.

Metropolitan New York Conference, New York, NY, $13,000. Over one year to sponsor a conference for grantees and other partners in Metropolitan New York.

Trinity Transformational Fellows Program, New York, NY, $40,000. Over one year to support experienced clergy and lay leaders in social transformation by renewing and strengthening their work through a six week self-designed sabbatical fellowship.

Total Metropolitan New York (5 items) $118,000

Grand Total (19 items) $823,990