A new grant program aims to increase the number of deacons serving in The Episcopal Church by providing up to $1,500 to persons seeking ordination to the diaconate. In a recent letter, The Rev. W. Keith McCoy, deacon and president of The Fund of the Diaconate, revealed that only 1 in 5 current deacons had all basic expenses toward ordination covered by their diocese or parish.

“The expense of becoming a deacon is now a barrier to younger people who are starting families and careers, as well as to potential deacons in economically disadvantaged groups, where the Church seeks to expand its witness,” he wrote. “This lack of up-front support is particularly discouraging, because deacons rarely receive much in the way of compensation or reimbursement after ordination.”

“I was so delighted when I got this letter, and I shared it with Bishop Brewer in a staff meeting,” said The Ven. Kristi Alday, archdeacon for the Diocese of Central Florida. “We’re all so appreciative and grateful for this fund.”

The grant monies could provide a welcome relief for those seeking ordination to the diaconate, especially considering the broad area the diocese covers, Alday said. She believes the new fund will help.

“One of the biggest blessings and challenges of our diocese is sheer geographical size,” she said. “Because of the size, we do some of our training online at ICSCourses.org, but we still have our deacons come to Orlando seven times a year to build collegiality and become incorporated into the diocese. This would help cover those costs.”

Alday said the funds could also be used for child or elder care, as many deacons “have people they need to care for on the weekends.” Regardless, the grant will address a significant challenge for those seeking ordination.

“It’s a costly process, including tuition and psychological testing,” she said. “The cost has been prohibitive for a lot of wonderful people who would be deacons. So many truly have a servant’s heart, but the cost has been holding them back.”

“We hope that this program will ease, if not eliminate, the financial hurdles in becoming a deacon,” McCoy wrote in his letter. He noted that the campaign will be evaluated every two years for possible eligibility revisions and the potential addition of needed funds.

As archdeacon, Alday provides oversight for all deacons in the diocese, who are assigned to local churches but report to The Rt. Rev. Gregory O. Brewer, diocesan bishop.

“This has been very needed,” the archdeacon said of the new grant program, adding that to apply for the grant, an individual must first be named as a postulant in the diocese. After receiving the bishop’s official letter of admittance to postulancy, a qualifying individual may submit that letter along with an application for the grant.

Find complete information, including the application form, at this link.