In the face of severe financial challenges to its budget for the coming triennium, the 76th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, meeting in July in Anaheim, California, voted to adopt one of SIM's flagship programs and to provide $200,000 in scholarship support for postulants and candidates for Holy Orders in need, designating SIM as the administrator of the funds. The funding vote is historically significant for the Church, SIM, and, most importantly, those students answering God's call to serve as future ordained leaders of the Episcopal Church.

That funding vote is also an important contemporary statement.  In light of the draconian cuts elsewhere in the budget, the $200,000 allocation is a strong statement that the Church has heard SIM's clarion call and intends to do its part to reverse the trend of increasing seminarian debt levels that debilitate one's ministry well beyond seminary years. 

• The first of the resolutions related to SIM (Resolution A106) was in response to the call of the 2006 Convention in Columbus for study of the issue of seminarian indebtedness and the development of a comprehensive program to address the issue.  At this 2009 Convention the Standing Commission on Ministry Development recommended SIM's Three Phase Plan to Limit, Manage and Help Ordinands Successfully Repay Accumulated Debt be adopted as the national strategy for the Episcopal Church. 

• The second resolution (Resolution C013) originally requested $450,000 be allocated over the triennium to support seminarians in a way that would have brought the 2012 funding to approximately equal SIM's 2009 grant total.  Though C013 was passed by both houses, it was cut to $200,000 by the Program, Budget and Finance Committee (PB&F).  We still consider the convention's action a significant victory for the future ordained leaders of the Church for two reasons.  Any funding is an historic change for the Church, and funding at this time of great economic pressures is a statement that the Church is aligning itself with SIM to put a stop to the growing crisis of increasing seminarian debt loads. 

Both resolutions quote the research on seminarian debt carried out by SIM each year and praise the work and ministry of SIM.  In A106 the 76th Convention recognizes the value of SIM's efforts and plans to disseminate resources to lay and ordained leaders in dioceses across the country.  C013 specifically directs the funds be administered by SIM through SIM's scholarship program. 

We must take note of the historical importance of this action.  This is the first time in the history of General Convention that funding has been allocated in support of theological education --- either in support of seminaries or seminarians.  Until the 76th General Convention, the Episcopal Church was the only major denomination in the United States without a central funding source for the support of its seminarians.

Our hearty thanks to the Deputies who got the ball rolling on these resolutions: the Rev. Elizabeth Kaeton of Newark and the Very Rev. Kevin Martin of Dallas.  In addition, we offer gratitude to our SIM alumni who served on PB&F: Bishop George Councell of New Jersey, Bishop Keith Whitmore, and Canon John Floberg from North Dakota.  The Rt. Rev. Andrew D. Smith of Connecticut, while not a SIM grant recipient, serves as Vice-Chair of PB&F and as an honorary member of the SIM Board.   "Thank you and God bless you!"

Now to the task of being good stewards of these funds and of the trust newly placed in the work and ministry of SIM!