At last week's annual meeting of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) of the Diocese of Connecticut, SIM's booth was visited by many well informed Episcopal women who were excited to learn about this church-wide ministry in their home diocese. A past president of the organization proclaimed, "SIM is the best kept secret in The Episcopal Church." 

Astonishing!  Was her comment a compliment or a challenge SIM must take on?  Why are we not well known in the diocese where our ministry was founded in Hartford in 1857; from where our financial scholarships have been dispensed over 153 years to over 5000 seminarians across the nation; and when SIM is the only organization raising funds on a national basis to support our future ordained leaders?

The reason for SIM functioning under the radar screen of most Episcopalians may lie in assumptions made (either consciously or not) about funding of theological education in The Episcopal Church (TEC).  Do you know that...:

• Except for the 2009 General Convention budgeting $200,000 over this triennium for SIM to administer for relieving seminarian debt, TEC has not financially supported seminaries or seminarians?  
• The decades-long effort to support theological education through promotion of Theological Education Sunday has produced only a small number of parishes which respond?  
• Seminarian support from sponsoring dioceses and parishes has diminished markedly because of tight budgets and immediate needs?  
• Financially stressed seminaries have difficulty maintaining scholarship aid? 

The situation of funding their theological education has placed much of the burden on the seminarians themselves...thus today's seminarian debt problem and an untenable situation for the future of The Episcopal Church.

At that ECW meeting of 350 committed, dedicated and knowledgeable Episcopalians, SIM conducted a one question, multiple-choice survey, "What is the primary source for funding a seminarian's education?"  The results from this knowledgeable audience in a diocese that houses an Episcopal seminary were revealing: 

• 50%  Seminarian's own resources
• 24%  I don't know
• 8 % National Church
• 6%  Seminarian's home diocese
• 6%  Seminarian's home parish
• 6%  Seminarian's seminary

We need your help to raise the awareness of this crisis and of SIM's ministry with our potential to solve this problem of funding theological education in The Episcopal Church. Our ministry is important to every Episcopalian.

Why are we still a secret? Please send your comments to t.moore@simministry.org or reply to this eCall. 

Faithfully,