Present: Betty Angelini, Chair; Lisa Allgood, Amy Duiker, Chip Hardwick, Skip Jackson, Georgia McCall 

Betty opened the meeting with prayer and Skip answered the introductory exercise: note your context, why you said “yes” to being on the team, and what are you looking forward to this summer: he’s honorably retired from his church in Columbus since October 2018 and is excited to be a part of the Grants team! 

The team approved the minutes from 24 March 2021 with a paragraph split on page 2 (1st paragraph; completed). The final minutes will be attached to the email with these draft minutes. M/S/A 

The team reviewed the Education Grant application and finalized all comments. This will be published on the Synod website and sent to Presbyters by the end of the week, as well as Pastors, PYC Chairs, and CPM Chairs. A special distribution will also be made to Korean and BIPOC pastors. The Synod staff will create a spreadsheet to facilitate review of applicants. 

Betty suggested that the full team split into two for grants reviews: one for the Education grants in the spring, and one for the Matthew 25 grants in the early fall. Georgia, Skip and Lisa requested Education Grant review due to potential conflicts in September. 

Betty requested to let her know of anyone who might be able to facilitate a grant writing seminar. 

ACTION ITEM: Lisa will distribute the final 24 March minutes, the final Education Grant application, and draft 12 April minutes. (Post meeting note: instructions and application distributed 13 April 2021). 

Our next meeting is 12 May, 2021, at 10AM. The Zoom link has been distributed. 

Coram Deo, Lisa 

Synod Mission Statement 

We, the Synod of the Covenant, in partnership with our presbyteries, congregations, the General Assembly and other faith communions, are called and sent by God to be a living, active and inclusive witness to the love of Christ. 

Matthew 25 embrace these areas of focus: 

• Building congregational vitality by challenging people and congregations to deepen their faith and get actively and joyfully engaged with their community and the world. 
• Dismantling structural racism by advocating and acting to break down the systems, practices and thinking that underlie discrimination, bias, prejudice and oppression of people of color. 
• Eradicating systemic poverty by working to change laws, policies, plans and structures in our society that perpetuate economic exploitation of people who are poor.