Episcopal Community Services

THE BISHOP'S ANNUAL APPEAL & EPISCOPAL COMMUNITY SERVICES

The Bishop’s Annual Appeal is the vehicle by which Episcopal Community Services (ESC) is supported by the communicants and congregations of the Diocese of Ohio. This annual fundraising effort is essential to ECS’s ability to help parishes fund ministries to the communities they serve. Every year monies raised through the Appeal provide: formational positions for recently ordained clergy; youth and adult mission work in this diocese and beyond; diocesan internships for high school and college students; and other initiatives that build up the vitality for our church. These are ministries in which we share and that we make possible through our combined gifts and ministries. Together we will build communities that grow in love, that give in spiritual fidelity to God, and that serve the world as the very body of Jesus.

 Funding Criteria

• Encourage education and advocacy
• Strong Episcopal Church participation and support
• Volunteerism: Important to engage Episcopal volunteers from our congregations

Episcopal Community Services (ECS)

Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? ... Then shall your light break forth like the dawn... Isaiah 58:6, 8a

Mission Statement and Core Values

Episcopal Community Services (ECS) exists as a faith-centered organization which works to bring restoration, healing and liberation to the needy.The mission of ECS is to promote a reconciling Episcopal witness that encourages service, compassion, and liberation for “the least of these.”

ECS Objectives

To serve those in critical need through Episcopal parish programming, parishioners, and collaborative community services;

To encourage liberation of those in need through education and through advocating for change in systems that create need;

• To adhere to our theological mandate to "do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God." Micah 6:8

How We Live Our Mission

• Through the collection and organization of programmatic and financial resources for the journey, in particular conducting an annual campaign;

• Through grant distributions to Episcopal congregations and collaborative community initiatives that serve the needs of the community;

• Through support to Episcopal congregations and collaborative community initiatives that educate and advocate for systemic change, justice, and liberation;

Through strategic grant making initiatives that increase Episcopal presence, expand Episcopal witness, and promote the reconciling love of God in the lives of the needy and oppressed in our community.