Faith in Action: Advocacy & Public Policy Ministry

The Legislative Session Moves Fast - How Can I Keep Up?

Join the Faith in Action Facebook page - you can see bills we're paying particular attention to, calls to action, and other related events to the topics we follow.

Sign Up for Email Updates:

Interfaith Alliance of Iowa weekly updates -they follow many of the issues we do, organize the update by topic, and include ways to take action. Sign up HERE.

One Iowa Action tracks LGBTQIA+ bills in the statehouse, send out action alerts, and offer other education and advocacy resources. Sign up HERE.

Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice follows immigration-related bills and they send out key updates and action steps weekly. Sign up HERE.

Safe Church

Summer Ministry School & Retreat

GILEAD Grant Spotlight

Participation in public events encourages the congregation to “get out there” and be with the people of our parish (parish as in a geography, not merely a congregation) and furthers our work of being present to wide groups of people and it is a public demonstration of our commitment to respect the dignity of every human being. This grant will extend funding of our evangelical presence in future Pride events and allow us to expand to other public events such as Band Fest Parade, Clear Lake July 4th Parade, Blessing of the Animals, Shrove Tuesday Pancakes. Having these materials furthers our ability to have an active, outward facing, posture in our community. Grant funds will be used to purchase items needed to create a physical exhibitor booth at indoor and outdoor events, to create custom marketing materials that can be distributed at various community events

We are expanding our new efforts to reach our congregation, the surrounding community and outward by improving internal communications, and through outreach through social media. In the last year we have used an internal gift to install a new internal network structure capable of handling streaming media. We hope to streamline communications to make it much easier for the clergy and volunteer members to create, manage, and communicate all the work being done by the parish. Grant funds will be used to fund the next phase in our plan to expand our technology for church management, communication and social media presence by purchasing a camera, wireless microphone, camcorder, and other equipment.

We plan to upgrade our current 1970’s system to a modern system, which includes a mixer, new microphones, and speakers, increasing our effectiveness to share God’s word. We are also requesting a portable system to use outdoors, which will facilitate our outreach in our community. We have had some comments made by members of the congregation that they cannot understand what is being said, and several of the microphones interfere with each other. These technology upgrades will help us relay the word of God for our congregation and community and expand the growth of our church. Grant funds will pay for the installation and materials for this new sound system.

We have many new members who recently came from other countries and they do not own cars, so most of them miss out on some of our Sunday service. We would like to pick them up, however we lack reliable means of transport. Having a vehicle will let us pick up church members from their home, take them to and from Sunday services and other church activities such as meeting with other church members at the park and youth camp. This will help us promote the Good News of Christ and bring people to church and keep them in the church. Grant funds will go toward the vehicle purchase, and we will ask the congregation to make contributions and fundraise to support the vehicle.

Mercy - Courage - Action

Mission: “Rooted in Mercy, fueled by Courage, and moved to Action, we choose grace over division, justice over indifference, and love over fear.” With this campaign we want to show our support for members of the Latinx and LGBTQ+ communities, for other marginalized peoples, and for Bishop Budde. This is a national campaign organized by our friend Dr. Catherine Meeks.

Scholarships Available

Educational scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year. Scholarships are designated for Native American youth; Black, Asian American, Chinese, and Hispanic students; and seminarians, among other listings. Read the scholarship trust fund list found on this page and identify in their application those funds that best fits your situation. All applicants must be Episcopalian and have the endorsement of their Episcopal bishop.

Funds Available

The Behavioral Health Ministry Team has limited funds to assist with co-payments for mental health related appointments (up to $50 per appointment). Funds are open to EVERYONE with ties to the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa and will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis.

ENews Submissions:

Content is due the 2nd Thursday of the month and submission information can be found here. This eNewsletter comes out monthly on the 3rd Thursday of each month.

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