The Diocese of North East India and the Diocese of Santa Maria, Brazil each received grants from the Church Missions Publishing Company (CMPC) at the meeting of its Board of Managers in May.
The Diocese of North East India is surrounded by other countries - Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar. It is comprised of people who speak many languages and dialects. Among the priorities listed on its web site are the Rejuvenation of Pastoral Ministry and the Equipping of God's people for Participatory Learning. As a result of this grant of $3,000, the diocese will be able to publish pastoral and liturgical material in the languages and dialects of its people: Diocesan Rules and Guidelines will be printed in Assamese and English; copies of the Service of Dedication for a Church Building and of the Order of the Lord's Supper will be printed in Assamese; copies of the Confirmation Service will be printed in Karbi; and copies of Prayers for Special Occasions will be printed in both the Assamese and Khasi languages.
The Diocese of Santa Maria is in Southern Brazil (web site). Anglican chaplaincies were established in Brazil in 1810, with missionary work dating to 1889. In more recent times, Brazil has undergone what has been called an explosion in the growth of Pentecostal churches. In addition, as a country Brazil has encountered great economic and social upheaval. The Bishop of Santa Maria, the Right Rev. Jubal Neves, comments, "We are facing a very complicated time when many sites and booklets arise. The Church needs to offer good materials in order to avoid losing identity and [our] singular role as Anglicans today." The grant to him of $3,000 will go to publish a book of diocesan pastoral letters to help foster Anglican identity in the Latin American context.
CMPC uses interest from an endowment put in place by West Hartford native Edith Beach and her sisters. Beach was "a pillar of St. James' Church." She and her sisters funded The Pan-Anglican, a magazine about mission in the Anglican Communion established and edited by then bishop, The Rt. Rev. Walter Gray. When the magazine ceased publication, the endowments came to support missionary publications.
Applications for grants may be found here. The deadlines are 15 April for Spring grants and 15 November for Fall grants. The maximum grant is normally $3,000.
For more information, please contact the Rev. Rachel W. Thomas at (860) 873-9547.