What is the Chalice Lighter program?
The Chalice Lighter program of the Southeast District is a program which encourages and supports growth of Unitarian Universalism in the Southeast District, by awarding grants to member congregations and clusters. Grants are awarded for both traditional and innovative growth projects. Examples include:
Traditional grant projects:
Calling a minister, hiring RE professional, volunteer coordinator, music director, or other professional staff; buying a building or land; leasing a building or land; constructing a new building or renovating an existing one.
Innovative growth projects
:
New signage or other ways to increase visibility; innovative adult or youth programming; video broadcasting of program(s); innovative advertising or community relations, including new web sites; satellite or branch church startup; outreach program to enhance diversity in congregation; two or more congregations working together.
A short, but proud, history
The SED Chalice Lighter program was created in 1987 and has grown into one of the largest Chalice Lighter programs in the UUA. About half our calls help congregations obtain or settle their first minister or other first time professional staff. Other calls help to build, renovate, or improve facilities. A few congregations have gotten a boost when constructing all-new church homes, but most of the calls were for much needed, but more modest renovations of newly purchased or existing properties. Many of these projects were done, at least in part, by the members themselves; Chalice Lighters provided the building materials.
Pooling hundreds of checks of $15, $25, and more, has meant a lot to over 50 of our neighboring congregations since 1988, but opportunities for growth still abound in our district and the continued support of Chalice Lighters is critical. In the almost 25 years of Chalice Lighter program, more than $860,000 has been raised, one check at a time. In recent years, a typical grant has been around $25,000.
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