Welcome to SIM (The Society for the Increase of Ministry),

 

Whether you are a seminarian, a former SIM grant recipient (alumni), a faithful contributor to SIM, or a lay Episcopalian mindful that our seminarians are the future ordained leadership in the Episcopal Church, we welcome you to the SIM web site.

 

As it has since its inception in 1857, SIM, an independent, non-profit 501(c) 3 organization, provides financial, pastoral and advocacy support to those preparing for ordained parish and chaplaincy ministries in the Episcopal Church. Throughout our history we have provided more than $6 million in assistance to nearly 5,000 men and women during their seminary years. The Church's aspiration for dedicated, faithful, articulate, well educated and well trained ordained leaders remains the same as it did more than 150 years ago. Over that century and a half SIM has awarded annual needs- based scholarships to Episcopal postulants and candidates, most of whom became leaders as parish priests and many, bishops. Currently 27% of Episcopal bishops were recipients of SIM grants.

 

In 1857 a visionary group of seven clergy and one layman met in Hartford to discuss an organization to "find" suitable young men [sic] "and aid them in acquiring a thorough education." While SIM has remained true to its founding mission, supporting those answering God's call to serve the Episcopal Church has changed considerably. Support mechanisms for seminarians are no longer simply supplied by one or two sources, such as from the seminarians' sponsoring parish, diocese or the seminary itself. Seminarians now commonly seek support from a variety of resources-including debt financing, which surveys show have reached levels of crisis proportions. In its advocacy role SIM has raised the Church's awareness of the increasing debt loads that debilitate one's ministry well beyond seminary years.

 

SIM, with its rich mission history and important relevant ministry, is the only national organization in the Episcopal Church actively raising funds to offer centralized financial, pastoral and advocacy support for Episcopal seminarians. Beyond need-based scholarships, SIM is weighing merit scholarships as a means for "finding" as well as "aiding" future ordained leaders of the Episcopal Church. Our mission to support future ordained leadership in the Episcopal Church is an exciting one to fulfill.

 

We encourage you join us, be a visionary like the Hartford "seven" and help shape the future of the Episcopal Church by boldly supporting SIM's ministry.

 

Faithfully,

 

Thomas Moore III
Executive Director