The Financial Assistance Policy for Lay Ecclesial Ministers governs the application for and disbursement of the resources of the Anselm Fund.
The policy applies to lay people who meet the eligibility criteria, have completed the application process and are pursuing formal academic or professional training with the intention of temporary or permanent service to the church.
Formal academic or professional training is understood as undergraduate or graduate level course work approved at the discretion of the Office for Lay Ecclesial Ministry.
Grant applicants to the Anselm Fund must agree to the following conditions:
- The student bears full responsibility for all educational and personal expenses incurred for academic or professional training for formal ecclesial ministry.
- The student bears annual responsibility for applying for financial aid in the forms of educational grants, scholarships and loans. Copies of all financial aid documentation are submitted to the Office for Lay Ecclesial Ministry.
- The primary type of financial assistance is ordinarily for tuition only. The amount of assistance shall not exceed 50 percent of the total charges per approved course.
- Courses must be taken for credit. Courses registered as audit or pass/fail do not qualify for funding.
- The cumulative maximum amount of financial assistance awarded to an individual shall not exceed $10,000.
- Approval or denial of an application, as well as the amount disbursed, is solely at the discretion of the director of the Office for Lay Ecclesial Ministry and the Financial Assistance Review Board. Denied applications may not be appealed.
- The student and the director of the Office for Lay Ecclesial Ministry must sign two copies of the Financial Policy Agreement for Lay Ecclesial Ministry. One copy is kept on file in the diocesan office, and one copy is given to the applicant.
- Funds must be used in the grant year for which they are requested.
- The financial agreement is in effect for one year. The applicant may seek to renew the agreement after this period. The renewal date is determined by the date of the original agreement. An applicant's compliance with the agreement is reviewed prior to its renewal.
- Under no circumstance is approval for financial assistance presumed to be a guarantee of employment in the Diocese of Greensburg.
