anselmfund

 

​Those who are engaged in ecclesial ministry help to equip the whole community for the work of carrying out the mission of Jesus Christ, to announce to the whole world the good news of the love and mercy of God. ​The name of Anselm was given to the fund that specifically supports the educational formation of lay ecclesial ministers.

Established as a result of the generosity of contributors to the 2000-01 diocesan capital campaign, "Honoring Our Past...Shaping Our Future," the Anselm Fund provides financial assistance for the initial and ongoing educational formation of men and women for service of the church to acquire the appropriate formation needed to fulfill their responsibility properly.

Persons who desire to further their formal or professional training in theology in preparation for serving in some area of ecclesial ministry may apply for a grant-in-aid from the Anselm Fund, administered by the diocesan Office for Lay Ecclesial Ministry.

Formal academic or professional training is understood to mean undergraduate or graduate level coursework. Financial assistance is awarded to individuals who satisfy the eligibility requirements and agree to the conditions set forth in the Financial Policy for Lay Ecclesial Ministers.​

​Applicants may be:

• Registered for continuing education credits
• Enrolled in a degree program
• Enrolls in a program that offers certification of competency in theology or ministry

An applicant must be registered at a diocesan parish. They must be a full-time or part-time employee, or be a volunteer in some area of pastoral ministry within the diocese.

The Financial Assistance Review Board serves as a consultative body to the director of the Office for Lay Ecclesial Ministry. Members of the review board conduct a blind review of the applications, make recommendations to approve or reject an application and offer advice about the amount of financial assistance to be awarded.​

1. The student achieves a minimum per course letter grade of "B," or the grade point value equivalent, for graduate level courses, and a "C," or the grade point value equivalent, for undergraduate level courses.
2. The student submits an official copy of the grade(s) for the approved course(s) to the Office for Lay Ecclesial Ministry.
3. In the event that criterion other than a letter grade is used to determine student achievement in a course or program of study (i.e., a written evaluation or a certificate of completion), the student provides the director of the Office for Lay Ecclesial Ministry with a copy of the evaluation signed by the instructor or program director, or a copy of the certificate of completion.

Failure to meet these conditions will result in forfeiture of financial assistance.​

​The total amount of financial assistance available for disbursement to an individual during any fiscal year is determined by the amount of available funds and by the number of approved applications.

In all cases, 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.

Financial assistance is limited to individuals studying at educational institutions approved by the Office for Lay Ecclesial Ministry for course work applicable to an area of ecclesial ministry appropriate to the laity.

Financial assistance is in the form of a grant applied for and given on an annual basis. The Anselm Fund does not make educational loans of any type.

​Financial assistance requests for expenses other than tuition and required course fees are considered ancillary types of financial assistance and fall under the description of "special circumstances." The director of the Office for Lay Ecclesial Ministry, in consultation with the financial assistance review board, determines the legitimacy of "special circumstance" requests. The decisions based on these determinations may not be appealed.​

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 diocesan 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. Course 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.