WIMSS provides small grants of $200-$2,000 to support women in ministry
Christian women are serving God faithfully in an incredible variety of ways in churches and ministries across Australia. Women are discipling others and evangelising in their communities. They are involved in church governance, providing pastoral care, preaching, leading bible-studies, children’s ministries, English classes, serving vulnerable groups and much more.
ADM’s Women in Ministry Support Scheme (WIMSS) is designed to support women as they faithfully serve Christ in churches across Australia.
WIMSS provides small grants of between $200 – $2,000 to be used for ministry resources, or for professional and theological development. The scheme is open to women in both paid and unpaid ministry roles, to those who are ordained and to women in lay ministry.
ADM awards up to a total of $30,000 in the WIMSS scheme. Applicants can apply for a minimum of $200 and a maximum of $2,000.
WIMSS News
Amy Townsend, the Membership and Ministry Director at Grace City Church, was one of 20 recipients of funding for ADM’s first Women in Ministry Support Scheme (WIMSS) in 2020.
Since 1891, ADM has been supporting and encouraging Christian women. ADM offers a number of funding schemes and initiatives to continue this legacy of supporting Christian women today, including our Fellowships Program and The Greenhouse. In 2020, ADM introduced the Women in Ministry Support Scheme (WIMSS) to support the unique needs of Christian women in ministry roles, and to make smaller grants available to a larger number of Christian women.
What do we mean by “Women in Ministry”?
“Women in ministry” refers to women in ordained or lay ministry and mission work, both paid and unpaid. It also includes women who are completing theological education and training for ministry and mission.
“Ministry” includes evangelism, bible teaching, discipleship, pastoral care and compassionate ministries. For the WIMSS program, “women in ministry” are based at a church or parachurch organisation.
WIMSS funding categories
Professional development and ministry training, including costs for attending conferences and training
Resources such as books, commentaries, apps and devices/computers
Theological education (up to a maximum of $1,000)
Set-up expenses for a ministry, such as design, printing, resources, equipment
Contribution to lost income during a period of maternity leave from a paid, continuing ministry position
Key Dates
Monday 21 August 2023 – Applications open
Monday 18 September 2023, 12.30-1.30pm – Information session for applicants (Hybrid: at ADM office or join us online via Zoom)
Tuesday 17 October 2023, 1pm AEST – Applications close
Tuesday 31 October 2023 – Notification of outcome of applications
Information Session
Date and time: Mon, 18 Sep 2023 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM AEST
Location: Anglican Deaconess Ministries. Level 1, St Andrew’s House, 464-480 Kent Street Sydney, NSW 2000
This information session is an opportunity to learn more about the application process for WIMSS in 2023, and to ask any questions you may have.
This session can be attended both in person at the ADM office, and online via zoom. We'd love to see you there!
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply you need to:
Be a citizen, resident or refugee of/in Australia
Be 18 years or older
Be a Christian woman
Have a personal commitment to ADM’s theological principles
Be serving in ministry at a church or parachurch organisation in Australia that is aligned with ADM’s theological principles
Not be a current or past (last 5 years) employee, consultant to or board member of ADM
Not have received funding from ADM in the last 5 years.
Assessment Criteria
The following criteria will be used to assess applications:
Eligibility: Each point of the eligibility criteria is met.
Demonstrated ministry needs: The application provides a strong case for the ministry needs identified, and the value of WIMSS funding in meeting these needs.
Demonstrated financial need: Financial needs are clearly identified in the application, as well as a budget/plan for addressing these needs using WIMSS funding.
Application Process
To apply, you will need to complete an online application form and provide four short written answers in the form. In your answers, you will be asked to share about your ministry, your Christian faith, and your funding support needs. You will also be asked to provide a statement of support from your minister or supervisor, as well as a mini-budget explaining how you plan to use WIMSS funds.
Applications will also need to state the amount of funding they are applying for (within the range of $200 – 2,000), and how they plan to use these funds in support of their ministries.
In your online application you will need to include:
A short paragraph about your ministry role: In this section, you will be asked to provide a short summary of the ministry you are involved in, and what your role involves.
A short paragraph about your Christian faith: In this section, you will be asked to share about your Christian faith, and to explain how your faith aligns with ADM’s theological principles. You will also need to provide a copy or link to the statement of faith of the church or parachurch organisation which your ministry is connected to.
A short paragraph explaining your ministry needs: In this section, you will be asked to clearly explain the needs of your ministry (or your professional/theological development needs), and how WIMSS funding will help to address these needs.
Please Note: Women applying under the category of ‘contribution to lost income during period of maternity leave from a continuing paid ministry position’ will not need to provide a response to this question, as this funding supports a period of leave from ministry.
A short paragraph explaining financial needs: In this section, you will be asked to clearly state the financial needs associated with your ministry, and why you need funding from WIMSS to meet these needs.
A short letter of support from your minister or supervisor: This can be an email or a formal letter. You will need to upload a copy or photo of this during the application process.
A mini-budget showing how you intend to use the funds: This can also include copies of receipts for past purchases (up to January 1, 2023), or quotes for proposed purchases (up to June 30, 2024).
Please Note: Women applying under the category of ‘contribution to lost income during period of maternity leave from a continuing paid ministry position’ will not need to provide a budget and receipts/quotes. Instead, you will need to provide evidence of continued employment and lost income during maternity leave, taking into account any other income sources such as the government’s paid parental leave. You can only apply for an amount equal to or below the amount of lost income. For example, an Assistant Minister on a salary of $60,000, who while on maternity leave is receiving $10,000 from her church and $18,000 from the government will have an income loss of $32,000. As a result, she could apply for the maximum WIMSS grant of $2,000.
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ADM announces 26 recipients of Women in Ministry Support Scheme grants
Anglican Deaconess Ministries (ADM) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Women in Ministry Support Scheme (WIMSS). ADM is delighted to award grants of up to $2,000 each to 26 Christian women from across Australia, empowering them in their diverse ministries.