Diocesan Innovation Grants

Miracles arise from disruptions. We experienced significant disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Diocese of Los Angeles, as well as during the Eaton and Palisades Fires. Immersed in Worship: Welcoming Children into Intergenerational Worship is rooted in these experiences within the Diocese of Los Angeles. During the pandemic, our congregations were closed to in-person worship for more than ten months, in-person education in Los Angeles was suspended for more than a year in many cases, and our worship and formation of disciples of Jesus was disrupted. We are still recovering from that disruption. The Palisades and Eaton fires impacted every person in the Los Angeles area. We see the possibility of a miracle from these disruptions through a focus on worship and prayer with children. 

The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles is excited to offer our first round of Diocesan Innovation Grants for worshipping congregations and their leaders to apply for through our Immersed in Worship: Welcoming Children into Intergenerational Worship Initiative. As one of the nation’s most ethnically diverse geographic areas, we are larger than one-fifth of the states of the United States. Our diversity offers an opportunity to learn, share, and explore how children are nurtured in prayer and worship across different cultures, and to learn from one another to grow in our ministry with children. 

Intergenerational worship is the practice of intentionally gathering people of all ages together in the same worship space and experience, recognizing that the whole Body of Christ is present when infants, children, youth, adults, and elders pray, sing, listen, and respond together. Rather than separating children from the main worshiping community, intergenerational worship honors their spiritual capacity, gives them visible roles in the liturgy, and creates space for all to grow in faith through mutual presence and participation. It invites us to see children not only as future leaders but as full members of the Church right now—shaping how we worship, how we listen for God, and how we live as disciples of Jesus.

Building on the successful strategy of our One Body and One Spirit Appeal, individual and congregational innovation grants will be provided to facilitate the nurturing of children (0-12) in worship and prayer. This may include:

• Congregational gatherings, purchasing materials, developing relationships with liturgical artists and musicians, and creating resources. 
• Establishing a soft space at the front of a church, innovative worship bags for children to use during services, or adaptive worship spaces for children with neurodiversity.
• Communities may establish new all-ages Eucharists, host special formation events such as intergenerational prayer stations, or offer intergenerational dinner church opportunities.
• Collaboration on programs with other churches, community groups, or with the unchurched in their local community. 
• Funds to support the time and cost to write and publish curriculum developed or a how-to guide of successful ministry with children in your local community or context.  

Scholarships for continuing education will be offered to clergy, lay leaders, and volunteers to deepen their learning in ways that support children’s worship and prayer practices. This may include focusing on intergenerational preaching, becoming more comfortable leading congregational singing, or participating in regional or national training opportunities. Stipends will be available for clergy to take a Sunday to experience worship in other worshiping communities and observe how other communities worship with children. 

By focusing on children’s needs and living into the call of our robust Episcopal theology on the true place of children in our congregations, we can nurture their faith and deepen our own faith as we follow children where they lead us. 

Selection Criteria for Grants, Scholarships, and Stipends

Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles – Immersed in Worship Initiative

As part of the Immersed in Worship: Welcoming Children into Intergenerational Worship initiative, the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles invites applications for grants, scholarships, and stipends that support the spiritual formation of children (0-12) through worship and prayer. Proposals will be reviewed using the following criteria:

General Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be affiliated with a congregation, school, or institution that is legally affiliated with the  Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.
• Demonstrate alignment with the goals of the Immersed in Worship initiative: nurturing the faith of children, ages 0-12, through worship and prayer in intergenerational, inclusive, and imaginative ways.
• Commit to participating in diocesan cohort learning opportunities, resource sharing, and evaluation processes as applicable.

Grants (Congregational or Project-Based)

Funding Amount: Between $250 and $5000, dependent on project scope. 

Selection Criteria:

1. Mission Alignment: The proposal clearly supports the inclusion and spiritual growth of children in worship and prayer practices.
   
2. Congregational Engagement: Demonstrates strong local leadership (clergy, lay, and volunteer) committed to involving children in the worshipping life of the community.
   
3. Creativity & Innovation: Introduces new or adapted liturgical, musical, artistic, or spiritual practices that center children in worship.
   
4. Intergenerational Focus: Prioritizes shared worship experiences for people of all ages, not just children, in isolation.
   
5. Cultural & Contextual Sensitivity: Reflects the language, traditions, and cultures of the congregation’s local context, especially in our diverse diocese.
   
6. Sustainability & Impact: Demonstrates potential for long-term integration into congregational life and meaningful spiritual impact.
   
7. Collaboration & Sharing: Willingness to share learnings and resources with other congregations..

Scholarships (Professional Development) Offered on A Rolling Basis

Funding Amount: Typically covers a portion of registration and travel for relevant conferences or training up to $1000

Selection Criteria:

1. Direct Ministry Application: The training opportunity directly relates to the applicant’s ministry with children in worship and prayer.
   
2. Leadership Development: The experience will build the applicant’s capacity as a formation leader or worship planner.
   
3. Commitment to Sharing: Applicant is committed to sharing learning with their community and diocesan cohorts.
   
4. Connection to Initiative Goals: Preference will be given to those attending trainings related to intergenerational worship, Godly Play, Forma, Music That Makes Community, the Royal School of Church Music, or similar organizations.

Stipends (Exploration & Exchange)

Funding Amount: Small stipend to cover supply clergy so leaders can visit other congregations.

Selection Criteria:

1. Exploration Purpose: The visit is intended to observe, learn from, and be inspired by congregations centering children in worship.
2. Reflection & Application: The Applicant outlines how the experience will inform their own ministry or congregation’s worship life.
3. Willingness to Share: The Applicant commits to documenting and sharing insights with diocesan networks.

Additional Considerations for All Awards

• Multiple Applications: Individuals from the same congregation may apply, particularly in different categories.
• Equity & Access: Priority will be given to under-resourced congregations, ministries in non-dominant culture contexts, and those experimenting in multilingual or multicultural settings.
• Evaluation & Storytelling: Recipients must participate in brief evaluations and storytelling to share impact and learnings with the wider diocese.

2025 Grant Timeline

Grant Application

Grant application is here. Make sure to read the requirements  below.

1. Has your Rector, Vicar, Priest-in-Charge, or Senior Warden agreed to write a letter of endorsement for this application? (Letters to be uploaded with this application submission, PDF format preferred) 
2. Do you have someone who will serve as the Project Coordinator? Who is it? 
3. Do you have a project team of 3-5 people who will serve with the Project Coordinator?
4. Can you commit that the Project Coordinator and Project Team will:
   1. 1. Attend an initial online gathering of all grant recipients on Saturday, November 22 at 10:30 am?
      2. Participate in cohort learning opportunities, resource sharing, and evaluation processes 
      3. Host an Immersed children’s ministry workshop at your church
5. Applicant’s name, address, phone number, and email address
6. Name of Project/Program for which funding is requested:
7. Keeping in mind the seven points of the selection criteria, how will this program or project address the purposes of the Immersed Project to support children in worship and prayer? What research, including talking to children, have you done to prepare your application? Why are you applying? (approximately 500 words)
8. Amount requested
   1. Please provide a line item budget for the project – Find a draft line item budget here. We do not expect that your budget will look exactly like this, it is only provided for an example.
   2.  In addition to a basic line-item budget, please include a brief narrative budget (approximately 1–2 paragraphs) that explains how and why funds will be used. This helps reviewers understand the intention behind your spending and how it supports your ministry goals.

   Your narrative budget should:

   1. Describe how each major expense supports the goals of your project
   2. Clarify any unique or creative costs (e.g., artist stipends, adaptive materials, food for events)
   3. Note any in-kind support or matching funds (if applicable)
   4. Emphasize how the funding will help engage children in worship and prayer. 

   This doesn’t need to be complex—just a clear story of how your budget brings your vision to life.

9. Have other funds been requested for this purpose?
   1. From whom
   2. When
   3. Amount
10. Are there other funds available for this purpose from other sources?
11. Please list the name, address, email, website, and phone number of your church.

For Scholarship Applications (Individual Learning/Training)

Scholarship Application

Please respond to the following questions:

1. What learning opportunity are you applying for (e.g., conference, certification, training)? Include the name, date, and location of the program.
2. How does this experience directly support your ministry with children in worship and prayer?
3. What skills, knowledge, or insight do you hope to gain? How do you plan to apply what you learn in your congregation or ministry setting?
4. How will you share your learning with others in your congregation and/or in the diocesan network?

Resource Recommendations

The Children’s Charter for the Church is an act of General Convention, providing a vision of The Episcopal Church’s ministry in nurturing children, ministering to and advocating on behalf of children, and supporting children in their ministries. 

Podcast

The Effective Ministry Podcast – Beginner’s Guide to Intergenerational Ministry 

All Ages Worship: Shifting Language and Why it Matters – The article discusses the idea of shifting from “family services” to “all ages worship” to create a more inclusive and engaging worship experience for people of all ages. 

Engaging Children in Worship: Perspectives for Churches to Consider

Videos

What is Intergenerational Ministry?