Rule change will help churches tap into £25m growth fund

Churches will find it easier to access a share of £25 million worth of funding after the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland unanimously agreed to a change of application criteria.

The Church of Scotland's Seeds for Growth fund allows congregations to apply for grants ranging from £1000 to £100,000 to support church growth.

Now even more churches will be eligible to claim a share of the pot following an amendment proposed by Isle-of-Lewis minister Rev Tommy MacNeil.

Mr McNeil, minister of Martin's Memorial Church in Stornoway and convenor of the Church of Scotland's Faith Action Leadership Team, warned that the existing criteria, which focussed on projects aimed at planting new worshipping communities and working with the under-40s, was too restrictive, preventing churches from building on the good work they are already doing.

His proposed amendment to the Assembly Trustees' report will allow more existing churches to benefit from Seeds of Growth funding by adding that funding will now be available to "foster discipleship and revitalisation within established congregations with the aim of growing an existing congregation or developing a new worshipping community."

He told the Assembly: "We want to take the whole Church on a journey to a new brighter and better future.

"I think there is so much remarkable work being done by our existing congregations, but the end fruit of that may not be a new worshipping community. It may also be growth within them."

The amendment received widespread support from Assembly commissioners and was passed without the need for a vote.

Assistant minister Rev Fiona Crawford was among the delegates welcoming the amendment.

"I think that what Tommy is proposing is going to be really helpful for congregations that are wanting to revitalise and do things differently," she said.

Empowering congregations

Mr MacNeil was delighted to see the change to Seed for Growth funding rules receive the full backing of the General Assembly.

"I had an issue with the criteria. It was just far too restrictive," he explained.

"We have had two or three incidents of people who are doing amazing work, but when they went to Seeds for Growth, they found that they didn't meet the criteria.

"My amendment this morning invited the whole Church to be part of a new season going towards a new future, planting new churches, ministering to under-40s and seeing refreshed, renewed and revitalised churches."

Mr MacNeil believes this change will help empower local churches to grow and play a more important role within their communities.

"We have amazing people and they are our greatest asset," he said.

"I am keen to mobilise, encourage, enthuse and then resource those on the ground. As a result of that amendment we have passed, we are in a sense giving mission back to the local church and not only saying that, but putting forward significant resources."

He believes his own church in Stornoway, with its thriving youth and schools and young adults ministry, provides an example of what can be achieved with the right encouragement and support.

"We have achieved that without significant change, but by just being willing to engage with young people where they are," he said.

"I am genuinely convinced that under-40s are asking the questions and there is a degree of spirituality among them that is untapped. We need to relate to that and we need to engage with that."

Following the approval of the amendment, Rev Neil Glover, convenor of the Seeds for Growth committee made a plea for churches to apply for funding.

"I have a dream that in the Assembly of the future, it will be filled with people who have been part of Seeds for Growth projects," he said.

"Please get your applications in to make that happen."

To learn more about Seeds for Growth, please visit

https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/connect/seeds-for-growth