Resolution EC22to24FIN 066

Resolved, That the Executive Council wishes to enable the expansion of ministries to people of Chinese descent; and be it further 

Resolved, That because certain board directed trust funds have been restricted for ministry to Chinese of the Dispersion (post-Communist takeover); it is hereby   

Resolved, That the Executive Council directs the Treasurer to grant $20,000 to be made available in 2024 and 2025 to partner with the Foundation for Theological Education in Asia and the Pacific, and the China Christian Council, to provide graduate study scholarships for faculty development; and be it further   

Resolved, That the Executive Council directs the Treasurer to grant $30,000 to be made available in 2024 and 2025 for a premedical scholarship for undergraduate study; and be it further  

Resolved, That the Executive Council directs the Treasurer to grant $15,000 to be made available in 2024 to the Diocese of Taiwan for extraordinary travel and meeting costs during General Convention 2024, and in preparation for the 70^th Anniversary of the Diocese of Taiwan.   

The grant request from the Foundation for Theological Education in Asia and the Pacific (FTEAP), comes at the urging of Nanjing Theological University Seminary (NJUTS) and China Christian Council (CCC), to reach out to mainline denominational partners for ecumenical grant assistance. Scholarship support from the China Fund will assist in faculty development for NJUTS as an incubator for ministry among and for persons of Chinese ancestry in China.  

Ecumenical partnership grant assistance recognizes the need to support the recent successful transition in the leadership of the China Christian Council/Three Self Patriotic Movement (the official Church bodies in China), as its four new senior officers will visit the US in August 2024.  

The proposed China Fund grant of $20,000 to be awarded during 2024 and 2025, is requested for graduate study scholarship assistance. The Episcopal Church contribution of $5,000 per student per annum is part of approximately $80,000 in ecumenical funding, including ongoing support for Ms. Yanan Lu at the Graduate Theological Union to complete her PhD program in May 2025.  

The second grant of $30,000 over two years responds to a request from the Rev. Walter Lau, an ordained priest from the Anglican Church of Hong Kong (HKSKH) now serving in the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island (EDLI).  It will provide partial support ($15K of a total $84K) for premedical study for his son at John Hopkins University.  China Trust funds designate 9% of dividends for medical work support, including education and training of doctors, nurses, and technicians. This request is the first in ten years from this China Fund category.

The third request, from Bishop Lennon Chang, will provide $15,000 in support of the $42,000 cost to send 8 members to General Convention 2024; and assist in the preparation for the 70^th Anniversary celebration of the Taiwan Sei Ko Kai as the Episcopal Diocese of Taiwan.  The funds will be combined with $8,000 in GC travel support provided by Province VIII.  The China Fund and PVIII grants will provide about 50% of the total cost.  The Diocese will seek additional partners for the work required to expand the diocese in line with a 15-year development plan now underway in the Diocese of Taiwan.

The China Trust funds will generate an expected dividend of approximately 290,289.50 in 2024, which must be allocated as follows:

China Fund grants in 2024 and 2025 would provide $20,000 for Education; $30,000 for medical training: and $15,000 in 2024 for Evangelism.