Our Faith Our Hope
Capital Campaign Parish Case Statement

Anglican parishes in Toronto face key challenges as they work to meet the needs of their communities, from changing demographics to aging buildings. Resources are needed to help parishes like Grace Church build on their historic role as vibrant centres of community.

Which is why a $50 million Diocesan Ministry Campaign has been launched in Toronto, called “Our Faith – Our Hope: Re-Imagine Church”. It is being conducted in all congregations and parishes in the Diocese throughout 2011, and will provide financial resources to meet the challenges facing our parishes and Diocesan ministries.

The needs supported by these funds will significantly influence the future mission of the Diocese and allow parishes like Grace Church to build on our successes and maintain relevance and centrality in the future.

Our Centenary Opportunity

2012 marks 100 years on our Lonsdale Avenue/Russell Hill Road site, and we intend to mark that milestone. A Centenary is the opportune time not only to look back over our history, but to look ahead and plan for our future – a future where our parish is able to maintain and grow its role in the evolving community it serves.

To that end, a Strategic Planning Group has been formed to consider what programs and structures we require in order to make Grace flourish in our second century. With funds pledged from this campaign, we can implement our vision - a vision that includes community building, arts & music, and accessibility.

The Strategic Planning Group has reviewed the input we received from you, our parishioners, at the town hall consultative “Whither Grace?” meetings held this past year. During this process we worked with you to review the needs and aspirations of our congregation.

A master plan based on these consultations will be constructed, which will include a physical master-plan of accessibility, providing options and price points.

Our Centenary Goal

Grace Church is participating enthusiastically in this autumn’s Diocesan ministry campaign, and our parish will retain a portion of the funds that we raise.

Our parish goal is to raise $905,000 by year-end, to be pledged over a five-year period. Grace Church will receive 40% of the funds that we raise (or $362,000 if we meet our goal) to help fund our parish’s needs, and we will retain 75% of all funds raised above our goal.

Our Centenary Plan

In our 99^th year on this site, our vision is to renew Grace Church for a second century as a flourishing all-age Christian community with a deep level of engagement for our parishioners. The funds returned to our parish will be directed to future projects in the following areas:

Accessibility - Refreshing and rebuilding how we get into and around our church buildings.

• Improving the aesthetics, use and hospitality of the property. Access into and within the church is essential for welcoming worship, music and events.

• Reviewing the use of our space and structures.

• Ensuring our church meets our needs now and for the future, in a sustainable fashion.

• Priorities include: barrier-free access, improved washrooms, and enhanced signage.

Community Building- Finding fresh ways to develop our programs & community.

• Funding for programs to help us serve our community, including Children & Families, Outreach, Parish Hospitality, and Volunteer Co-ordination.

• Reinforcing Christian Formation, Education, and Worship as integral to our ministry - being a church of lifelong learning and enrichment for all ages.

• Being more innovative - using Communications and technology to reach out to a digital world.

Arts & Music - Evolving into a centre for Arts & Music by building on the unique character of our Choral tradition.

• Encouraging teaching, learning, and performance.

• Supporting the artistic community by offering an improved venue, with enhanced sound and lighting.