Heart of England Baptist Association

Heart of England Baptist Association is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1080529).

The Heart of England Baptist Association is a charitable company that exists to advance the Christian faith in the heart of England, especially through the principles of the Baptist denomination. A budget received from the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB) is allocated in support of ministry in churches. Through its Grants Group, it provided grants to 13 churches and projects, 6 individuals and 6 organisations, and its annual report gives £80,107 awarded. Its programmes include one-off mission grants of up to £3,000, HEBA Grants of up to £1,000, and various grants supporting ministers and their studies.

Priority Areas

The Association advances Christian faith through the Baptist denomination and supports Baptist churches in their ministry and mission, as well as the communities they serve. Its grants help churches fund ministry—including accredited and unaccredited ministers, pastors and ministers in training—one-off mission projects, equipment and pioneer work. It also provides grants for ministers’ postgraduate and sabbatical studies and has a fund for young people from its churches. Grants are allocated in line with available funds. Churches with lower reserves receive priority for ministry grants; mission-project applicants are expected to contribute their own funds, and recipients of one-off grants are asked for a brief report after the event.

Themes

• Baptist church ministry
• Church mission projects
• Church equipment
• Pioneer ministry
• Ministers’ studies

Geographic Focus

Priority: West Midlands: Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and 3 more counties in United Kingdom.

Church and minister applications require support from their Regional Minister, who is the first point of contact; application forms are obtained from the Finance Manager.

Deadlines: Applications are due at least two weeks before a Grants Group meeting; meetings are held in February, May, July, September and November.

Who can apply:

• BU Mission Project Grants: It is expected that churches will be using some of their own funds as well as requesting the grant.
• Grants for Ministers: The grant should be applied for by the church and minister jointly.
• Grants for Pioneers
  • Led by an accredited minister or someone recognised as a pioneer by a Baptist Church or Association.
  • Pioneer needs to be ‘employed’ by a Baptist church or Baptist organisation or by a constituted group in covenant relationship with HEBA. HEBA will not be the employer.
• HEBA Energy Saving and Conservation Grants
  • The grants will focus on small churches (40 or less members).
  • The church should have undertaken some kind of energy audit to map out the carbon footprint of the building – this could be engaging with Eco-church scheme or BMS carbon footprint calculator (see website links below).
  • The church should provide a clear indication of how the proposed works will reduce their carbon footprint and by what amount.
  • The church should currently being using a sustainable energy supplier – renewable electricity, offsetting gas usage (subject to current contract limitations in which case a firm commitment to do so at a future date must be provided).
• Helen Youth Fund: Applicants should be young people from within our churches to encourage the use of their gifts and the development of their leadership skills.

What to send:

• BU Mission Grants: A copy of the previous year’s accounts.
• HEBA Energy Saving and Conservation Grants
  • An energy audit to map out the carbon footprint of the building.
  • A clear indication of how the proposed works will reduce the carbon footprint and by what amount.
  • A firm commitment to use a sustainable energy supplier at a future date if current contract limitations prevent this currently.
• Grants for Pioneers
  • Agree outcomes (what is purpose of the project and what can be expected).
  • Pioneer needs to sign up to Continual Ministerial (Personal) Development.
  • Relevant Safeguarding training must be completed.

Applying again: HEBA Energy Saving and Conservation Grants: A maximum of one grant application every three years will be applied.

What the charity says:

• Churches with reserves below £25,000 receive priority for BU Mission Grants.
• Mission-project applicants are expected to use some of their own funds alongside the grant.
• Recipients of one-off mission project grants are asked to send a brief report after the event.
• Pioneer projects should agree their purpose and expected outcomes.