What difference could 1% make?

We hear it all the time. Parishes need good priests. Whether they are looking to fill an immediate opening or are looking further down the road, parishes are concerned about the future. Amid persistent clergy shortages, the question is as relevant now as ever: Who will be the next leader of your flock?

1% could make all the difference.

For 180 years, Nashotah House has trained and sent out orthodox leaders of high character who are ready serve wherever God calls them. In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in enrollment and substantial interest from prospective students.

To raise up the next generation of ordained and lay leaders, we need the commitment of the Church. An investment in today’s seminarians is an investment in the future leadership of the Church.

We’re seeking partner parishes that will commit 1% of their annual budget to theological education, continuing a funding commitment once affirmed by The Episcopal Church.

Anchored by our twice-daily chapel schedule, our students, faculty, and staff live, work, worship, serve, and eat in community with one another. Sustaining a rich community life, top-tier academics, and rigorous training for our students requires significant resources. Tuition does not cover even half the expense of a student’s education – a gap we make up through partnership with parishes and individual benefactors.

Meanwhile, attending seminary is costly for our students: Many leave full-time jobs and uproot their lives to devote their whole selves to answering God’s calling. As the cost of graduate-level education increases, we want to ensure students leave with as little debt as possible, allowing them to follow wherever God leads.

1% Parishes make this robust formation accessible to more students, enabling us to offset costs for seminarians and invest in our campus to grow our capacity.

When Coach Bear Bryant shockingly left Texas A&M to coach at Alabama, he explained the decision by saying, ‘Mama called, and when Mama calls, you just have to come running.’ I feel the same about giving at least 1% of our budget to Nashotah House—mama calls! 1% is the bare minimum alumni parishes need to commit to the House. While we were seminarians, the faculty, staff, and benefactors gave us 110%. Can’t we joyfully return just a small fraction thereof? Move over ‘pay it forward,’ because alumni need to pay it back—1% annually—in thanksgiving for the blessings and formation we received.

The Rev. Charleston Wilson, ‘13. Rector, Church of the Redeemer

HOW TO BECOME A 1% PARISH

1. Contact Senior Director of Advancement Robin Little at rlittle@ nashotah.edu or 202- 306-5352 to discuss your partnership.

2. Decide what gift frequency works best for your parish: a monthly, quarterly or annual gift amount based on your budget projections.

3. Stay in touch. Read updates from Nashotah House in The Missioner, The Chapter, and at nashotah.edu/news. Take a class on our campus. We want to hear from you too. Send us updates of what God is doing in your parish. Know that you remain in our prayers daily.

THE DIFFERENCE 1% MAKES

A 1% Parish with a $150,000 annual budget would fund the RESEARCH EXPENSES for a difference-making faculty member.

A 1% Parish with a $250,000 annual budget would fund CHAPEL EXPENSES for a year.

A 1% Parish with an $800,000 annual budget would fund a 50% ANNUAL TUITION STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP.