Giving & Grants

Why give to the OMR?

The Ohio Mission Region (OMR) exists to coordinate state-wide efforts that go beyond what the individual mission districts in Ohio can accomplish on their own. These include supporting "Life to Life" start-up grants, Seminary grants, the annual Ohio Mission Region Convocation, and other endeavors as determined by the OMR council and/or requested by the mission districts of Ohio.

Who should give to the OMR?

Congregations should give to their respective mission districts at the same level that they had previously given to the Ohio Mission District (or $100 minimum per year if no precedent has been set) . The budgets of the individual mission districts have been formulated based on prior giving levels of member congregations to the former OMD.

If a congregation sends a check to the OMR, the OMR treasurer will, by policy of the OMR, pass the check along to the appropriate mission district dean or treasurer.

Is there a guideline for how much congregations or mission districts should donate?

Again, congregations should give to theirown mission districts rather than to the Ohio Mission Region. The five mission districts of Ohio would then support the OMR. The Convocation will be self-funded through registrations, however, the Life to Life grants will be funded through the OMR (for the forseeable future). Additionally, future statewide endeavors may be funded through the OMR which will necessitate donations from the individual mission districts toward those endeavors.

The address for Mission Districts to send checks to the Ohio Mission Region of the NALC is:
            Ohio Mission Region
            C/O Michelle Kouse
            Grace Lutheran Church
            1801 St. Paris Pike
            Springfield, Ohio 45504

Grant Opportunities

Life to Life Start up Grants

These grants should be requested by Ohio congregations to the treasurer of the OMR and will be disbursed to those congregations with notification of the disbursement sent to the dean of the mission district in which the congregations reside.

The confirmation of congregations' participation in the Life to Life program will be obtained by the OMR convener from the Life to Life team to ensure accountability.

Convocation Assistance for Lay Delegates

With the intent to encourage lay participation at the NALC Convocation, the amount of the offerings received at the OMR convocation will be used to reimburse up to the full registration cost of lay voting delegates to attend the NALC Convocation and Mission Festival.

The deadline to apply for the grant will be July 31. The application form needs to be accompanied by a receipt showing the payment for the registration. The form will have a line for approval of the district Dean who will then pass the application along to the OMR. To keep things simple, the reimbursement will be sent to the congregation of the applicant who may then reimburse the applicant if the applicant paid the registration personally.