At the close of this academic year SEI thanks most warmly all those who have donated to the SEI Training Fund so generously over the past twelve months:
- to those who have redirected deputising fees to the Fund, and especially to the Revd Sally Gorton (Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway) and the charges whom she has served;
- to those who have kindly given their professional fees, and especially to the Revd Canon Robin Paisley (Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway) and those who have received pastoral supervision or coaching from him;
- to those congregations and dioceses which have donated the offerings uplifted at special services, including ordinations, licensings and institutions.
Money received in these ways has gone directly to supporting students training full-time via studies at one of the Scottish Divinity Schools or the Mixed Mode pathway. Staff and students alike are deeply grateful for this support. SEI provides grants of up to £15,300 per year to such students. Based on the Fund’s current balance and assumed further annual income, there should be sufficient funds to fully fund such grants until the end of 2023. But from 2024 those funds will have been fully used, and other sources of funding will have to be sought. Donations to the Fund are therefore increasingly crucial if we are to go on supporting those who are called to train in this way for service in the SEC.
SEI also thanks those who have donated clerical garments or theological books. These have been sold to the students at Residential Weekends, and the money so garnered given to SEI’s Brazil Fund. We are very grateful for these donations which have brought in a great deal of money over the past year. Sadly, however, we can no longer accept donations of books, having now reached saturation point both as regards the SEI Library itself and what can be transported to Perth for onwards sale to the student body. Linda Harrison, SEI’s Administrator, has researched some methods that can be used by those wishing to pass on theological books. She has compiled a list of online resale sites which have been road-tested by SEI staff and found to operate well, and this she will pass on to anyone wishing to donate books to SEI; please use the Contact Form for this.
Perhaps those examples have inspired you to think of ways in which you might support current and future full-time students in the coming academic year? If so, please be in touch with us at SEI using the Contact Form and details of how to give will be sent to you.
Photo on Unsplash: money by michelle dot com
