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SOCIAL OUTREACH
Agencies
Supported
Committees
Needs
& News
Shady
Grove Elementary
Support
Groups
The Emerging
Face of Social Outreach at CHC
 CHC’s
Social Ministry is taking a new shape.
And one result is a new relationship
between the church and Shady Grove Elementary School. To be fair and accurate,
the changes started long ago and have been – and will continue to be –
gradual. But there’s plenty to be excited about in what we’re coming
to think of as our “social ministry.”
The parish has accomplished a lot so far in the way of social ministry. Near the top are CHC’s ongoing support for both international
and local organizations – like the Episcopal
Relief and Development fund and the St.
Luke’s Food Pantry. Add to that list dozens more organizations that benefit
from CHC’s annual social ministry
grants that total $100,000.
Of course, dozens of CHC volunteers
annually help build the parish’s Habitat for Humanity
home. These homes are truly a remarkable undertaking.
 And
now CHC is closely involved with public education by adopting Shady
Grove Elementary School. Shady Grove suffers from a number of misconceptions
– namely that it’s in an upper class neighborhood and its vitality is
taken for granted. The reality is that of the roughly 435 children that attend
the school, the majority are bussed in from the Greenbrook Bend, Binghampton and
Orange Mound communities. More than half of the students qualify for free or reduced
breakfasts and lunched and a growing number qualify for English-as-a-second-language
programs.
The school is well-maintained, close to Holy Communion and full
of caring but overworked teachers – and they
need volunteers to do everything from make copies to teach art classes. They
have kids who need hugs, tutoring and mentoring.
And that’s where CHC
comes in. And, of course, there’s always room for more help with other existing
social ministry efforts.
ST.
MARY'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
In 1953, Church of the Holy Communion invited St. Mary’s
Episcopal School to move to the southeast corner of Walnut
Grove and Perkins Extended. Today, the relationship is as
strong as ever, with the two institutions sharing maintenance
expenses and working closely together. The mission of
St. Mary’s, a college preparatory school for girls in prekindergarten
through twelft h grade, is to provide a superior
educational experience that will encourage and enable each
student to reach her individual potential. Upper and middle
school girls have daily chapel according to Episcopal tradition
in the church, with parish clergy offi ciating at least once a
week. The Rector and the Senior Warden of the church are
ex-officio members of the School Board of Trustees. Five
parishioners are nominated by the Vestry to serve on the
Board of Trustees.
Contact: Marlene Shaw, Head of School,
537-1440
Endowment Fund
Church of the Holy Communion has an Endowment Fund comprised of
an Unrestricted Fund and the Diana Crump Music Fund. As of December
31, 2006, the Endowment Fund totaled $2,033,343. The Fund is overseen
by the Endowment Committee made up of five parishioners elected
on staggered five-year terms. Current committee members are Sherry
DuBose Murphy
(chair), Ben Ward, Fred Beeson, Dan Poag and Bill Widdop. Diversified
Trust Private Wealth Management manages the Fund; overall investment
performance for 2006 was 11.3%. The primary purpose of the Unrestricted
Endowment is to generate funds to be used for the parish’s
Outreach Ministry. Based on the Fund policy of distributing 5% of
the 3-year average market value, in 2007, $96,429 was available
for outreach grants. The Crump Music Fund generated a total of $3,346
to be used for special parish music. The Endowment Fund provides
for the enrichment of the quality of life in the Memphis community
and the enhancement of CHC parish music. Parishioners are encouraged
to consider the fund for any special gift s, including memorials,
honorariums and personal estate planning. If you would like to make
a significant contribution to the Endowment Fund, contact Sherry
DuBose Murphy at 324-8998.
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