Global Missions Committee

Purpose Statement:

The Global Missions Committee seeks to extend the love and compassion of Jesus Christ beyond the geographical boundaries of the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire. As we celebrate and are spiritually enriched by the world-wide fellowship of prayer and service within the Body of Christ, the GMC joins the mission set forth in the Five Marks of Mission of the Anglican Communion.

We seek to support global initiatives from within our diocese that address poverty, gender inequality, education, disease prevention, climate change, nutrition training, and community building. The committee’s work will continue to support efforts made through the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (the successor to the Millennium Development Goals) while exploring innovative ways that bear witness to our Baptismal Covenant—to seek and serve Christ in all persons, to love our neighbors as ourselves, to strive for justice and peace among all people, and to respect the dignity of every human being. 

The Global Missions Grant Application process for this year starts now and ends on July 15, 2025. 

The Episcopal Church of New Hampshire will award grants to one or more not-for-profit organizations deemed to alleviate global poverty and foster growth.  For example, in past years, awards have gone to a library in South Africa, a Parish Health Clinic in Honduras, water filtration systems in Cuba, the Women’s Trust in Ghana, Native American Outreach in Maine, and an orphanage in Mexico.

Please read the Sustainable Development Goal guidelines and complete the Global Missions Grant Application by July 15, 2025, emailing it to Susan Lassen.  The Global Missions Committee looks forward to reviewing your suggestions for this round of Global Mission Grants.

Read more about the Global Missions Committee here.

Global Missions Committee
The Rev. Canon Gail Avery, Chair
The Rev. Steve Ekerberg
Susan Lassen, St. John’s Portsmouth
Elizabeth Lowell, St. Andrew’s New London
The Rev. Mark Pendleton, Christ Church Exeter
The Rev. Jean Beniste, St. Paul’s Concord, Micah 6 Liaison
The Rt. Rev. Rob Hirschfeld, Diocesan Staff Liaison

Sustainable Development Goals

  • Goal 1:  To end poverty in all its forms everywhere

  • Goal 2:  End hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

  • Goal 3:  Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

  • Goal 4:  Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning

  • Goal 5:  Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

  • Goal 6:  Ensure access to water and sanitation for all

  • Goal 7:  Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

  • Goal 8:  Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all

  • Goal 9:  Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

  • Goal 10:  Reduce inequality within and among countries

  • Goal 11:  Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

  • Goal 12:  Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

  • Goal 13:  Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

  • Goal 14:  Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources

  • Goal 15:  Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss

  • Goal 16:  Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies

  • Goal 17:  Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

More information is available on the UN website.