What is a Chalice Lighter?
A Chalice Lighter is a person, a couple, or even a group of people who pledges to respond with a contribution when the call comes that it's time to light a chalice within the Southeast District. Calls support specific growth initiatives in individual SE District congregations.

How often are calls made to those participating as Chalice Lighters?
No more than three times a year (July-June), you will receive a letter explaining who has applied for a call and what the funds will be used for.

Who sponsors this program?
Chalice Lighters is overseen by the District's Growth and Development Council. The SE District is committed to growth in all its aspects: personal growth, spiritual growth, growth in the health of our member congregations, growth in the number of congregations, growth in the number of individual Unitarian Universalists, and lastly, growth in our presence in society. The Growth and Development Council has primary responsibility for facilitating this growth, and one way in which it does this is by raising funds through Chalice Lighters to support congregational activities.

Chalice Lighters benefit
The Chalice Lighter Committee of the Growth and Development Council awards grants to congregations to encourage growth of Unitarian Universalism in the Thomas Jefferson District. Grants are awarded for both traditional and innovative growth projects. Examples include:

Traditional grant projects
Calling a minister, hiring RE professional, volunteer coordinator, music director, other staff; buying building or land; leasing building or land; constructing new building or renovating existing one; or establishing a campus ministry.
 
Innovative growth projects
New signage or other ways to increase visibility; innovative adult or youth programming; video broadcasting of program(s); innovative advertising or community relations, including new web sites; satellite or branch church startup; outreach program to enhance diversity in congregation; two or more congregations working together.

SED Chalice Lighter Grant Recipients

A short, but proud, history
The SED Chalice Lighter program was created in 1987 and has grown into one of the largest Chalice Lighter programs in the UUA. About half our calls help congregations obtain or settle their first minister. The other calls help to build facilities. A few congregations have gotten a boost when constructing all-new church homes, but most of the calls were for much needed, but more modest renovations of newly purchased properties. Many of these projects were done, at least in part, by the members themselves; Chalice Lighters provided the building materials.

Pooling hundreds of checks of the $10, $15, $25 and more, has meant a lot to quite a few of our neighboring congregations since 1988, but opportunities for growth still abound in our district and the continued support of Chalice Lighters is critical. Please accept our invitation to become a SED. Chalice Lighter and help spread the light of our liberal faith in the years ahead.