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The Church Periodical Club invites you to participate as Christians Proclaiming Christ through the world-wide Ministry of the Printed Word.
This Handbook is designed to inform you of the purposes, procedures and projects of the Church Periodical Club and to offer suggestions for carrying out its ministry.
Bless 0 Lord, The Church Periodical Club, that it may be an instrument for the spread of your Word throughout the world. Grant to its officers wisdom and patience, to its members perseverance and the spirit of sharing that asks no return. Bring more to take part in its mission and ministry. Bless our gifts and those who receive them, to the enrichment of individual lives, that we all may be servants of the risen Lord. Amen.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We ask for your continuing guidance for The Church Periodical Club.
Help us all to know your will in this ministry of the printed word.
Help us all to see where there is need and to fill this need in the spirit
of Christian People Caring,
remembering always that our Lord Jesus Christ came not to be served but to serve.
Make us aware: Help us to hear the voices of word-hungry people in your world, and to respond.
This we ask in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Church Periodical Club is an independent, affiliated organization of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, dedicated to the worldwide Ministry of the Printed Word and to the Promotion of Christian Mission. It is the only organization in the Episcopal Church dedicated solely to providing free literature and related materials, both religious and secular, to people all over the world who need and request them and who have no other source for obtaining them. Prayer Books, books for seminarians, educational materials, medical textbooks, agricultural manuals and books for those in local and global mission are some of the publications The Church Periodical Club supplies. The Church Periodical Club operates at all levels of the Church - national, provincial, diocesan and parish. The goal is to make the CPC program a concern of the whole Church. That goal includes having an active and enthusiastic CPC representative in every parish and diocese. The Church Periodical Club is funded by voluntary contributions from all levels of the Church by people in the pews. CPC is supported by the prayerful concern, time, talents, labor and money of those who believe in the Ministry of the Printed Word.
The Church Periodical Club was founded in 1888 by Mary Ann Fargo and a small group of women in the Parish Church of the Holy Communion in New York City. They began by sending bundles of church periodicals, prayer books, and Bibles via the Wells Fargo Stage Coach Line to clergy and laity, missionaries and Indians in the Dakotas, and the "far west". Much of the early growth of the Church Periodical Club was due to the fostering care of the Women’s Auxiliary, now known as the Episcopal Church Women. This close relationship has continued through the years. By 1892, the Church Periodical Club was active in 48 dioceses providing many kinds of printed materials and a national office was established. In 1920, the national church recognized the Church Periodical Club's great missionary work and it became a cooperating agency.
In the 1940’s, the National Books Fund Committee was established to meet the needs of the rapidly growing book needs of the many overseas mission programs. Since 1970, the Church Periodical Club has been a self-supporting affiliated organization of the Episcopal Church with its office located in the Church Center in New York City. As an independent organization affiliated with the Episcopal Church, the Church Periodical Club relies on its volunteers, clergy, and friends to promote its Ministry of the Printed Word.
The commitment to supply theological and educational texts, audio and video tapes, and computer software has continued for over 100 years to promote religious and secular needs throughout the Anglican Communion. From the number of grant applications submitted each year to the Church Periodical Club National Books Fund and to the Miles of Pennies Fund, The Church Periodical Club is answering the needs of a worldwide ministry.
Each year a Sunday is designated as Church Periodical Club Sunday by the Presiding Bishop. Churches are asked to include special prayers for the Church Periodical Club ministry and an offering is taken for the support of the Church Periodical Club National Books Fund.
The Miles of Pennies Fund was established in 1988 on the 100th anniversary of The Church Periodical Club. The Miles of Pennies Fund Committee awarded its first grants in 1991. The maximum grant given by Miles of Pennies is $844.80 which represents one mile of pennies. The grants serve the needs of children from kindergarten through high school wherever there is a need.
The National president wears a gold nugget, a gift from an Alaskan miner who appreciated the magazines he had received from the Church Periodical Club. The nugget hangs from a pin bearing the Church Periodical Club shield, made by Tiffany and Company, New York City.
Members are Christians Proclaiming Christ who support the mission of the Church Periodical Club. Annual dues are $20.00 which includes a subscription to the newsletter. Life Members make a one time contribution of $250.00 to the CPC Endowment Fund. They receive the newsletter and other pertinent communications from the organization. Parish Life Members are parishes who make a one-time contribution of $300.00. They receive the Church Periodical Club Newsletter and news updates from the National CPC office in New York City. The Parish Representative is a key person in the success of CPC’s mission. The parish may initiate its own CPC projects for local and parish needs. In addition, it financially supports diocesan, provincial and national projects. Each parish reports its CPC outreach to the Diocesan CPC Director.
The Diocesan Director is the liaison with the parishes, the provincial and national organizations. The Diocesan Director promotes CPC throughout the diocese, trains and assists parish representatives and initiates CPC projects within the diocese. That person may be appointed or elected in accordance with the bylaws or custom, with the Bishop's approval, and often serves on the diocesan ECW board.
The Provincial Representatives serve as communicators, trainers and resource persons for the diocesan directors within the provinces. They act as liaisons with directors and the national organization, and serve on the National Church Periodical Club Executive Board. The provincial representatives may have a provincial board and initiate projects.
The National Executive Board is composed of the elected officers: president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, chairman of the National Books Fund, chairman of The Miles of Pennies Fund, and the provincial representatives. The National Executive Board meets annually to carry out the policies adopted at the Church Periodical Club Triennial meetings. The board determines all policies, procedures, personnel, and salaries for the national administrative office, and plans the Triennial Meeting of The Church Periodical Club.
The Triennial Meeting of The Church Periodical Club is the enabling body which elects officers, legislates, determines policies and receives reports. One delegate from each diocese (usually the Diocesan Director) and the members of the Executive Board make up the voting body.
The National Office of the Church Periodical Club is located in the Episcopal Church Center and serves as the clearing house and resource center for all CPC activities. The organization may be addressed as follows:
The Administrator carries out the work of the national office under the direction of the president and the executive committee.
The functions of the National office:
The National Books Fund is made up of donations received from individuals, parishes, dioceses and provinces and from collections on Church Periodical Club Sunday. All Church Periodical Club organizations are encouraged to make regular contributions and to sponsor specific requests. The National Books Fund Committee determines the allocations of the funds not earmarked specifically for designated requests. There is a National Books Fund Endowment Fund, the income from which is transferred into the account to grant requests when needed.
The Miles of Pennies Fund was established in 1988 as a celebration of the Church Periodical Club's 100th year. It has been very successful in providing books, workbooks, training manuals, audio-visual materials, and computer software for children from kindergarten through high school. A Mile of Pennies ($844.80) is the maximum amount that may be allocated for a grant each year.
Separate applications may be awarded for only two consecutive years. The applicant must be affiliated with the Anglican Communion, present a description of the program, or project chosen, and its relationship to the church or community, including the approximate number and ages of the children involved. Applications may be obtained from the parish Church Periodical Club representative, the diocesan director, or from the Church Periodical Club national office in New York City.
The Administrative Fund receives annual voluntary contributions from bishops, ECW's and other dedicated people. It is given to benefit the operating expenses of the national office.
The Endowment Fund was created as a memorial to the founder of The Church Periodical Club, Mary Ann Fargo, by her husband, Mortimer Fargo. Over the years additional bequests and gifts have been added to the principal. The interest is used for national administrative expenses.
The Book of Remembrance was founded by Julia Godsey, Janice Cook and Eleanor Smith to honor persons living or dead. On receiving a contribution so designated, the name is inscribed for posterity and the contribution is placed into the Endowment Fund.
The MARY E. THOMAS FUND was created as a memorial to one of CPC’s early workers. The income from this fund is added to the National Books Fund and is designated for the purchase of books to be used in the mission field.
The General Fund holds all money not specifically designated. Depending on its availability, it can be used for administration or for grants as needed.
Not all funds are collected and disbursed at the national level.
There are funds from voluntary contributions which are collected, reported and disbursed at the parish, diocesan, provincial and national levels with special attention to planning a balanced program between local and global needs.
The National Books Fund Committee (NBF) reviews and studies grant requests from throughout the Anglican Communion. The committee is composed of the elected chairman and the provincial representatives plus not more than three sub-committee chairmen appointed by the chairman and approved by the Executive Board. The committee meets at least once each year.
Information on the requests is mailed to all the board members, committee members, diocesan directors, bishops, Life members and Parish Life members. Most grants are open for sponsorship by provinces, dioceses, parishes, and individuals. Additional information is available from the New York office administrator, the NBF Chairman or at the granting meeting. The National Seminarian scholarships and periodical requests are handled by sub-committee chairmen.
After each committee granting session a list and information about the grants are published in the Quarterly newsletter.
Currently titled The CPC Quarterly, the newsletter was originally the Quarterly Report of the National Books Fund Committee of the Church Periodical Club. It is published four times each year and distributed by mail to members of the National Board, Diocesan Directors, CPC Life Members, Bishops of the Episcopal Church, and members of the Church Periodical Club.
Parishes, dioceses, and provinces should contribute news items for the magazine. Sharing information is an important means of creating enthusiasm for the work of the Church Periodical Club.
Church Periodical Club Sunday is a vital way to present the unique Ministry of the Printed Word as a concern of the entire church. Each year the Presiding Bishop designates one Sunday in the year for the observance of the work of spreading the Christian message through the Printed Word, i.e. Bibles, Prayer Books, Hymnals, Sunday school literature and allied programs, such as Alpha, or Education for Ministry, etc.
Parish kits outlining how to proceed with a CPC Sunday are sent to Diocesan Directors early in the year. The directors are responsible for circulating the kits to the parishes. Supplies may be ordered from the national office.
It is important that the parish CPC representative meet with the rector of the parish soon after the new year to select a date that fits into the parish calendar and is designated as "CPC Sunday".
It is important that the CPC prayer and/or Litany be used at all services. The priest or parish representative should take special time to explain the mission of providing printed and related materials free to people all over the world who cannot otherwise obtain them. The offering that is collected on Church Periodical Club Sunday is customarily used only for the support of the National Books Fund. Checks should be marked for "Church Periodical Club Sunday".
Following CPC Sunday the parish representative should express appreciation to the congregation for their participation.
Books and related materials may be collected or purchased for schools, libraries, remedial and adult education classes, seminarians, prisoners, seafarers, large print for the vision-impaired, and material for the deaf and blind.
Subscriptions to newspapers, magazines, professional journals, church periodicals, are sent in answer to requests by institutions, faculty members, priests, seminarians, and missionaries. Contributions should be designated for subscriptions and sent to the National Books Fund.
Recycling used material such as newspapers, magazines, professional journals, church school materials, Bibles, and Prayer Books, is a popular project. Readers Digest, National Geographic, and Southern Living magazines, in good condition, are especially enjoyed. Mailing and shipping guides should be checked prior to preparing a package, especially if they are going out of the country.
The Church Periodical Club obtains money for administration and projects by the following means, usually in combination.
The following guidelines should be adapted to the needs of parish, diocese or province. Specific topics have been covered elsewhere in this handbook. This section deals mainly with organization.
Above all, in order to accomplish the mission of the Church Periodical Club these goals must be pursued:
The Diocesan Director is the primary source of ideas for strategies in the parish. Here are some other sources for information.
Communication is the key to good promotion. Details on Church Periodical Club Sunday may be obtained from the Diocesan Director, but observance in the parish must always be done after consulting with the rector. There may be a conflicting schedule for that day. Details on preparing for the observance can be found elsewhere in the Handbook.
Continue to promote the work of the Church Periodical Club through:
Select meaningful projects both local and global preferably of two kinds:
Mark all checks "for Church Periodical Club" on the memo line for diocesan, provincial and national project and try to indicate its purpose. When leaving office promptly turn over files to the successor.
The Diocesan Director is the most important team member of the Church Periodical Club organization. The director may be appointed by the bishop or diocesan council, or appointed or elected by the diocesan ECW. Accountability is to the bishop and diocesan council and/or the diocesan ECW, and indirectly to the national organization through the provincial representative, The term of office should be at least three years coinciding with Triennial or until a successor is chosen.
As a delegate to the National Triennial meeting, the director votes on policy and action legislation and for the officers to the national executive board, The provincial representatives to the national executive board are chosen within their province.
The Director is responsible for the expenses of the national office and the national organization. Another prime responsibility is raising funds for grants for the National Books Fund and the Miles of Pennies Fund.
As a voting member of the Province, the Director is responsible for its governance. The Director is expected to participate on committees, attend meetings, and assist with projects and raising funds.
It is important to develop a support group of dedicated people.
Invite those with specific talents in various areas such as training, communications, finance, fund-raising, project planning, public speaking, etc. Administration volunteers such as an assistant director, secretary and treasurer may be needed. Committees with chairmen that sit on the board may be created as needed to assist in the following:
To carry out these responsibilities the Diocesan Director should:
The success of the mission depends on a good public profile. Communication and
promotion will sharpen and give substance to the Church Periodical Club image
and will increase understanding and enthusiasm for the organization's goals and
objectives. Following are suggestions to help tell the story of the mission
services that make a critical difference.
The Church Periodical Club banner (above) was commissioned in 2006 during General Convention in Columbus. It was designed by Sarah Brogdon, is 24 by 40 inches and is in the CPC true red felt and white. The CPC Banner is available for purchase completed, by kit or by pattern. A portion of the proceeds from the sale is returned to CPC. For details about ordering call Fashions by Sarah toll free 877-240-6651, by electronic mail fashions@csj.net or at fashionsbysarah.com.
The CPC WEB PAGE is at www.churchperiodical.com
Use the Church Periodical Club bookplate in every memorial book given as a lasting reminder of the CPC ministry. Bookplates are available through the national office.
The emphasis is on imagination. Make and take displays to meetings, coffee hours, workshops and diocesan conventions to attract attention and stimulate interest. Consider banners and wall hangings.
The Church Periodical Club banner was commissioned in 2006 during General Convention in Columbus. It was designed by Sarah Brogdon, is 24 by 40 inches and is in the CPC true red felt and white. The banner is available for purchase completed, by kit or by pattern. A portion of the proceeds from the sale is returned to CPC. For details about ordering call Fashions by Sarah toll free 877-240-6651, by electronic mail fashions@csj.net or at fashionsbysarah.com.
Candy is distributed to the desks of deputies and delegates at General Convention every three years. It is an offering from CPC for a boost of energy and an opportunity to remind the church at large of the Ministry of the Printed Word.
This candy giveaway can be used at home, too. Take an Energy Lift Basket with candy to any meeting you attend. Don't ask for money, but don't refuse any that's offered. The Energy Lift is a gift.
Contribute regularly or as appropriate to:
Careful records should be kept of income and disbursements for each fiscal year and for each project. The Church Periodical Club fiscal year is the calendar year, January 1 through December 31.
It is wise to have a second name on the bank account in case of an emergency. It should be someone knowledgeable about the Church Periodical Club and its affairs. The following suggested headings should be adapted to the level being recorded.
| INCOME | DISBURSEMENTS |
| No./Date/To/Amount | Date/From/Amount/Ck. |
| For National | For National |
| Gen./Fund/Admin./NBF | Gen./Fund/Admin./NBF |
| For Province | For Province |
| Projects/Admin. | Projects/Admin. |
| For Diocese | For Diocese |
| Projects/Admin. | Projects/Admin. |
| For Parish | For Parish |
| Undesignated/Projects/Admin. | Projects/Admin. |