At its meeting of June 2005, the Property Support Committee revised its procedures and policies. Changes become effective on January 1, 2006 and will affect congregations seeking financial assistance from the program.

Highlights of the changes include:

• Requests for financial assistance will no longer be accepted monthly. Applications will only be accepted four (4) times a years and will be due on the first business day of January, April, July and October. Decisions concerning funding will generally be announced at the end of each application cycle. Congregations will be required to file with Property Support an approved existing conditions survey or self-survey (available through Property Support) for their buildings undertaken within the last five (5) years of an application for financial assistance.
• Grants will generally cover no more than one-third (1/3) of project cost; the remaining cost to be financed through the congregation's own financial resources or by a loan or combination thereof. Grants are not available for income-producing properties or for properties that house programs or organizations not under the legal control of the vestry.
• Loans will be made available for rental properties and non-essential projects upon the discretion of the Property Suport Committee; loans for non-essential projects are contingent upon the congregation demonstrating that its buildings meet standards acceptable to Property Support.
• Emergency grant have been raised to $5,000 from $3,000 and new emergency loans of up to $5,000 have been established. Requests for emergency grants and loans will continue to be considered immediately by Property Support.
• Congregations requesting Material Grants in excess of $4,000 will be required to file an application with the Property Support Committee.