About the Kempthorne Bequest
Background
The late John Knowles Kempthorne was a Sales Manager who lived at Windsor, Brisbane. He was a member of the Cathedral congregation and had a great interest in art. He had great faith and a very firm belief that priestly advice and assistance should be available to people seeking it. His bequest to St Francis’ College provides assistance to help achieve that.
In his will, John left a range of assets, the income from which is to be used to assist theological students at St Francis’ College with their training and development as clergy. The distribution of the income was to be recommended by a Board consisting of:
The Archbishop of Brisbane.
The Principal of St Francis’ Theological College.
One Lay Communicant (nominated annually by the Chapter of St John’s Cathedral).
The Board meets twice a year to recommend the distribution of income for the semester. This enables the Principal to bring to the Board, applications for financial assistance from both new and continuing students undertaking formation studies.
The Board is responsible for making recommendations for grant monies to the Trustee: The Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane (the Diocese). Upon approval from the Trustee, benefits will then be distributed early in that semester.
The Board has no authority to commit grant monies without prior to approval from the Trustee.
In exercising its powers and duties, the Trustee will have regard to the recommendations made by the Board but will not allow any Board or other party to fetter its discretion.
The Diocese is the trustee of the residue of the estate and will reinvest part of the income from the bequest to ensure that it does not reduce in value over time.
Please give thanks for the life and work of John Knowles Kempthorne and for his generosity in making this bequest.
Guidelines for the Application and Distribution of Bequest Income
In applying grant monies to assist theological students in St Francis’ Theological College to qualify as clergy, the following considerations are made. These inform recommendations to the Trustee in respect to the payment of grant monies having regard to the level of financial or other assistance an applicant may need to successfully qualify as clergy.
Extent of HECS or FEE HELP eligibility for enrolled theological course(s).
Government or other financial assistance received.
Financial hardship/ other relevant circumstances.
In assessing grant applications, the Board will consider avenues for accommodation assistance, full time study scholarships, discretionary allocations to assist with financial or other unforeseen circumstances and a book allowances.
In any one year, the Board may choose to distribute the grant pool for that year either for all or for some of the above or in favour of the College for specific purposes that will assist theological students to qualify.
Confidentiality
All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence (shared in a deidentified manner with those requiring access to assess the merit and eligibility of the application).
Applying
Formation students are requested to submit their applications for assistance in the first three weeks of each semester. However, applications for cases of financial hardship may be submitted at any time during the year.
Please use the below form to apply for financial assistance from this bequest. Please include relevant information you feel will assist consideration of your application.