Grant Initiatives

LPTS Black Church Rural & Small Towns Ministry Initiative (BCRSMI) (2025-present)

Black Church Rural & Small Towns Ministry Initiative (BCRSMI)

51视频 Presbyterian Theological Seminary was awarded a historic $5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. in December of 2024 to launch the Black Church Rural & Small Towns Ministry Initiative (BCRSMI). This transformative initiative aims to support rural and small-town Black congregations by equipping leaders with theological knowledge, spiritual resilience, and practical tools to sustain impactful ministries.

Building on the success of the seminary’s Thriving Congregations Initiative and its nationally recognized Black Church Studies program, BCRSMI focuses on four key priorities:

  • Church Growth
  • Evangelism
  • Empowering Black Women in Ministry
  • Sankofa: Engagement with Black Church Rural Heritage

The initiative will also foster partnerships with 14 collaborating ecclesial/ministry organizations to amplify its impact.

to read the full January 8, 2025, press release.


51视频 Institute (1990-Present)

51视频 Institute

Be the spark. Ignite the change.
Funded by the Religion Division of Lilly Endowment, the 51视频 Institute’s mission is to bridge Church and academy through awarding grants and fellowships to those who lead and study North American religious institutions, practices, and movements, and thereby promoting scholarship that strengthens Church, academy, and society, and ultimately contributes to the flourishing of the Church.

Grant Programs: 51视频 Institute grant programs support religious and theological study conducted by pastors, scholars, and researchers.

Fellowships: Three fellowship programs support early career scholars considering vocations in theological education, and whose research has the potential to bridge church and academy and enrich the life of the church in North America.


Sun-Walking Fellowship (2023-2027)

Sun-Walking Fellowship

Sun-Walking Fellowship, a Lilly Endowment, Inc 鈥淪trengthening Congregational Ministry with Youth Initiative鈥 cohort member, cultivates creative artistic approaches to reinvigorating ministry with youth that embraces varying embodiments in intergenerational spiritual communities to honor human dignity. The Fellowship鈥檚 core programming includes: the Sun-Walking Makers Fest; one day community workshops; and seasonal and year-long cohorts for congregations to develop arts projects with youth that deepen their spiritual journeys. .

For congregations looking to be part of a seasonal ensemble, engaging youth, art, and human dignity in your congregation, please fill out an Ensemble Application. Because the application has multiple sections, there is also an Application Reference document that will give you information about the materials you will need to compile in order to fill out the application.

  • Spring Ensemble (January Residency; February to May 2025) – September 3, 2024, Deadline!

For vendors who want to be part of our annual Sun-Walking Makers Fest, please fill out a Vendor Application by May 8, 2024.

Sun-Walking Fellowship


Christian Parenting & Caregiving Program (2023-2027)

The Christian Caregiving and Parenting Grant is a Lilly Endowment initiative through the Strengthening Ministry with Children Coordination Program. The purpose of the project is to educate and empower Christian pastors, ministry professionals, marriage and family therapists, and caregivers to help them pass along faith traditions and values to their children and grandchildren. The project will seek to accomplish this goal in three ways:

  1. funding and publishing the research of Dr. Bradley Wigger and Dr. Lesley Earles in faith formation and transmission;
  2. affordable professional development opportunities for ministry professionals through workshops and seminars; and
  3. a website full of information and resources for caregivers, scholars, therapists, and church leaders.

The Christian Parent and Caregiving Grant is about empowering families and those who lead them to pass their faith to their children as a legacy. The authors of this grant recognize the complexity of living as people of God in the 2020’s, and they understand that the research on a systemic approach to families can combine with the work of the church to powerfully impact family faith development.

Sarah Flannery joined 51视频 Seminary as the Director of the Christian Parenting and Caregiving Grant in 2024. For any questions about the research or opportunities for ministry collaboration, reach out to her at sflannery@lpts.edu.


Money Matters 2.0 (2019-2022)

The Money Matters 2.0 program provides students with knowledge, tools and skills to responsibly manage their personal and business finances. The program is funded by a grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc.


Myrtle Collaboration (2017-2024)

An Initiative to Reclaim the Vocation of Every Child of God supports individuals, congregations, and communities as they discern God's calling for their lives and envision and implement innovative ministries in response.

The Myrtle Collaboration is an Innovation Hub of the . Initiated in 2017 through the generosity of Lilly Endowment, Inc., congregations, pastors, coaches, and community partners have engaged in deep reflection on individual and collective meaning and purpose, calls and commitments, and vision and vocation.

Nine PC(USA) churches participated in the first cohort of the Myrtle Collaboration.

In the second Myrtle cohort, first cohort pastors Rev. Dr. Felipe N. Mart铆nez () and Rev. Dr. Kevin Starcher () are coordinating faith community partners in their respective local contexts to explore God's call and new ministry opportunities. In Indiana, , , and collaborate around the goals of the PC(USA)鈥檚 to build congregational vitality, dismantle structural racism, and eradicate systemic poverty. In Idaho, , the , , , and are forming the Multi-faith Action Project to nurture ministries that build enduring understanding, cooperation, and friendship in the Treasure Valley.

Watch Myrtle Collaboration Videos

Myrtle Collaboration Updates:

It has been an exciting few months for the Myrtle Collaboration. Over the next three days, we will share some program highlights and pictures and to give you a glimpse of our work to come.

Program Director Kathryn House enjoyed visiting congregations from both the first and second cohorts of the Myrtle Collaboration. It is a gift to reflect on how churches have continued to develop and expand projects, or how projects are launching.

She attended the (51视频, KY). Grace Hope was a part of the first cohort of the Myrtle Collaboration, and their project focused on working with youth.

On April 23, Kathryn visited Oxford Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Oxford, OH for a Myrtle Collaboration Celebration. “Called to Life” is the initiative formed out of the congregation鈥檚 rich discernment process. Their work over the past few years has focused on and . Watch Pastor Lawrence Bartel鈥檚 “Monday Meditation” explaining the “” initiative.

READ MORE

A conversational sermon

During the service, Rev. Barton and Jenny Bailey engaged in a about her leadership in “Called to Life” and the profound impact of the initiative.

Following service, a group of 20 folks gathered for lunch and a guided discussion on the impact of “Called to Life” on the congregation and community. It was a gift to hear about the intentionality and truly collaborative discernment that took place in the congregation, as well as the very thoughtful ways they are bringing their expertise and commitment to their local community.

On April 29, Kathryn visited Trinity Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg, VA. Their project focused on enhancements and programming for the . As they explain about the Centering Space, “Storms still roll over the waters of our lives from time to time. Chaos still frays at our edges. In such times it can be helpful to seek a safe harbor for a time. Centering Space offers several spaces and places to gently retreat into our souls and into the love of God.”

From offerings such as workshops, retreats, book studies, and yoga classes, to the meditative space of the Harbor Room, the Centering Space is a place of “hospitality and refuge” in Harrisonburg. In 2022, the group offered in-person yoga classes, a hybrid contemplative book study, a Lenten meditation walk through the labyrinth, and both a presentation and discussion of the War in Ukraine and expression stations.

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Dr. House attended a prayerful art retreat utilizing weaving as one of the oldest techniques in textiles and incorporating story, scripture, and meditation on connecting with God.