Janesville, WI. The SDB General Conference has been recognized for creative ministry as well as resourceful responsiveness to pressing ministry needs through a Vital Worship Grant. The grant award is a tangible outcome of the dedicated work undertaken by SDB volunteers to better understand and steward our rich diversity as Seventh Day Baptists.
Specifically, the grant facilitates SDB focus on unity and diversity in local congregations and the Conference by gathering worship leaders to discern the transcultural, contextual, cross-cultural, and counter-culture nature of worship as they worship together in diverse ways. This program is made possible through a Vital Worship Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc.
This award is one of 25 Vital Worship Grants projects to Worshiping Communities for 2022-2023 by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Each grant (ranging from $6,350 to $18,000) will fund a year-long project beginning in June that promotes vital worship and faith formation. John Witvliet, director of the CICW, said “We are eager to learn from these programs. These projects developed in the middle of COVID-19 emerge from resourceful teams of local leaders responding to pressing needs and opportunities in their context. We look forward to sharing learning from these creative efforts over the next several months and years.”
The SDB General Council and SDB Coordinated Leadership Team are grateful for the opportunity to engage in the Vital Worship Program and further utilize the SDB Culture Audit that was conducted by two working groups. Thank you to the Work Group participants: Rob Appel, Keith Ashley, Danita Lee, Gabriela Alonzo, Rev. Paul Andries, Edson Barrett, Andres Jara, and Michaella Osborn.
For more information on the grants program, including a complete list of this year’s grants recipients, please see 2022 Vital Worship Grants.
