Janesville, WI. The SDB General Conference has been recognized for innovative leadership development through the awarding of a Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grant. The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (CICW) recently announced the yearlong grant project which begins Jan. 1, 2024.
John Witvliet, CICW’s Director, stated “We are grateful that this program can support both worshiping communities eager to learn and teacher-scholars eager to explore topics that will support, challenge, and strengthen worshiping communities. We look forward to learning from and with these grantees in the year to come.”
The current round of Vital Worship, Vital Preaching grants were awarded in two streams, including 15 awards to teacher-scholars and 39 awards to worshiping communities. This program is made possible through a Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc.
SDB Vital Preaching Grant
The grant to the SDB General Conference will fund the preparation of emerging pastors with contemporary preaching skills by engaging in a leadership development curriculum that uses retiring pastors as mentors. Be on the look out for more information to come.
The SDB General Council and SDB Coordinated Leadership Team are grateful for the opportunity to engage in this grant round and further utilize the foundational work of the SDB Vital Worship Team of 2023. Thank you to SDB Vital Worship Team Members: Andres Jara and Tabba Bernau (Anchor of Hope SDB Church, Dodge Center MN); Jennifer Bonesteel, Kevin Bonesteel, Rebecca Galusha, and Andrew Oathout (Berlin SDB, Berlin NY); Miriam Berg (Frontier Church – Carbon Valley, Dacono CO); Kelly Parker (Next Step Church, Thorton CO); Keith Ashley and Conlief Lyons (Toronto SDB, Toronto CA); Neil Lubke and David St. Clair (Milton SDB, Milton WI); Thelma Maxwell and Luan Comrie-Shaw (Fort Lauderdale SDB, Fort Lauderdale FL); Edson and Seanette Barrett (Philadelphia SDB, Philadelphia PA); Mark Prause (First Houston SDB Church, Houston TX); along with the amazing hospitality coordinators, Danny and Danita Lee.
For more information on the grants program, including a complete list of this year’s grants recipients, please see CICW Grant Awards Announcement.
