Current and Past Grants

Since 2000, Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grants have been awarded to worshiping communities and teacher-scholars in 45+ states and provinces and in 40+ denominations across the spectrum of Christian traditions, including Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal, and Non-Denominational communities. While worship practices across these traditions vary widely, grant projects typically explore one or more of the ten core convictions related to worship that emerged out of the first decade of this grantmaking.

Search results 1 - 6 of 6

Center of Theological Inquiry, Erin Raffety

Princeton, New Jersey | 2022

To conduct interviews with persons living with chronic illness and Long COVID, and to analyze the convergence of cultural, theological, and disability-related perspectives among such persons in order to increase their full, conscious, active participation in worship.

Hope College, Kate Finley

Holland, Michigan | 2022

To explore how public church practices, including sermons, corporate prayer, and other worship practices reflect various understandings and interpretations of mental disorders and to construct a practically applicable online resource that will enable congregations to be more inclusive of those who experience mental disorder and enriched by the unique perspectives they embody.

The Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, Brandon Crowley

Austin, Texas | 2022

To support and engage the public worship of African American congregations by creating a workbook that teaches pastors and local church leaders how to be more inclusive of Black women and LGBTQIA+ folx in their worship designs.

OCAD University, David Pereyra

Toronto, Ontario | 2021

To gather diverse worshiping communities in online workshops and webinars in order to create a culture of inclusion by assessing inclusive thinking, helping communities develop strategies to increase their inclusivity, and gathering data to develop on online reference guide on accessibility that will empower faith leaders to use varied strategies of inclusion. 

Columbia Theological Seminary, Rebecca Spurrier

Decatur, Georgia | 2020

To create a liturgical resource that responds to ableist images, narratives, and symbols that are common in Christian worship, drawing from insights in liturgical studies and disability studies.

Vanderbilt University, Erik Carter

Nashville, Tennessee | 2019

To explore essential dimensions of accessible worship and identify promising pathways for renewing worship practices which welcome the full participation of people across the spectrum of ability and disability.