CICW has awarded Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grants for over 20 years to teacher-scholars and worshiping communities in 45+ states and provinces and across 40+ denominations and traditions—including Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, non-denominational, and other Protestant communities.


While worship styles and practices vary greatly across these traditions, the grant projects typically explore at least one of CICW’s ten core convictions related to worship. Explore the hundreds of projects we’ve funded across both streams of the program.

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Amazing Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

To offer weekly worship services based on the 12 steps of addiction recovery that integrates scripture, confession and absolution, testimony, healing liturgy and public prayer in two urban churches.

Worshiping Communities
Baltimore, maryland
2006

Ascension Lutheran Church

To link artist, theologian and worshiper in faith conversation and theological reflection that acknowledges art as a language with power to strengthen spiritual formation and results in the creation of art for worship.

Worshiping Communities
Paradise Valley, arizona
2006

Asociación para la Educación Teológica Hispana

To share the wealth of worship materials with deep roots in Hispanic culture and traditions and to promote critical theological reflection on these materials by bringing together Hispanic worship leaders from multiple denominations for study and worship.

Worshiping Communities
Austin, texas
2006

Believers Christian Fellowship Church

To provide lunchtime and after work worship services and classes on Wall Street and in Harlem which encourage active participation of worshipers in reading scripture and leading worship and music through a multi-ethnic, multi-discipline collaborative effort.

Worshiping Communities
New York, new york
2006

Candler School of Theology, Emory University

To enhance capacity of students and faculty for reflective liturgical leadership and to promote worship planning and participation as an integral part of theological education at the school.

Worshiping Communities
Atlanta, georgia
2006

Choristers Guild

To teach children’s choir leaders the history and use of congregational song and how to integrate children into worship leadership by partnering nationally-recognized church music clinicians with children’s choir directors.

Worshiping Communities
Garland, texas
2006

Christian Student Foundation

To provide student leaders the skills and experience needed to plan and lead worship services through a leadership retreat, peer mentoring program and workshops.

Worshiping Communities
Muncie, indiana
2006

Church of the Ascension

To reflect corporately on the meaning and purpose of worship, including worship designed for the emergent sub-culture, through a parish retreat and a diocesan-wide leadership workshop.

Worshiping Communities
Pittsburgh, pennsylvania
2006

Community Recovery International

To offer weekly recovery services which encourage the use of artistic talents and personal testimonies that express God’s grace and forgiveness so that worship becomes the foundation of the healing process.

Worshiping Communities
Grand Rapids, michigan
2006

Diocesan Worship Directors of Michigan

To provide liturgical formation for those involved in parish liturgical ministry with a concerted effort to identify and mentor young adults who will participate as liturgical leaders in the church.

Worshiping Communities
Detroit, michigan
2006