St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) has received a grant of $250,000 from Lilly Endowment Inc. to supplement the Compelling Preaching program, a new project which aims to strengthen preaching and homiletics in Orthodox Christian parishes.
The program was developed with the support of an earlier grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Compelling Preaching Initiative.
The supplemental grant will allow SVOTS to expand and strengthen the first three initiatives of its Compelling Preaching program:
- Renew: a continuing education program for preachers
- Resource: a curated online resource of exemplary preaching
- Research: an interdisciplinary academic conference on Orthodox Christian preaching
Additionally, the supplemental grant will allow us to add an exciting fourth initiative to the program—Reveal: a faith-based storytelling initiative for laypeople that will identify, and provide coaching, for participants who will share a compelling story of faith in a live storytelling event.
Seminary President, the Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield, shared his enthusiasm for the new initiative, saying, "Sharing the Gospel with others is an essential part of our call to walk as children of light. (Eph 5:8) This generous grant from Lilly Endowment will help us to support all Orthodox Christians who are called to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ."
Lilly Endowment launched the Compelling Preaching Initiative in 2022 because of its interest in supporting projects that help to nurture the religious lives of individuals and families and foster the growth and vitality of Christian congregations in the United States.
ABOUT THE LILLY ENDOWMENT
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly, Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff, and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education, and religion and maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. A primary aim of its grantmaking in religion is to deepen the religious lives of Christians, principally by supporting efforts that enhance congregational vitality and strengthen the leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment values the broad diversity of Christian traditions and endeavors to support them in a wide variety of contexts. The Endowment also seeks to foster public understanding about religion by encouraging fair, accurate, and balanced portrayals of the positive and negative effects of religion on the world and lifting up the contributions that people of all faiths make to our greater civic well-being.
