Pastoral leaders
are eligible to apply to the General Grant Program and five different
competitive grant programs of the Louisville Institute.
Brief descriptions and links for each program are found below. Use the descriptions of the nature and
purpose of these programs to help you decide which program is best for
you. Keep in mind that you may only
apply to one program during a given grant year, and that in all five competitive grant programs release from pastoral duties during the period of the grant is required.
The Sabbatical Grant for Pastoral Leaders (SGPL) awards up to forty grants of $10,000 or $15,000 for eight- or twelve-week sabbaticals, respectively. The SGPL program is the primary Louisville Institute grant
program for pastors and other religious leaders seeking a time for study,
reflection, retreat and rest for the renewal of their vocations. While each grantee must have a focal topic
or theme of study, and writing is encouraged, emphasis is on balancing such
study with sabbatical practices for personal and vocational renewal and
refreshment. Previous grantees and grant summaries.
The Christian Faith and Life, Pastoral Leadership,
Religious Institutions, and Summer Stipend grant programs support specific research and
writing projects intended to produce publishable articles and books. Pastoral leaders who seek support for such
projects, rather than a sabbatical that might include research and writing,
should consider these programs.
The Christian Faith and Life program awards grants
of up to $40,000 for nine weeks to nine months of research and writing on a
topic that explores how to bring the wisdom of Christian faith and tradition
into a closer relationship with the daily lives of practicing
Christians. For pastoral leaders, such topics might include biblical and
theological studies, Christian practice, spirituality, and practical
theology. In the past, notable grantees have included Marva Dawn for a
book on spiritual discernment, Barbara Rossing for a book on reading
Revelation, and Christine Pohl for a book on Christian Hospitality. Previous grantees and grant summaries.
The Pastoral Leadership Grant Program supports
research and reflection by pastors and academics on the conditions of
contemporary Christian ministry, the nature of contemporary pastoral
leadership in light of those conditions, and the character of pastoral
excellence. Grant periods may range from nine weeks to nine months. The grant
amount requested should not exceed $40,000. Previous grantees and grant summaries.
The Religious Institutions program awards grants of
up to $40,000 for nine weeks to nine months of research and writing on topics
relating to the life, leadership, and vitality of religious institutions and
the relation of those institutions to society. Pastoral leaders might, for
example, explore or partner with social researchers in exploring various
dynamics in congregational life and lifecycle, patterns of change and
innovations, and the impact of emerging realities and practices on congregational
health. In the past, notable grantees have included David Frenchak for a
project on seminaries in community, Saundra Schneiders for the third volume of
a series on women
religious, and Omar McRoberts for a project on black religion and social
welfare policy. Previous grantees and grant summaries.
The Summer Stipend program awards grants of
$9,000 each for ten weeks of research and writing on a topic reflecting the
priorities of the Louisville Institute and of interest to the wider
church. For pastoral leaders such topics might be in the area of
homiletics or practical theology, congregational studies, biblical studies or
one of the other theological disciplines. In the past, notable grantees
have included Grant Wacker for a biography of Billy Graham, Wendy Cadge for a
project on how congregations talk about human sexuality, and Ben Witherington
III for a project on the theology and spirituality of the cross. Previous grantees and grant summaries.
The General Grant program occasionally supports a limited number of
individual or collaborative projects by academics and/or pastoral leaders on
current program priorities of the Louisville Institute: Christian faith and
life, religious institutions, and pastoral leadership. Previous grantees and grant summaries.
For more detailed descriptions and applications procedures
follow the links below.
Grant Program |
Deadline |
