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Clergy Renewal Program is a grant from the Lilly Endowment, administered by Christian Theological Seminary, that funds renewal leaves for pastors of Christian congregations in the United States and Puerto Rico. Awards of up to $60,000 allow pastors to step away from daily parish demands and engage in a period of personal renewal and reflection, ultimately strengthening congregational vitality and long-term ministry effectiveness.
Eligible applicants are Christian congregations with pastors seeking renewal. The program is competitive, with grants awarded to congregations that present compelling renewal plans. Applicants should review the program guidelines from Christian Theological Seminary's Center for Pastoral Excellence.
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Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs - Christian Theological Seminary Hit enter to search or ESC to close Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs Center for Pastoral Excellence • Clergy Renewal Programs The Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs at Christian Theological Seminary seek to strengthen Christian congregations by providing opportunities for their pastors to step away briefly from the demands of daily parish life and engage in a period of renewal and reflection.
These competitive grants programs help congregations in the US and Puerto Rico fund renewal leaves for their pastors with awards of up to $60,000 each. Application Window for 2027 Renewal Leaves Closed We are no longer accepting proposals for renewal leaves planned in 2027. The next program year will open in November 2026, signaled by the publishing of the 2027 Requests for Proposals to this page.
We invite you to explore the current RFP and other resources as you consider "what will make your heart sing". 2025 Information Webinar Recording Available Below! The recording of the Information Webinar hosted by Clergy Renewal Programs staff on November 24, 2025 is available below.
Scroll to Step 2: Watch the Webinar and click "launch video". This timeline provides an overview of the general timeline the Clergy Renewal Programs follow each year. Specific dates for each program year are noted in the Requests for Proposals.
Please note, proposals are submitted the year prior to the planned renewal leave. Last Business Day in August Notification of Proposal Decision Funds Disbursed to Awardees Christian congregations and clergy that meet the following criteria are eligible to submit proposals for a Clergy Renewal leave together: Christian congregations must be in one of the 50 US States, Washington, DC, or Puerto Rico.
Clergy must be serving as pastoral leaders in congregational ministry, whether part-time, full-time, or bi-vocational. Clergy must hold ordination at the time the proposal is submitted and be a member in good standing with their denomination or, for those serving independent or non-denominational congregations, be serving their congregations in ways commensurate with their denominationally ordained peers.
Clergy must hold Master of Divinity degrees or equivalents or, clergy without Master of Divinity degrees must be in good standing with their ordaining body and demonstrate a strong record of congregational service and commitment to ongoing education/professional development What are the Clergy Renewal Programs?
The Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs at Christian Theological Seminary support Christian congregations by providing an opportunity for pastors to step away briefly from the demands of daily parish life and discover what will make their hearts sing through well-planned purposeful activities.
Renewal leaves are not vacations; rather they allow for times of intentional exploration, reflection, and regaining enthusiasm and creativity for ministry. Renewal leaves can take many forms as each congregation and pastor uniquely answer the question, “What will make your heart sing?
” The current Requests for Proposals (RFP) linked below provide a full description of the program including eligibility requirements, program parameters, selection procedures, and the proposal writing and submission process. Please review the appropriate RFP thoroughly. Each one includes essential instructions, the required form, worksheets, and documentation, and the proposal questions.
Step 1: Read the Request for Proposals (RFP) The application process includes each step outlined here. Congregational leaders and the pastor should work together to design the renewal program, complete each step in the process, and submit the proposal by the deadline noted in the current year’s Request for Proposals.
Indiana Request for Proposal Indiana Clergy Renewal Program National Clergy Renewal Program Step 2: Watch the Webinar If this is your first time submitting a proposal, watch this Information Webinar that describes the programs, explains how to submit a proposal, where to find current application materials, and provides answers to commonly asked questions.
If you have applied previously and already viewed the webinar video, you may scroll down to Updates from Last Year. 2025 Informational Webinar What will make your heart sing? 2025 Clergy Renewal Program Information Webinar describes the programs, explains how to submit a proposal, where to find current application materials, and provides answers to commonly asked questions.
Many of you may be familiar with the programs and the process of submitting a proposal. The following information highlights changes to the programs since last year. Switched to an online only application process!
Complete details provided in the Requests for Proposals. The new process represents a hybrid approach that includes completing fields in the online portal (opens December 1) and uploading the written portion to the portal as a PDF document. Same Tax Status & Signatures form used for both programs.
See Step 3. Removed “Post-leave Activities” category from Pastor’s Budget. Because we permit congregations and leave-taking pastors to propose multiple leave periods over the course of two calendar years, this category became obsolete.
Step 3: Download & Review the Form Once you have read the Request for Proposals in its entirety, viewed the webinar above, and reviewed notes for the current program year, you are ready to complete and print the fillable form. The fillable form is the same for the Indiana and National Clergy Renewal Programs. The completed form must be included as part of Proposal PDF described in the Request for Proposals document linked in Step 1.
Clergy Renewal Programs Fillable Form Click Here for Fillable Form Step 4: Review FAQs & Resources The Clergy Renewal Programs team has prepared helpful resources for congregations and pastors applying to receive a renewal grant. These resources include advice from past grant recipients, tips for a high-quality proposal, and multimedia interviews designed to help you as you complete your proposal.
Is the program only for senior or lead pastors? The programs are open to clergy serving as pastoral leaders in congregational ministry regardless of their role or title. Can grant funds be used as a fellowship?
Clergy Renewal Grant funds cannot be used as a fellowship program for work toward an academic degree. Clergy whose plans are strictly dedicated to the pursuit of an academic degree are encouraged to seek support elsewhere. How long a renewal leave can be proposed?
A total renewal leave time of 12 weeks is encouraged. The renewal leave may be planned as a single 12-week span or as multiple leaves of no less than 2 weeks spread over the two calendar years following the year in which the proposal is submitted . I serve as a college campus pastor.
Am I eligible? This depends on a few factors. If, in your role as a campus pastor, you are employed by the college or university where you minister, you would not be eligible to benefit from a grant.
However, if you serve as a pastoral leader with a congregation that operates on the campus and are employed by the congregation, then yes. Are clergy who serve in other ministry contexts besides congregational ministry eligible to benefit from a Clergy Renewal Grant? Only clergy serving as pastoral leaders in congregational ministry are eligible to benefit from a Clergy Renewal Programs grant.
Our church needs repair. Can this grant help? Clergy Renewal Programs grant funds may only be used for costs associated with a congregation’s and leave-taking pastor’s renewal leave program.
Congregations in search of financial support for the purpose of building repairs, updates, renovations, or capital improvements should seek out other sources for these types of financial needs. Step 5: Access Online Portal & Submit Proposal The online portal is closed until after the 2027 program year begins. Access to the portal will be provided here in blue hyperlinked text at that time.
In the meantime, we invite you to review the current Request for Proposals (Step 1 above) and other resources to aid you in preparing and planning your renewal leave. All proposals submitted by eligible congregations receive equal consideration in the review process.
Indiana Request for Proposal 2026 Formatting Templates Guide Formatting Templates Guide If you have questions not answered in the timeline, eligibility, programs description, Request for Proposals, FAQs, or detailed application process steps outlined above, please complete this Contact form. Please be aware that all fields are required to successfully submit the form, and it will only accept one inquiry per email address . .
If you have previously used this form, please send us an email instead at ClergyRenewal@cts. edu and one of our staff will be happy to respond to you. Para más información en español contactar ale@zoenetwork.
mx . Christian & Missionary Alliance Church of God (Anderson, IN) Church of God (Cleveland, TN) Fountain of Salvation Churches, Inc. Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal Movimiento Internacional Missionary Church, Ft.
Wayne Multiple Denominations Represented Nondenominational / independent Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Indianapolis Pentecostal Churches of the Apostolic Faith International Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ Associate Director, Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs Associate Dean for Evaluation and Assessment, Associate Professor of Theology and Culture, Executive Director of Center for Pastoral Excellence and the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs Program Support Assistant Consultores que hablan Español Christian Theological Seminary Announces 233 Congregations Awarded Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program Grants for 2025 Christian Theological Seminary, an ecumenical seminary based in Indianapolis, announces 233 congregations from across the United States have been selected… Christian Theological Seminary Announces 198 Congregations Awarded Lilly Endowment 2024 Clergy Renewal Program Grants Christian Theological Seminary, an ecumenical seminary based in Indianapolis, today announces 198 congregations from across the United States have been… Christian Theological Seminary Announces Over 200 Congregations Awarded Lilly Endowment 2023 Clergy Renewal Program Grants Christian Theological Seminary, an ecumenical seminary based in Indianapolis, today announces 229 congregations from across the United States have been… Christian Theological Seminary Skills for Flourishing Congregations Our Life in Common Series Compelling Preaching Initiative Testify!
Your Art Is Your Witness Academy of Preaching and Celebration Alumni Association Board of Directors Mission, Vision and Values
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Christian congregations with pastors seeking renewal. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Up to $60,000 Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Education & Human Resources (IUSE: EHR) Program is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). This program promotes novel, creative, and transformative approaches to generating and using new knowledge about STEM teaching and learning to improve STEM education for undergraduate students. It supports projects that bring recent advances in STEM knowledge into undergraduate education, adapt, improve, and incorporate evidence-based practices, and lay the groundwork for institutional improvement in STEM education. Professional development for instructors to ensure adoption of new and effective pedagogical techniques is a potential topic of interest.
The National Leadership Grants for Libraries Program (NLG-L) supports projects that address critical needs of the library and archives fields and have the potential to advance practice and strengthen library and archival services for the American public. Successful proposals will generate results such as new models, tools, research findings, services, practices, and/or alliances that can be widely used, adapted, scaled, or replicated to extend and leverage the benefits of federal investment. Applications to IMLS should both advance knowledge and understanding and ensure that the federal investment made generates benefits to society. Specifically, the goals for this program are to generate projects of far-reaching impact that: • Build the workforce and institutional capacity for managing the national information infrastructure and serving the information and education needs of the public. • Build the capacity of libraries and archives to lead and contribute to efforts that improve community well-being and strengthen civic engagement. • Improve the ability of libraries and archives to provide broad access to and use of information and collections with emphasis on collaboration to avoid duplication and maximize reach. • Strengthen the ability of libraries to provide services to affected communities in the event of an emergency or disaster. • Strengthen the ability of libraries, archives, and museums to work collaboratively for the benefit of the communities they serve. Throughout its work, IMLS places importance on diversity, equity, and inclusion. This may be reflected in an IMLS-funded project in a wide range of ways, including efforts to serve individuals of diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds; individuals with disabilities; individuals with limited functional literacy or information skills; individuals having difficulty using a library or museum; and underserved urban and rural communities, including children from families with incomes below the poverty line. Application Process: The application process for the NLG-L program has two phases; applicants must begin by applying for Phase I. For Phase I, all applicants must submit Preliminary Proposals by the September 20th deadline listed for this Notice of Funding Opportunity. For Phase II, only selected applicants will be invited to submit Full Proposals, and only those Invited Full Proposals will be considered for funding. Invited Full Proposals will be due March 20, 2024. Funding Opportunity Number: NLG-LIBRARIES-FY24. Assistance Listing: 45.312. Funding Instrument: G. Category: AR,HU. Award Amount: $50K – $1M per award.
The California Department of Education (CDE) Early Education Division is making approximately .7 million available to expand California State Preschool Program (CSPP) services statewide, appropriated under the 2021 Budget Act. Eligible applicants are local educational agencies (LEAs), including school districts, county offices of education, community college districts, and direct-funded charter schools—both current CSPP contractors and new applicants. Funding supports full-day/full-year or part-day/part-year preschool services for income-eligible children beginning in FY 2024–25. Awards are allocated by county based on Local Planning Council priority areas and application scores, with redistribution provisions if county allocations are underutilized.