The Center will continue its work to co-coordinate the initiative.
The In Trust Center for Theological Schools has received a $2.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to continue its work co-coordinating the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative.
In 2021, the Endowment announced the Pathways initiative to help theological schools across the United States and Canada as they prioritize and respond to the most pressing challenges they face in preparing pastoral leaders for Christian congregations, both now and into the future. The Endowment awarded the In Trust Center a grant in the initiative’s original round to work with the Association of Theological Schools to coordinate the effort.
The new money will fund the Center’s work through 2030, as the Endowment announced in October and November two new rounds of funding supporting 103 projects across North America over the next five years.
The In Trust Center will continue its work supporting grantees through a variety of resources, learning spaces, and consultations. The Center’s work has also focused on providing news and insights for schools throughout the field, regardless of whether they received grants.
“We’re grateful for the Endowment’s continued support of theological schools and the work of the Center,” said In Trust Center President Amy Kardash. “The Pathways initiative has spurred creativity and given schools the ability to find new ways to prepare pastoral leaders and provide sustainability for schools. It’s an exciting initiative, and we’re glad to be part of it.” Since 2021, Lilly Endowment has provided grants through the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative totaling more than $700 million to support 163 ATS-accredited theological schools in efforts to strengthen their own education and financial capacities and to assist 61 schools in developing large-scale collaborative endeavors.
