CTS Launches RISE UP Campaign

 

An $18 million campaign to strengthen CTS’s work and invite more people into its mission 

Christian Theological Seminary has launched RISE UP: The Campaign for Human Flourishing, its first comprehensive campaign in more than a decade. The $18 million goal will strengthen CTS for the future, but the campaign is about more than reaching a fundraising target. It is an invitation to more people to see, share, and support the work CTS is doing today—in Indianapolis, throughout Indiana, and in communities around the world. 

RISE UP supports CTS2030: Project Transformation, the Seminary’s long-term vision for its mission and impact. After a three-year silent phase that secured more than 80 percent of the goal, the campaign entered its public phase this fall with nearly $14.9 million raised. 

“Reaching 83 percent of our $18 million goal is an exciting milestone, and we are deeply grateful to everyone whose generosity has brought us this far. That support gives us momentum as we invite more people to discover and invest in CTS’s work. I’m confident we will reach our goal, and excited about what we can accomplish together,” said Dr. Kristin Champa, Vice President for Advancement. 

The public launch on October 13 began with a private reception that brought together 200 of CTS’s closest friends, alumni, benefactors, faculty, staff, and trustees—past and present. The gathering celebrated the work that has brought the Seminary to this moment and the possibilities ahead. Later that evening, a public event featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and New York Times bestselling author Jon Meacham invited a wider community into a conversation about faith, democracy, justice, and moral courage. 

CTS President Dr. David Mellott said RISE UP grew from a strategic planning process begun in 2019. “That process helped us listen to our community and clarify where CTS can contribute. Through this campaign, we can deepen those relationships and invite more people to join the work happening across our communities,” he said. 

The campaign’s public phase will bring that vision to more people through alumni gatherings around the country, digital outreach, and opportunities to learn about CTS’s programs and community partnerships. The goal is to help people discover where their interests and values connect with the Seminary’s work—and give them clear ways to take part. 

RISE UP is guided by Honorary Co-Chairs Preston and Greta Adams and Mike and Sue Smith, and Managing Co-Chairs Diane Thompson and Alana Washington. The campaign committee brings together current and past trustees and community members, including Eric Dozier, Liz Klimes, Don Knebel, Holly McKiernan, Dave Miner, Nick Orange, and Nichole Wilson. 

“The strength of a comprehensive campaign is that everyone can find a meaningful way to participate. It also gives us the opportunity to help more people see the full scope of CTS’s work and the difference it makes in our communities,” Champa said. 

Four Pillars for the Future 

Academic Excellence 

Academic Excellence strengthens CTS’s academic mission through investment in programs and faculty, preparing theologians, counselors, and other leaders to serve their communities with skill, wisdom, and care. Two central priorities include support for student scholarships and the Frank A. and Joyce S. Thomas Endowed Chair in African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric. 

Equity & Justice 

Equity & Justice builds on a decade of work by CTS’s Faith & Action Project, which has brought faith leaders and community organizations together to address systemic challenges. Through the Center for Faith & Action, CTS will deepen this work with a yearlong fellowship that helps congregations put plans into action in partnership with neighborhood organizations, addressing systemic challenges in their communities. 

Healing & Wholeness 

Healing & Wholeness expands the reach of the CTS Counseling Center, which serves people in Indianapolis and across Indiana. The Center provides more than 11,000 therapy sessions to the community each year, offering affordable and accessible mental health care to people of all backgrounds. Campaign support will help CTS grow outreach and referral efforts, respond to unmet needs, and extend this care. 

Sustaining Generosity 

Sustaining Generosity invites more people to help CTS meet the needs of today and remain strong for the future through unrestricted support. Gifts to the CTS Annual Fund provide flexible, unrestricted support, allowing the Seminary to respond where needs are greatest, sustain its programs, and extend its work in the community. Every gift helps ensure CTS can continue preparing leaders and serving communities for years to come. 

Whether someone is drawn to preparing theologians and counselors, expanding access to mental health care, or advancing justice with community partners, RISE UP offers a way to join CTS in work that is already making a difference. Together, these investments can strengthen graduates, the communities they serve, and the Seminary’s work for love, justice, and liberation. 

Learn more about RISE UP or make a gift at riseup.cts.edu.