“Pastors play such important roles in nurturing the spiritual lives of individuals and families and guiding the ministries of congregations,” said Christopher L. Coble, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for religion. “Yet the demands of ministry can seem relentless. We hope that these grants help congregations honor their pastors for their extraordinary service and support them with the time and other resources to step away for rest and renewal so they can return to their congregations reenergized.” 

Congregations in the 2025 programs represent the broad spectrum of Christian traditions, including Roman Catholic and Orthodox parishes and congregations from 28 Protestant denominations. In harmony with the spirit of these programs, congregations and their pastors collaborated to craft plans designed to renew pastors physically and spiritually and energize them in their ministry. 

Pastors plan to use grant funds in support of domestic and international travel. For example, one pastor will worship in European churches with historical significance in Geneva, Barcelona, and Monserrat. Another pastor will travel with their spouse and children to India to reconnect with family, nurture their creative life, and learn about furniture painting. Yet another pastor will take their family on a road trip across the United States via motor home to explore iconic landmarks and meaningful cities, plan projects together, and enjoy the journey at a leisurely pace. 

In addition to travel as a form of renewal, some pastors will use time away from their congregations to engage in new spiritual disciplines, focus on time with loved ones, begin exercise and other new health regimens, engage in creative work, and explore topics that spark excitement for preaching, worship, and congregational life. Grants will also fund renewal activities for congregations while their pastors are away. These include opportunities to learn from local indigenous leaders around stewardship of regional waterways, to experience working with international students and an early immigrant settlement program, as well as to craft a family retreat focused on the life and work of Martin Luther.  

Dr. Robert Saler, Director of the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs at Christian Theological Seminary, noted that interest in the grant programs has grown significantly in recent years, with higher numbers of proposals leading to increased competitiveness.  

“In these challenging and exciting times, we’re watching the applicants and awardees of these programs expand the definition of what sabbatical can mean. Some pastors are stepping away to rest, while others are stepping away to devote themselves to other aspects of their ministry and their being. Our goal is that these programs supply congregations with the means to express appreciation for their leaders and actively invest in what reenergizes their pastors for long-term ministry,” Saler said. 

Since Lilly Endowment introduced the Clergy Renewal Program for Indiana Congregations and the National Clergy Renewal Program in 1999 and 2000 respectively, more than 4,526 congregations throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico have received grants in support of renewal experiences for their pastors. 

In 2025, the combined Clergy Renewal Programs awarded grants totaling more than $13 million. Congregations were invited to propose grants of up to $60,000. The application process encourages active engagement between congregations and their pastors in designing and developing the renewal experiences. As part of the programs, pastors can include their families in the renewal experience. Congregations may budget up to $20,000 of the maximum grant toward expenses for interim pastoral leadership, send-off and return celebrations, as well as activities designed for congregational renewal. 

Christian Theological Seminary has administered the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs since 2012. “Amidst all the rigors of ministry in a changing world, these grants enable pastors and their congregations to actively partake in the gifts of renewal and revitalization that are so needed today,” Saler said. 

About Lilly Endowment Inc. 

Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private 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. While those gifts remain the 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. Although the Endowment funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion, it maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. A principal aim of the Endowment’s religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment also seeks to improve public understanding of diverse religious traditions by supporting fair and accurate portrayals of the role religion plays in the United States and across the globe. Additional information about Lilly Endowment is available at lillyendowment.org. 

About Christian Theological Seminary 

Christian Theological Seminary (CTS), a fully accredited ecumenical graduate school open to all with historic roots in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), celebrated its 100th anniversary during the 2024-2025 academic year. CTS offers masters and doctoral degree programs through its School of Theology and School of Counseling, accessible mental health services through the Counseling Center, and collaboration to address systemic social justice issues through the Faith & Action Project. 

Contact: Robert Saler 

317-931-2348 / rsaler@cts.edu 

Award Recipients in the National Clergy Renewal Program: 

Alabama 

Auburn, AL – Auburn United Methodist Church, the Rev. Cory Russell Smith 

Arizona 

Tucson, AZ – New Life Community Church of the Nazarene, the Rev. Curt Lunsford
Tucson, AZ – Southside Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Alison Harrington 

Arkansas 

Bentonville, AR – The Neighborhood Church, the Rev. Joseph Liles
Little Rock, AR – St. Andrew’s Church (Anglican Church in America), the Rev. Dustin Freeman 

California 

Bakersfield, CA – St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the Rev. Luis Mario Rodriguez
Berkeley, CA – First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, the Rev. Charlene Han Powell
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA – St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, the Rev. Laurel Coote
Daly City, CA – Korean Central Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Hyouk Kwon
Davis, CA – Davis Korean Church, the Rev. Youngjo “Mickey” Choi
Descanso, CA – Chapel of the Hills Community United Methodist Church, the Rev. Julie Brewster Elkins
Fullerton, CA – Great Light Zoeun Church, the Rev. James Heeso Park
Hayward, CA – The United Church of Hayward, UCC, the Rev. Jeanne Loveless
Irvine, CA – Irvine United Church of Christ, the Rev. Sarah Halverson-Cano
Long Beach, CA – Bay Shore Community Congregational Church, UCC, the Rev. David Joseph Clark
Los Altos, CA – True North Church, the Rev. Eugene Park
Los Angeles, CA – Christian Missional Church, the Rev. Junghwan Park
Los Angeles, CA – The Valley Vineyard Christian Fellowship, the Rev. Jimmy Reyes
Monrovia, CA – Integración Church of God, the Rev. Ernesto Soriano
Riverside, CA – Calvary Presbyterian Church of Riverside, the Rev. Alfred Graise
Sacramento, CA – River Life Covenant Church, the Rev. Ted Burrows
Salinas, CA – St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the Rev. Alejandra Trillos
San Diego, CA – University City United Church, the Rev. Iona Dickinson
Santa Barbara, CA – First Presbyterian Church of Santa Barbara, the Rev. Ann Conklin 
Sonoma, CA – St. Andrew United Presbyterian Church of Sonoma, the Rev. Nicole Caubisens
Whittier, CA – Whittier First Friends Church, the Rev. Loletta Barrett 

Colorado 

Littleton, CO – Centennial Covenant Church, the Rev. Karl Helvig
Gypsum, CO – Vida Nueva Christian Center, the Rev. Josue Rubio 

Connecticut 

Milford, CT – Woodmont United Church of Christ, the Rev. Jill Olds 

Florida 

Ocala, FL – Christ Community Church Ocala, the Rev. Nathan Rice
Pensacola, FL – Christ Church (Episcopal), the Rev. Kathryn Gillett
St. Augustine, FL –Trinity Parish (Episcopal), the Rev. Matt Marino
Windermere, FL – Global Ministries, the Rev. Jose Rea 

Georgia 

Dacula, GA – Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church, the Rev. Jason Mincey
Dalton, GA – Dug Gap Baptist Church, the Rev. Duane Mills
Marietta, GA – Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, the Rev. Michael Tishel 

Hawaii 

Pearl City, HI – Joy of Christ Lutheran Church, the Rev. Jayaprakash Sabbithi 

Illinois 

Bloomington, IL – St. Luke Union Church, the Rev. Andrew Gifford
Chicago, IL – All Nations Gospel Community Church, the Rev. Haesung Byun
Clinton, IL – Clinton Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Paul Stroup
Glenview, IL – Chicago Joyful Community Church, the Rev. Tae Hwan Son
Effingham, IL – Christ’s Church of Effingham, the Rev. Jeff Michael
Elgin, IL – Iglesia Puerta De Sion, the Rev. Gustavo Garcia
Elk Grove Village, IL – Sarang Church, the Rev. Sun Dong Park
Libertyville, IL – St. Lawrence Episcopal Church, the Rev. Kristin Saylor
Lombard, IL – First Church of Lombard UCC, the Rev. Jill Terpstra
Monticello, IL – Monticello Christian Church, the Rev. Jerry Dusenberry
Oak Park, IL – Pilgrim Congregational Church of Oak Park, the Rev. Colin Knapp
Chicago, IL – Greater Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, the Rev. Michael Runnels 

Iowa 

Cedar Rapids, IA – First Presbyterian Church of Cedar Rapids, the Rev. Heather Hayes 

Kansas 

Atchison, KS – Trinity Episcopal Church, the Rev. Jon Hullinger
Blue Rapids, KS – Memorial Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Shannon Borgman 

Kentucky 

Berea, KY – Church of Christ, Union, the Rev. Kent Gilbert
Louisville, KY – Metropolitan Community Church of Louisville, the Rev. Stedney Phillips
Louisville, KY – Third Avenue Baptist Church, the Rev. Brandon Shafer
Madisonville, KY – First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Madisonville, the Rev. Kara Foster 

Louisiana 

Baton Rouge, LA – Broadmoor Baptist Church, the Rev. Leonard Ezell 

Maine 

Kennebunkport, ME – South Congregational Church of Kennebunkport, the Rev. Susan Page Townsley 

Maryland 

Annapolis, MD – Christ Our Anchor Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Jessica Lowry
Bel Air, MD – Bel Air United Methodist Church, the Rev. Byron Brought
Charlotte Hall, MD – Trinity Episcopal Parish, the Rev. Christopher L. Otten
Millersville, MD – Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Rev. Breonna Roberts
Mitchellville, MD – Hope Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Gloria Yong Yi 

Massachusetts 

Lexington, MA – Chinese Bible Church of Greater Boston , the Rev. Jeffrey Hwang
Lexington, MA – Grace Chapel, the Rev. Thomas VanAntwerp
Newton Lower Falls, MA – Episcopal Society of St. Mary’s Church in Newton, the Rev. Ann Bonner-Stewart
Pittsfield, MA – Cathedral of the Beloved, the Rev. Jennifer Gregg
Rockport, MA – First Baptist Church of Rockport, the Rev. Matthew Wigton 

Michigan 

Berkley, MI – Berkley Community Church, the Rev. Adam Groh
Grand Rapids, MI – Church of the Servant CRC, the Rev. Andrew Mead
Holland, MI – The Way Church, the Rev. Arturo Rojas Prado
South Haven, MI – Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Rev. Travis Wilson
Southfield, MI – Hope United Methodist Church, the Rev. Benjamin Kevin Smalls 

Minnesota 

Alexandria, MN – First Congregational United Church of Christ, the Rev. Jill Sanders
Cottonwood, MN – Christ Lutheran Church, the Rev. Janel Kuester
Deer River, MN – Redeemer Lutheran Church, the Rev. James Anthony
Excelsior, MN – Excelsior United Methodist Church, the Rev. Brooke Heerwald Steiner
Fergus Falls, MN – Bethlehem Lutheran Church, the Rev. Loren Mellum
Foley, MN – First Presbyterian Church of Foley, the Rev. Beverly Brock
Hermantown, MN – Grace Lutheran Church, the Rev. Christoph Schmidt
Hibbing, MN – The Alliance Church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, the Rev. Kevin Norton
Minneapolis, MN – Christ Church Lutheran, the Rev. Miriam Samuelson-Roberts
Minneapolis, MN – First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Rev. Daniel Adolphson
Minneapolis, MN – Nokomis Heights Lutheran Church, the Rev. Kristen Capel
Minneapolis, MN – Salem English Lutheran Church, the Rev. Rhonda Hlavinka
Minneapolis, MN – St. John’s Episcopal Church, the Rev. Lisa Wiens Heinsohn
Norwood Young America, MN – St. John’s Lutheran Congregation of Young America, the Rev. Joshua Bernau
Plainview, MN – Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, the Rev. Krista Henning-Ferkin
Waltham, MN – Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Rev. Jesse Krusemark
White Bear Lake, MN – Community of Grace Lutheran Church, the Rev. Darrin Vick 

Mississippi 

Indianola, MS – St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, the Rev. Jennifer Melnyk Deaton 

Missouri 

Springfield, MO – Immanuel Korean Church (Assemblies of God), the Rev. Dong Joon Lee
St. Louis, MO – Central West End Church, the Rev. Eric Stiller
St. Louis, MO – Metropolitan Community Church of Greater St. Louis, the Rev. Lauren Bennett 

Nebraska 

Lincoln, NE – First Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Rev. Erin Heidelberger
Wakefield, NE – Evangelical Covenant Church – Wakefield, the Rev. Jill Craig 

New Hampshire 

Amherst, NH – Messiah Lutheran Church, the Rev. Karl Hester
Deerfield, NH – Deerfield Community Church, UCC, the Rev. Kurt Walker
Nashua, NH – Crossway Christian Church of Hillsborough County, the Rev. David Ripper 

New Jersey 

Fort Lee, NJ – Korean Grace Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Abe Koh
North Brunswick Township, NJ – Jacob’s Well Community Church, the Rev. Scott Jones
Paterson, NJ – Iglesia Reformada Riverside, the Rev. Fabio Sosa 

New York 

Brooklyn, NY – Bedford Central Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Clive Neil
Hicksville, NY – Hicksville United Methodist Church, the Rev. Iwy Patel Yatri
Mount Vernon, NY – First United Methodist Church of Mount Vernon, the Rev. Tisha Branch
New Rochelle, NY – Korean Presbyterian Church of Westchester, the Rev. Matthew Jun
New York, NY – Protestant Episcopal Church of St. Peter in the City of New York, the Rev. Lisha Epperson
New York, NY – Union Baptist Church of the Burrough of Manhattan, the Rev. Brian Scott
Queens, NY – The Korean Church of Queens, the Rev. Youn Soo (Barnabas) Kim
West Park, NY – Episcopal Church of the Ascension and Holy Trinity, the Rev. Aidan William Owen 

North Carolina 

Apex, NC – Apex United Methodist Church, the Rev. Laura Katherine Stern
Asheville, NC – St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Asheville, the Rev. Matthew Smith
Beaufort, NC – St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the Rev. Tambria Lee
Charlotte, NC – Cross Park Church, the Rev. Grant Beachy
Greensboro, NC – Fellowship Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Kathryn Campbell
Greenville, NC – First Christian Church of Greenville, the Rev. Andrew Shue
Newport, NC – All Saints Church (Anglican Mission in America), the Rev. David B. Linka
Swannanoa, NC – Valley Hope Church (Evangelical Presbyterian), the Rev. Anthony Rodriguez 

Ohio 

Bedford Heights, OH – Friendship Mennonite Church, the Rev. Alvis Pettker
Cincinnati, OH – Cincinnati Church of the Brethren, the Rev. Benjamin Walters
Cleveland, OH – Holy Trinity Baptist Church, the Rev. Chelton C. Flanagan
Columbus, OH – Grace Apostolic Church, the Rev. James Gaiters Sr. 
Columbus, OH – The Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, the Rev. Eugene Gibson Jr.
Maineville, OH – The Gathering, Church in the Countryside YMCA, the Rev. Michael Newman
Piqua, OH – Greene Street United Methodist Church, the Rev. Will Leasure
Rocky River, OH – Good Soil Lutheran Ministries, the Rev. Marissa Harrison
Solon, OH – St. Rita Catholic Parish, the Rev. Thomas Behrend
West Chester, OH – Lord of Life Lutheran Church, the Rev. Lowell Raymond Michelson
Wooster, OH – Gateway Church of Wooster, the Rev. Keith Smith 

Oregon 

Aurora, OR – Aurora Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Cynthia O’Brien
Bend, OR – Nativity Lutheran Church, the Rev. Chris Kramer
Gresham, OR – Covenant Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Joshua Dunham
Jacksonville, OR – First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville, the Rev. Dustin Jernigan
Portland, OR – Rose City Park Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Elizabeth Smith Leavitt 

Pennsylvania 

Airville, PA – Chanceford Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Beth Appel
Berwyn, PA – Trinity Presbyterian Church in Berwyn, the Rev. Sarah Weisiger
Dover, PA – Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church of Dover, the Rev. Abigail Leese
Doylestown, PA – Saint Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Rev. Thomas Rusert
Harrisburg, PA – Skyline View Brethren in Christ Church, the Rev. Glenn Pfeiffer
Johnstown, PA – Faith Chapel of Johnstown, the Rev. Andrew Taylor
Manheim, PA – Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Rev. Kathryn Warn
Media, PA – Middletown Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Douglas McPheeters
Philadelphia, PA – Third, Scots and Mariners Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Jason Ferris
Rydal, PA – St. Mark’s and Memorial Church of Our Redeemer (Anglican Church in North America), the Rev. Jason Patterson
Warren, PA – First Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Rev. Jeffrey Ewing
Wellsboro, PA – Independent Bible Church of Wellsboro, the Rev. Thomas (TJ) Freeman
West Chester, PA – The Gathering of West Chester, the Rev. Phil Carnuccio 

Puerto Rico 

Isabela, PR – Iglesia Presbiteriana Unida Montclair, the Rev. Nelson Gutiérrez Pagán 

South Carolina 

Charleston, SC – The Independent or Congregational Church in Charleston, the Rev. Evelyn Oliveira
Drayton, SC – Gathering Anglican Church, the Rev. Michael Myers
Greenwood, SC – Tabernacle Baptist Church, the Rev. Quincy Baylor
North Augusta, SC – Fairview Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Allen Thompson 

South Dakota 

Canton, SD – Living Stone Ministry, the Rev. Dustin Jernigan 

Tennessee 

Antioch, TN – Korean Unity Baptist Church, the Rev. Dan Eum
Germantown, TN – Harvest Church of Memphis, the Rev. Kennon Vaughan
Knoxville, TN – First Baptist Church of Knoxville, the Rev. Brent Patrick McDougal
Murfreesboro, TN – St. Elizabeth the New Martyr Orthodox Christian Church, the Rev. John Oliver
Nashville, TN – Southminster Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Beth McCaw 

Texas 

Alvin, TX – Grace Episcopal Church Alvin, the Rev. Suzanne Smith
Austin, TX – First Evangelical Free Church, the Rev. Omar Argumedo
Austin, TX – University Baptist Church, the Rev. Natalie Webb
Dallas, TX – White Rock United Methodist Church, the Rev. Kerry Smith
Euless, TX – St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, the Rev. Vasile Catalin Tudora
Garden Ridge, TX – Triumphant Lutheran Church, the Rev. Jon Richter
Houston, TX – Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church UCC, the Rev. Vanessa Monroe
Houston, TX – Kingwood Methodist Church/Iglesia Familia El Refugio, the Rev. Sara Reyes
Katy, TX – First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Rev. Heather Tolleson
New Braunfels, TX – Peace Lutheran Church, the Rev. Jake Fain
Pasadena, TX – Comunidad de Fe, the Rev. Tomas Cortez
Prairie View, TX – St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, the Rev. Rhonda Rogers
The Colony, TX – Frisco Semihan Church, the Rev. Bonsung Ku
San Antonio, TX – Cleft of the Rock Church, the Rev. Leslie Bramlett
San Antonio, TX – San Antonio Korean Baptist Church, the Rev. David Yi 

Virginia 

Harrisonburg, VA – Shalom Mennonite Congregation, the Rev. Krista Ehst
King William, VA – New Life Community Church – Virginia, the Rev. Littycia Clay-Crawley
Montpelier, VA – Church of Our Savior (Episcopal), the Rev. Emily Krudys
Woodstock, VA – Emmanuel Episcopal Church, the Rev. Kathleen Murray
Richmond, VA – Morning Star Baptist Church Richmond, the Rev. Tyrell Brown
Richmond, VA – St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, the Rev. Marlene Forrest 

Washington 

Auburn, WA – Pyung An Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Seonglim Kang
East Wenatchee, WA – Columbia Grove Covenant Church, the Rev. Andrew Thompson
Federal Way, WA – Church of Christ at Federal Way, the Rev. Drew Dixon
Maple Valley, WA – Maples Valley Presbyterian Church, the Rev. David Miles
Seattle, WA – Emmanuel Anglican Church, the Rev. Matthew Lanser
Seattle, WA – Epiphany Episcopal Parish, the Rev. Kate Wesch
Sequim, WA – St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, the Rev. ClayOla Hillaker Gitane
Spokane, WA – First Presbyterian Church, Spokane, the Rev. Betsy Wynne
Spokane, WA – St. Luke Lutheran Church, the Rev. Christian “Taran” Denning
Tacoma, WA – Anchor Church of the Christian & Missionary Alliance, the Rev. Susan Bouterse
Woodinville, WA – Trinitas Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Brant Bosserman 

Washington, DC 

Washington, DC – Mount Moriah Baptist Church, the Rev. Lucius Marcel Dalton
Washington, DC – Walker Memorial Baptist Church, the Rev. Ademuyiwa Bamiduro 

West Virginia 

Hinton, WV – First Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Isaiah Kim
Shepherdstown, WV – Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Gusti Linnea Newquist 

Wisconsin 

Elkhorn, WI – Southern Lakes Evangelical Free Church, the Rev. Ken Brummel
Madison, WI – Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ, the Rev. Julia Burkey
Menasha, WI – Christ The Rock Community Church, the Rev. Joel Zeiner
Milwaukee, WI – Wesleyan Christian Church House of God, the Rev. Daniel Alberto Muñoz Suárez
Waukesha, WI – Ascension Lutheran Church, the Rev. Anthony Acompanado 

Wyoming 

Cheyenne, WY – Element Church, the Rev. Richard Buz Hannon 

Award Recipients in the Clergy Renewal Program for Indiana Congregations: 

Avon – Holy Church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, the Rev. Amos Mihanda
Bargersville – Risen Lord Lutheran Church, the Rev. Wendy Kalan
Bristol – Church of the Nazarene of Bristol, the Rev. Chad Finney
Columbus – Flintwood Wesleyan Church, the Rev. Wesley Jones
Connersville – St. Gabriel Catholic Church, the Rev. Dustin Boehm
Fort Wayne – Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren, the Rev. Anna Gross
Fort Wayne – The River Christian Church, the Rev. Mark Cleaveland
Gary – Zara Church, the Rev. Dexter Harris
Goshen – Clinton Frame Mennonite Church, the Rev. Sebastiano Rosa
Hammond – Mission Church of the Nazarene, the Rev. Roberta Cansler
Huntingburg – St. Mary Catholic Church, the Rev. Biju Thomas
Indianapolis – Ben Davis Christian Church, the Rev. Ryan Heathco
Indianapolis – Castleton Community Church, the Rev. Eric Swanson
Indianapolis – Castleton United Methodist Church, the Rev. Matt Landry
Indianapolis – Emmaus Christian Church, the Rev. Henzy Green Jr.
Indianapolis – Faith United Church of Christ, the Rev. Scott Simmons
Indianapolis – Light of the World Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Rev. R. Janae Pitts Murdock
Indianapolis – Post Road Christian Church, the Rev. Gary Whorlow
Indianapolis – The Joy of All Who Sorrow Orthodox Christian Church, the Rev. John Miller
Indianapolis – West Morris Street Free Methodist Church, the Rev. Kristen Marble
Indianapolis – Witherspoon United Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Winterbourne Harrison Jones
Lafayette – City of God Church, the Rev. Eric Roseberry
Marion – Marion First Church of the Nazarene, the Rev. Cory Clark
McCordsville – Emerge Church, the Rev. Curtis Edmondson
Merrillville – New Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, the Rev. Thomas Brian Hill
New Castle – First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Rev. Ronn Oren
Osceola – Lighthouse Vineyard Church, the Rev. Clint Schwartz
Shelbyville – First United Methodist Church, the Rev. Hyesook Leah Kim
Terre Haute – First Baptist Church of Terre Haute, the Rev. John Campbell
West Lafayette – Greater Lafayette Chinese Alliance Church, the Rev. Charles Carter II
West Lafayette – Our Saviour Lutheran Church, the Rev. Randy Schroeder
Zionsville – Zionsville Fellowship, the Rev. Drew Hunter
Zionsville – Zionsville United Methodist Church, the Rev. David Williamson

The post Christian Theological Seminary Announces 233 Congregations Awarded Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program Grants for 2025 appeared first on Christian Theological Seminary.

In the counseling room, every story matters. But not every client’s story has been equally centered or honored. For clients from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, therapy has too often been a space of misunderstanding, harm, or erasure. That’s why developing multicultural counseling competence isn’t optional — it’s a professional and ethical responsibility. 

At Christian Theological Seminary (CTS), students are prepared to serve diverse populations through a model that emphasizes self-awareness, knowledge, and skill. 

“This is a legacy that comes out of many decades of social justice–oriented understandings of not only ministry but ministry through counseling,” said Christina Davis, faculty member and clinical supervisor in the Marriage and Family Therapy program. 

At CTS, multicultural counseling is a core part of the curriculum — not a side topic or add-on. 

Interested in a counseling program committed to equity and cultural responsiveness? 

What Does Multicultural Counseling Competence Really Mean?  

Though it may seem obvious that all counselors should be empathetic, self-aware, and culturally attuned, that isn’t always the reality in graduate counseling programs or in the field at large. That’s why CTS makes multicultural counseling competence a foundational part of its counseling degrees by emphasizing a three-part framework: awareness, knowledge, and skill. 

Awareness, Davis explained, involves recognizing how your own background — including race, culture, and lived experience — shapes your assumptions and values. 

Empathy, she continued, means going beyond acknowledgment and truly entering someone else’s perspective. 

“It’s not better than or less than. It’s about difference,” she said. “I can at least practice suspending my own normative understanding of experience and enter into ‘what’s that like for you?’” 

The third element is skill — specific competencies that can be taught, practiced, and refined. At CTS, students engage with well-researched frameworks that emphasize multicultural social justice counseling competence, preparing them to serve across cultural differences with humility, discernment, and respect. 

“There is research that suggests that BIPOC clients are more likely to unenroll in therapy than others,” Davis said. “It’s really important to not put that added layer of work on clients to defend their lived experience.” 

Supporting BIPOC mental health requires more than good intentions. It calls for active reflection, cultural responsiveness, and a commitment to ethical, client-centered care. 

Common Missteps — and What to Do Instead  

One of the most common mistakes Davis sees is counselors who take a “one size fits all” approach. That kind of uniformity can do harm, especially when it overlooks the influence of dominant cultural norms — often Eurocentric and white — on healthcare systems. Therapists who don’t account for this may unintentionally participate in systems that marginalize the very people they hope to support. 

At the same time, Davis warned against overcorrection. When counselors try too hard to “get it right,” they may overemphasize race or ethnicity in ways that reduce the client’s experience. 

“Sometimes, in the well-meaning eagerness to get it right, there can be an overemphasis on race and ethnicity,” she noted. 

This can lead to attribution error or confirmation bias. Davis offered an example of a Black woman discussing stress at work. A therapist might assume she’s facing racism even if she doesn’t mention race and works in a supportive, affirming environment. 

“We want to be curious. It’s fair to ask questions, but certainly not to assume,” she emphasized. 

Multicultural counseling competence means being neither blind to difference nor overly focused on it. It means listening with care, asking without defensiveness, and centering the client’s voice. 

How CTS Helps Students Recognize Bias and Blind Spots  

CTS doesn’t wait until students are in clinical placements to address cultural competence. It starts in the classroom, through intentional practices that invite students to reflect on their own backgrounds and biases. 

In the course Sexuality, Gender, and Culture, for example, students complete a genogram — a visual map of their ethnic and cultural heritage — and explore how that lineage has shaped their beliefs and values. 

“When they sit with their own stories and share it with others, they are able to self-identify a whole lot of blind spots themselves,” Davis said. 

The exercise is both personal and transformative. It builds self-awareness and normalizes honest, reflective dialogue. 

“Everybody has a turn sharing,” she added. “We really take our time with this process. People tend to rate this particular class one of their favorites in the program.” 

One reason the class resonates so deeply is the psychological safety it provides. 

“The number one reason that arose as to what holds people back was the fear of being misunderstood,” Davis said. 

By creating a space grounded in respect and curiosity, CTS helps students engage in difficult conversations with greater openness and less fear. 

That same mindset carries into clinical training at the CTS Counseling Center. Through the live supervision model, students receive real-time feedback during sessions — including in BIPOC counseling contexts — and are encouraged to apply it immediately. In some formats, clients even have the opportunity to listen in on reflections from the supervisory team, a practice that fosters transparency and shared understanding. 

Culturally Responsive Training That Begins With Relationship  

Multicultural counseling graduate programs often include diversity content, but CTS takes a relationship-first approach. The goal isn’t performance — it’s presence, Davis explained. 

“We try to set some norms early — values about respect, how we hold one another in regard, how we’re curious first,” she added. 

These values guide both classroom discussion and clinical practice. They also serve as the foundation for students to build multicultural social justice counseling competence in a supportive, relational environment — a foundation Davis often sees in action by the time students begin seeing clients. 

“Nine times out of 10, I am overwhelmingly proud of the care that they take when they’re counseling BIPOC clients.” 

That commitment shows up in BIPOC counseling settings as a willingness to examine blind spots, engage in honest reflection, and continue learning, regardless of the counselor’s background. 

“It’s not only a skillset for working across difference. It’s working with the particularities of any vulnerable community, period,” Davis said. 

This formation benefits all students, including BIPOC therapists in training, and it’s a hallmark of both CTS counseling programs. Whether you choose the MACMHC or the MAMFT, you’ll benefit from one of the few multicultural counseling oriented graduate programs that prepares students to meet the real-world needs of diverse communities — with insight, respect, and accountability. 

Why Multicultural Counseling Competence Is a Lifelong Journey 

Multicultural counseling competence is not a destination. It’s an ongoing process of reflection, growth, and commitment. At CTS, students are encouraged to embrace that journey with a willingness to keep learning. 

“Everyone has work to do in this area,” Davis said. “No one ever arrives.” 

At CTS, that process is grounded in a longstanding legacy of justice-focused counseling education and a commitment to preparing students to become inclusive and affirming therapists in every clinical context. 

“We’ve been at this for a while,” Davis said. 

Looking for a graduate counseling degree rooted in justice, humility, and care? For students who feel called to make a difference in BIPOC mental health, CTS offers both the foundation and the community to grow in that work. 

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AMBER DAWN TREJO, MAMFT ‘20 

I grew up in California, so I had never heard of Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) before. I moved to Indiana, and I enrolled at Ivy Tech Community College for my associate’s degree. My professor for Abnormal Psychology told me about CTS because she knew that I was interested in working with married people, couples, and families. I was set once I toured the campus. I wanted to be a marriage and family therapist, but I had never done any work to heal my own childhood trauma before entering the program. I shared experiences with my cohort that I never felt safe enough to share before. I felt accepted. It was a very transformative and healing experience to have others be just as vulnerable with me. I have never felt as connected with another group of people. I realized that it was safe to open up and share. I appreciated the questions that they asked, the papers we had to write, and the group projects we had to do. I had two children when I started at CTS. I ended up getting pregnant during my last year in school, and I had my baby on March 12, 2020. It was challenging and hard, but I also couldn’t imagine doing it another way. Going through the program and getting my degree when I did made me such a better mom. I was prepared to graduate, and then everything shut down when the COVID-19 pandemic happened. My husband was in the Army Reserve, so he was mobilized to work in an Army hospital in Detroit for two months right after we had our baby. I was so close to giving up, but my colleagues surrounded me and helped me finish. They brought me groceries, cooked me dinners, and helped take care of my kids. That connected me to CTS on an even deeper level. I am forever grateful for the community and parts of me I found at CTS while on my journey there. 

 This alumni story is from CTS’ Oral History Project, A Century of Crossroads, which captured the stories and memories of our alumni from our first 100 years in printed and digital formats.   

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A story is worth a thousand numbers.

That twist on the familiar phrase, “A picture is worth a thousand words” could be used to sum up many of today’s approaches to talking about poverty. Recognizing how quickly people become numbed by numbers, we have become adept at using a moving story to inspire action, rather than pointing to data.

As effective as this can be, there is a problem: The anecdote-focused approach runs the risk of allowing people to underestimate the prevalence of poverty or to overlook details hidden in the data that could help us address poverty more effectively.

For example, we could share a powerful story about an ALICE household—one that is Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. But unless we also show you that including ALICE households in poverty data means more than 257,000 Marion County households are living in real economic distress, you won’t grasp the full scope of the problem.

Similarly, we could tell you a moving story about a child living in poverty in Indianapolis. But without connecting it to data showing that higher employment rates in the child’s community today could improve their future prospects, we aren’t pointing toward real solutions.

That’s why we’re bringing Raj Chetty to Indianapolis on September 25 to share his latest poverty data. Highly regarded as an economist studying economic mobility, Chetty has helped poverty fighters across the nation understand the stories that numbers can tell.

In what has become landmark research, Chetty has highlighted data indicating what children need to rise above poverty. Pointing to things like stable housing, great schools, nourishing food, trusted adults, and meaningful opportunities to grow and succeed, he suggests that efforts to address those factors — and driving even small changes — could improve children’s lives. Thus, he offers guidance to community members, faith leaders, nonprofits, and policymakers seeking to make a difference.

Chetty’s latest work — including a 10-year update to the landmark Land of Opportunity study — reveals how opportunity is shifting across race, class, and geography. These insights offer critical guidance for congregations, organizations, leaders, and the community about how they can take on poverty by acting on findings such as:

• Economic mobility improves when children grow up in communities with more cross-class friendships 
• Social capital is shaped by institutions such as schools, houses of worship, and afterschool programs 
• Segregation and friending bias can be reduced through intentional policy and practice
• Black-white gaps in mobility have narrowed, but disparities remain
• Community-level factors like parental employment rates and social interactions are central to shaping outcomes for children 

Chetty’s research includes a number of similar revelations and offers guideposts to effective poverty mitigation. Think about it: How could your church create spaces where children from different backgrounds learn, play, and grow together? How could your agency help parents secure livable-wage work as a way to improve a child’s long-term prospects? And how could your nonprofit work intentionally to help children build friendships across neighborhood and income lines—friendships that break down barriers and foster meaningful connections across all backgrounds?

Asking and answering questions like these requires hearing the stories but also understanding the data. As Pastor Beau Underwood of Allisonville Christian Church recently said, “Preachers know the power of a good story. We use sermons to teach people faith and to inspire people to take action. Sometimes we struggle with a different kind of story: a story revealed in data. That is why I’m thrilled that CTS is bringing Raj Chetty to Indy for the Faith & Action Fall Event. I’m excited to learn from him, to understand what he is seeing in the data, and to know what we might be able to do about this problem based upon what his findings reveal.”

Join us to learn more at the Faith & Action Fall Event: Stronger Futures Through Economic Mobility  with Raj Chetty on Sept. 25. You’ll walk away with:

• Practical insights grounded in data 
• Tools and inspiration to reimagine ministry for greater impact 
• A clearer vision of how congregations can help shape a more inclusive economy and stronger future for all children 
• Inspiration to reimagine how faith communities can build networks of opportunity
• A deeper understanding of how to act for justice, not just charity 

In 2022, the Rev. William Barber II challenged a Faith & Action audience to emulate the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by both having a dream and setting an agenda. Our dreams can be shaped by a desire to rewrite the stories of the children and families living in poverty in our area. Our agenda can be shaped by the data — and stories — Raj Chetty shares with us on Sept. 25.

Reserve your seat today: cts.edu/fall.

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Raj Chetty is known globally as a Harvard University professor and researcher who has revolutionized the understanding of geography and social mobility. But in 1997, he was a new high school graduate with a question: How can I have the greatest impact on the world?  

Academically gifted (he was valedictorian at an elite Milwaukee school), he considered pursuing the sciences, like his mother and biomedical-researcher sisters. No doubt, his grasp of research principles and love of data could contribute to the world of medicine. But he felt he could make an even bigger difference in economics, his father’s area of expertise.  

It seems he made the right choice. In the decades since that decision, he has become a respected economist studying the factors that contribute to economic mobility. On Sept. 25, Chetty comes to CTS to share his ongoing findings at the Faith & Action Fall Event.  

Chetty’s rise to notoriety was quick. Six years after leaving high school, he had earned both a bachelor’s and doctorate degree from Harvard University, where he would go on to become the youngest-ever tenured professor of economics at age 28. And in 2012, he and a colleague issued a groundbreaking study on the significant role geography can play in a child’s economic prospects. In the years since, Chetty has established himself as a leading voice in the use of data as a weapon against poverty.  

Combining his expert grasp on statistics with a flair for communicating, Chetty has since captured global attention with his colorful maps and compelling data showing how a range of variables – moving to a better neighborhood at a young age, having access to better schools, connecting with people from other economic groups and more – can change the trajectory of a child’s future.   

The connection between geography and destiny has a personal resonance for Chetty. In India, where he was born, a woman from his mother’s community typically would not have gone on to postsecondary education. There was no college nearby, and sending her away to school would have been culturally inappropriate. However, a wealthy local man wanted his daughter to attend college, so he started one, and Chetty’s mother was among the first students. She went on to become a physician and, later, a professor of pediatrics – a profession that allowed her to support her husband as he earned his PhD in economics.  

The family moved to America when Raj was nine years old, and he soon recognized for himself the economic impact of geography, seeing the difference between his new life and the lives lived by his cousins who remained in India. “It was evident to me growing up how different our opportunities and experiences were,” Chetty told a writer for the International Monetary Fund in 2018. 

Quoted in The Atlantic in 2019 as saying his “big-picture goal is to revive the American dream,” Chetty has become a relentless champion for the power of data related to economic mobility. Opportunity Insights, the Harvard-based nonprofit research initiative he launched, continually issues headline-grabbing studies on the factors that affect children pursuing that American Dream, and Chetty offers insights into the ways communities can leverage that data to move children out of poverty.  

Learn for yourself how Chetty’s work could help Indianapolis children and families improve their prospects by attending the Faith & Action Fall Event on September 25 at 4:30 pm at the Schrott Center for the Arts. Admission is free.  

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Consistent with our core values outlined in the CTS 2030: Project Transformation strategic plan, CTS continues to prioritize affirming God-given human dignity, working towards justice for all, and embracing diversity. Over the course of the 2024-2025 academic year, a committee consisting of staff, faculty, alum, trustee, and senior leadership stakeholders adopted the name Imago DEI and established the following theological commitments to its ongoing work even as the landscape of the work continues to shift.  

Image Dei Committee Commitments 

The gospel of Jesus Christ and the testimony of scripture compels us as a theological learning community to give witness to and act in ways that affirm God’s transformative love, restorative care, and life-affirming concern for all humans as divine image bearers: 

• As the work of the gospel, we create and support opportunities for all to flourish and live fully into their vocational call and potential. Difference is not a distraction but an opportunity for us to best serve the world God loves and the church God empowers. (Exodus 31:1-11, Ephesians 4:11-16)
• There is room for everyone. We are one body with many members. We take joy in fortifying our learning community through explicit practices of welcome, making sacred space for authentic self-expression, and encouraging transformative pedagogy. (Ezekiel 36:26, Romans 12:2)

Towards the goal of God’s shalom and the Beloved Community, we are committed to: 

• Seminary-wide learning about our theological vision of God’s presence in people of all ethnicities, races, and backgrounds and what that means for our shared life together as a community. (Joel 2:28-32, Acts 2:17)
• Clear expression of this theological orientation and commitment in our teaching, communal programs, and public theology. (Habakkuk 2:2, 1 Peter 2:9-12)
• Review of seminary policies and procedures to ensure alignment with this core theological conviction. (Lamentations 3:20, 2 Corinthians 13:5)

We celebrate the strides our community makes to affirm the Imago DEI in all. As stated in the President’s State of the Seminary address, we as a Seminary remain “clear eyed” around challenges and steadfast in our commitment to live our core values.  

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This past academic year marked a profound milestone in the life of Christian Theological Seminary — our 100th anniversary. From its early days in 1924 to the vibrant, diverse community we are today, CTS has remained steadfast in its mission: to form disciples of Jesus Christ for church and community leadership, rooted in deep theological reflection, justice-seeking, and spiritual integrity. 

Throughout the year, we came together — students, alumni, faculty, staff, and supporters — to honor a century of theological education and to imagine the next hundred years with hope and purpose. From panel discussions and guest lectures to worship services and special events, each gathering served as a reminder of God’s enduring faithfulness and the transformative power of Christian community. 

Highlights of the celebration included an Alumni Day gathering featuring reflections from distinguished alumni and scholars, a centennial worship service honoring our ecumenical roots, and a powerful CTS Talk by author and activist John Green. His address, titled “In These Last Days,” explored themes of apocalyptic anxiety, radical hope, and our shared responsibility in the face of inequality. The festivities continued with a vibrant fundraising gala that amplified voices from across generations of CTS graduates and raised over $60,000 to support student scholarships. The centennial celebration culminated in a meaningful Commencement weekend, which included the debut of a new hymn—commissioned by CTS and composed by honorary degree recipient Mark Miller—at the Baccalaureate service, and a joyful Commencement ceremony recognizing a new generation of leaders in theology and counseling, ready to carry the CTS legacy into the world.  

These lyrics accompany and give meaning to the video montage that follows.  

Our Story Started As a Dream 

David Bjorlin & Mark A. Miller, 2025

Our story started as a dream you placed within your people’s heart, 
With love its everlasting theme and justice its unchanging art: 
Where you would split a sea to set the captives free; 
Surrender your own Son to see our death undone; 
And breakdown every wall to prove your grace for all. 
We give you thanks and boldly pray to live your ancient dream today. 

The dream our ancestors received and labored bravely to engage,
Is taken up and reconceived by faithful saints in every age:
Where all your children seek the welfare of the weak;
Endeavor to increase the common cause of peace;
and strive to recreate the lives destroyed by hate. 
We give you thanks and boldly pray to live your present dream today. 

And though this dream is unfulfilled and clouded by our grief and pain,
We pledge to use this time to build from blue-prints of your coming reign:
Where nations shore to shore will study war no more;
The roles of last and first will surely be reversed;
And your reviving breath will liven even death;
We give you thanks and boldly pray to live your future dream today.  

As we step into a new century, we give thanks — for those who came before us, for those walking with us now, and for the Spirit who leads us forward. May the next 100 years be marked by the same courage, curiosity, and commitment that shaped the first. 

Here’s to the journey ahead — grounded in faith, committed to justice, and open to the call of God in all its forms. 

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Christian Theological Seminary’s 2025 Commencement Weekend was a joyful culmination of reflection, gratitude, and celebration—marking not only the academic achievements of our graduates but also the enduring legacy of the seminary as we continue to honor our 100th anniversary. 

The festivities began Thursday, May 15 with a meaningful gathering at our annual Graduate Dinner. Stories were shared, blessings offered, and accomplishments celebrated. This special tradition continues to nurture the strong bonds between CTS alumni and the emerging leaders formed in our classrooms. 

On Friday afternoon, the seminary community gathered for Baccalaureate, a service of worship and thanksgiving. This year’s Baccalaureate held particular significance as we introduced a newly commissioned hymn composed in honor of CTS’s centennial year by CTS honorary degree recipient Mark A. Miller. Miller is a composer, performer, and professor whose music inspires justice and healing. The lyrics reflect a powerful, ongoing vision of God’s redemptive dream—rooted in love, justice, and liberation—carried forward by faithful generations. The lyrics that follow can be heard in the video montage below. 

Our Story Started As a Dream

David Bjorlin & Mark A. Miller, 2025

Our story started as a dream you placed within your people’s heart, 
With love its everlasting theme and justice its unchanging art: 
Where you would split a sea to set the captives free; 
Surrender your own Son to see our death undone; 
And breakdown every wall to prove your grace for all. 
We give you thanks and boldly pray to live your ancient dream today. 

The dream our ancestors received and labored bravely to engage,
Is taken up and reconceived by faithful saints in every age:
Where all your children seek the welfare of the weak;
Endeavor to increase the common cause of peace;
and strive to recreate the lives destroyed by hate. 
We give you thanks and boldly pray to live your present dream today. 

And though this dream is unfulfilled and clouded by our grief and pain,
We pledge to use this time to build from blue-prints of your coming reign:
Where nations shore to shore will study war no more;
The roles of last and first will surely be reversed;
And your reviving breath will liven even death;
We give you thanks and boldly pray to live your future dream today.  

The weekend culminated on Saturday with the 2025 Commencement Ceremony, a tribute to the hard work, growth, and perseverance of our graduates. The keynote address was delivered by honorary degree recipient Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Hale, a national leader in preaching and pastoral leadership. Also honored were two extraordinary individuals whose lives and work reflect the mission and values of CTS: Pastor Rob Fuquay, a gifted communicator and advocate for ecumenical ministry who servse as Pastor of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church here in Indianapolis, and Mark A. Miller, whose music and witness continue to inspire justice and hope. Each was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity. 

 CTS President David M. Mellott presented the Presidential Award of Excellence to Don Knebel, a long-serving trustee and cherished supporter of CTS, for his remarkable commitment to the seminary’s mission and students. 

 Together, these events embodied the heart of CTS: a place where scholarship meets spiritual formation, where leaders are called and equipped, and where celebration deepens our shared commitment to the Church and the world. As our graduates go forth, they carry with them the legacy of a century of theological education and the promise of faithful innovation for generations to come. 

 We invite you to enjoy this photo montage capturing the joy, gratitude, and meaningful moments of the weekend. 

The post A Weekend of Celebration, Song, and Sending Forth appeared first on Christian Theological Seminary.

Evictions. Foreclosures. Skyrocketing rent. Housing insecurity. Homelessness. 

These aren’t distant policy debates—they are the daily struggles facing thousands of our neighbors across Central Indiana. Families sleeping in their cars. Children doing homework in shelters. Elders choosing between rent and medicine. 

That’s why the Faith & Action Project continues to spotlight housing justice. Through national voices and local frontline workers, we’ve heard the urgent call—and now we’re passing it on to you. 

This is our moment to act. As individuals, as congregations, and as a community of faith. 

You don’t need to be a housing expert to make a difference. You simply need to care—and to act with intention and compassion. 

Meet the unhoused where they are. 

“Many of our tenants have lived in the grip of poverty for generations, and that shapes how they see the world—and themselves. When survival is the focus, it’s hard to make choices that serve long-term well-being.”
— Sven Schumacher, Lutheran Child and Family Services 

At Brookside CDC, we believe housing is more than just shelter—it’s the starting point for stability, dignity, and growth. When individuals and families have a safe place to call home, they can begin to thrive in alignment with God’s purpose for their lives.”
— Brookside Community Development Corporation 

Stop saying, “It’s not what we do.” 

Housing impacts nearly every challenge we try to address—poverty, mental health, education, hunger, and more. Whether you run a youth sports program, a meal ministry, or a job readiness course, odds are the people you serve are wrestling with housing instability. 

Let’s not look away. Let’s step up. Because putting faith into action means meeting people where they are—and helping them get where they need to go. 

Ask the question. 

“Do you have a safe, stable place to stay?” 

This one question can open a door to deeper understanding—and to real help. Even if someone came to you for food, diapers, or a Bible study, knowing their housing situation gives you a fuller picture of what they’re facing. Asking shows that you care, and caring is the first step toward change. 

Gather Resources and Build Bridges 

Start connecting the dots between the needs you see and the organizations already working to meet them. Learn who’s doing what in your neighborhood, and create a simple housing resource list for your ministry or organization. Invite housing partners to your events or services. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel—link arms with those already pushing it forward. 

Here are a few Indianapolis-based groups doing vital work: 

• Brookside Community Development Corporation offers transitional housing, financial literacy training, and stabilization support. 

• Lutheran Child and Family Services’ Pando Program provides permanent supportive housing for young adults aging out of care systems. 

• Family Promise of Greater Indianapolis walks alongside families in crisis, offering short-term housing and long-term stability. 

• RDOOR’s HomeNow Indy connects individuals at risk of homelessness with services to help them secure and sustain housing. Their HomeNow Diversion Team works with families—especially those with children—who are in shelter or on the brink of homelessness, offering housing problem-solving, flexible funding, and connections to shelter and long-term solutions. Referrals can be made by congregations, agencies, or individuals using this form. 

• Trinity Haven provides safe, affirming transitional housing for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults. 

• HVAF of Indiana supports veterans experiencing homelessness with housing, case management, and employment services. 

• IYG’s Project Prism serves LGBTQ+ youth facing housing insecurity with shelter, case management, and a pathway to stable housing. 

These are just a few of the many organizations doing powerful, hopeful work across the region. Seek them out. Support them. Partner with them. 

Let’s not wait until winter. 

When the weather turns warm, it’s easy to forget the crisis that remains. But the pain of housing insecurity doesn’t pause for summer. Kids still need stable homes. Families still need dignity. Our neighbors still need us. 

Let’s make this the season of faithful action—of learning, connecting, and walking alongside those who long for a place to call home. 

Together, we can move from compassion to justice. 

One question. One connection. One act of faith at a time. 

The post Put Faith into Action: Be Part of Housing Solutions Today appeared first on Christian Theological Seminary.

In 2020, a cohort of seven students began their Doctor of Ministry degree studies at CTS. All seven were African American – a first in the history of the DMin program. They quickly connected, committing to support one another all the way to graduation and deeming themselves the “Heavenly Seven.” At this year’s Commencement ceremony, the seventh member of this cohort walked across the stage to mark successful completion of the Doctor of Ministry degree, making the graduation rate of the cohort 100% – a testament to these incredible leaders and their support of one another. 

What made the group so successful? According to Doctor of Ministry program co-director Dr. Scott Seay, it was the caliber of each as individuals combined with their intentional support of one another. He shares, “This group of amazing leaders in ministry formed a tight cohort of support and encouragement from day one. No one had the option of quitting. This group illustrates the wisdom of saying that true scholarship is a communal enterprise. I couldn’t be more proud of each and every one of them.” 

Cohort members agree. Rev. Dr. Sheri Session says, “The cohort experience was nothing short of transformative. Embracing the communal spirit of our ancestors, we journeyed together – caring for one another, cheering each other on, and offering consistent support. The prayers, shared meals, deep conversations, writing sessions, and regular check-ins became sacred spaces of connection and strength. When I felt like I couldn’t go on, it was my cohort that called me to keep pushing forward.” The support wasn’t just surface level or limited to academics; the cohort showed up for one another in tough personal moments as well. “We were there when we lost loved ones and when we had additional family members being born. I lost my husband in 2021. My Cohort and CTS staff were there for me in full support. My Cohort showed up for me in my emotional distress through their compassionate acts of service, empathic listening, and presence, which gave me hope in my darkest time,” recalls Rev. Dr. Tawanda Kay Wallace.

The Heavenly Seven at a December 2021 Christmas gathering.

While their group success certainly stands out, it is not unprecedented. Cohort member Rev. Dr. Milton Keys is not new to successful cohort learning. In his Master of Divinity degree program at CTS which he completed in 2017, he was a part of a Discipleship Project cohort of seven students who started together in the fall of 2014. All seven persisted through graduation. When asked what he thinks the special sauce that guided these two groups was, Dr. Keys reflects, “I think one of the most important things was the power of collaborative learning. We were genuinely cohorts – we studied together, laughed together, prayed together, and always checked on one another. I am in contact with almost all of the people from both groups. We still work together, and we still share our wins and losses. Our relationships helped us make it through our respective programs.” 

Six of the seven cohort members serve as chaplains, using a beautiful blend of theology and counseling in their careers. They are also a group of strong women, something the one male of the group is grateful for. Dr. Keys says, “It was amazing to be part of the first all-black DMin cohort. It was also awesome that the majority of our cohort were black women (all except for myself). It was truly a privilege to work with all these women who are now all doctors.” 

Some members of the cohort came from educational backgrounds in historically Black institutions. Rev. Dr. Lynel Brooks Beaty shares, “I enjoyed being a part of the first All Black Cohort of CTS’s Doctor of Ministry program. My undergraduate education was at an HBCU, and my Master’s degree was from an all African-American institution. CTS was the first non-black higher education institution that I experienced, and at first, I was nervous about it. So to me, this was divinely orchestrated just for me!” 

While the cohort has been successful academically and in their respective career fields, their time at CTS was not all sunshine and roses. They began the program in the midst of the global Covid-19 pandemic, navigating the difficulties of a sudden shift to online programming. Dr. Wallace shares, “My DMin Cohort started in the hype of the Global Pandemic, so our coursework studies were online, but we instantly connected and supported one another.” She also expressed that “being part of an all-Black DMin Cohort came with some hesitation and concerns. I wondered if I might miss the opportunity to glean from people who did not look like me and came from different backgrounds. In fact, I spoke with my Professor about my concerns, and he listened to my feelings in a safe space. He encouraged me to continue on with the program and listen to God’s voice, that this could be something special, not just that it was an all-black Cohort, but that this was my time to be present in this moment with God and community.  I’m glad I did. My cohort – later named the ‘Heavenly Seven’ – became my family. Not only were we supportive of one another and tougher in our DMin program, but we also shared our achievements, values, and interests outside of our studies. We made a declaration to be fully invested in one another; to be fulfilling and supportive.” 

They came together not only because of their similarities, but also because they had to navigate profound differences and chose to do so with great respect and committed presence. “The Heavenly Seven cohort is a strong group of individuals that had its differences despite a shared Black identity. Our Blackness brought about a special unity, but our unique differences is what did it for me. They supported me and challenged my perspectives, motivating me to complete my Project in Ministry (PIM) and earn my DMin in a record time of 2 years,” says Dr. Brianna Finney. 

The Heavenly Seven cohort at 2025 Commencement cheering on their 7th cohort member as she walks across the stage. One member of the group flew in from Florida to be present.

Other members of the group agree. “I can say that the support I received didn’t always feel like support. We challenged each other’s theology and each other’s dissertation question. However, it made me a stronger student, and it made me better all because of the support,” reflects Rev. Dr. Lynel Brooks Beaty. 

When asked about the type of impact they envision their cohort having on the world, the Heavenly Seven express a clear sense of purpose, calling, and hope. Dr. Beaty believes the group will have a profound impact on our community, sharing “each of our dissertations was to help those in our world. Mine focused on grief and led to establishing Alice’s Hope, LLC – a comprehensive grief support program for individuals, churches, and more. Others are focusing on trauma, disabilities, and making our world a better place one person at a time. I believe in my heart that 5 years from now, the Heavenly Seven will have successfully started what we set out to do as we graduated.” 

What will successful impact look like? While the contributions of the group will grow and shift with them as they continue in their careers, it is clear that their passion for social justice and commitment to community service will lead to a better world for the marginalized. “As Servant leaders, we lead with compassion, knowledge, and wisdom from the Holy Spirit, responding to the need for equality and equity, focusing on social justice, the vulnerable and the brokenhearted, bringing the ‘Good News’ with hope for a redeemed world and community through preaching, counseling, teaching, financial contribution, and service,” says Dr. Wallace. 

Cohort member Rev. Dr. Lynn Jameson sums it up better than any outside observer could: “We came together as seven—six phenomenal women and one courageous brother—not by chance, but by divine appointment. As an all-African American cohort in the Doctor of Ministry Program at Christian Theological Seminary, we brought with us stories forged in struggle, rooted in resilience, and overflowing with a deep call to care. We laughed from our bellies, prayed from our souls, and held space for one another through every twist and turn. And by the grace of God, we all made it—every single one of us crossed that finish line. But we didn’t just earn degrees. We emerged as a circle of care, a testimony of courage, and a movement for change. I believe the world will feel the ripple effects of this sacred bond through transformed churches, empowered communities, and lives made whole by the compassion we dared to cultivate together.” 

The Heavenly Seven

2020 Doctor of Ministry Cohort at Christian Theological Seminary

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