CICW has awarded Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grants for over 20 years to teacher-scholars and worshiping communities in 45+ states and provinces and across 40+ denominations and traditions—including Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, non-denominational, and other Protestant communities.


While worship styles and practices vary greatly across these traditions, the grant projects typically explore at least one of CICW’s ten core convictions related to worship. Explore the hundreds of projects we’ve funded across both streams of the program.

Hermeneutics
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Teacher-Scholar Formation Hermeneutics

Abilene Christian University

Myles Werntz

To help worshiping communities learn about the moral life by connecting categories of moral reasoning to the ongoing practice of worship and discipleship as described in Psalm 23.

Teacher-Scholar
Abilene, texas
2024
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Teacher-Scholar Hermeneutics Historical

Boston University School of Theology (2024)

Shively Smith

To showcase and provide access to the scriptural interpretations of nineteenth-century African American women by curating a web-based lectionary resource.

Teacher-Scholar
Boston, massachusetts
2024
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Worshiping Communities Formation Hermeneutics

Calvin University

Daniel Jesse

To investigate how the lyrics and melodies of contemporary Christian music influence the way worshipers perceive and articulate their feelings in relation to their faith, with a particular focus on the way sadness is expressed in worship.

Worshiping Communities
Grand Rapids, michigan
2024
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Teacher-Scholar Hermeneutics Justice

Fresno Pacific University

Amy Whisenand

To explore the relationship between singing and reconciliation in the church through hosting workshops for scriptural study, practice sharing, and collaboration.

Teacher-Scholar
Fresno, california
2023
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Teacher-Scholar Hermeneutics Public Witness

Boston University School of Theology

Shively Smith

To identify the metaphors and images that shape the interpretation of Scripture within worshiping communities, and to assess the impact of these interpretive images on a community’s relationship to various “others” and socio-political realities.

Teacher-Scholar
Boston, massachusetts
2020
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