Upcoming Event
A Reformation Sunday worship service commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Accra Confession
October 27, 2024, 5:00 PM
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.
Dallas International University
Beth Argot
Beth Argot
To study the relationship between historical worship practices and arts and trauma healing practices in order to explore the potential for healing and increased wellbeing of worshipers within the context of public worship.
Teacher-Scholar
Dallas, texas
2021
Duke University Divinity School
John Ruth
John Ruth
To survey the present state of college and seminary instruction on the theology, history, and practice of contemporary praise and worship, and to engage scholars in conversation around recent and emerging scholarship on contemporary worship in order to create a podcast series and a curriculum guide for worship educators and church practitioners.
Teacher-Scholar
Durham, north carolina
2021
Columbia Theological Seminary
Rebecca Spurrier
Rebecca Spurrier
To create a liturgical resource that responds to ableist images, narratives, and symbols that are common in Christian worship, drawing from insights in liturgical studies and disability studies.
Teacher-Scholar
Decatur, georgia
2020
Hope College
Lynn Japinga
Lynn Japinga
To explore the history of policies and practices regarding divorce in the Reformed Church in America, and to study how these policies have shaped worship practices such as Scripture reading, public prayer, and preaching, and affected divorced people.
Teacher-Scholar
Holland, michigan
2020
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Mimi Larson
Mimi Larson
To gather wisdom from ministry leaders who thoughtfully engage children in worship, seeking to better theological and pedagogical understanding of how children make meaning of their worship experiences.
Teacher-Scholar
Wheaton, illinois
2020
University of West Georgia
Marjorie Snipes
Marjorie Snipes
To examine a diverse range of Christian churches in the rural South and identify newly-emerging ecumenical practices, including shifts in ritual practice, educational activities, and cooperation in joint mission.
Teacher-Scholar
Carrollton, georgia
2020
Lee University
Lisa Milligan Long
Lisa Milligan Long
To survey worshipers' understanding of the effect of participation in the Lord's Supper, and to offer methods to leaders in a variety of denominational settings for deepening Eucharistic participation.
Teacher-Scholar
Cleveland, tennessee
2019
Pennsylvania State University
AnneMarie Mingo
AnneMarie Mingo
To involve women of color in the development of models and resources for connecting worship and public social witness.
Teacher-Scholar
State College, pennsylvania
2019
Trinity Christian College
Kyle Dieleman
Kyle Dieleman
To study the relationship between Sabbath observance and spiritual formation, offering historical insights and exploring contemporary adaptations.
Teacher-Scholar
Palos Heights, illinois
2019
Vanderbilt University
Erik Carter
Erik Carter
To explore essential dimensions of accessible worship and identify promising pathways for renewing worship practices which welcome the full participation of people across the spectrum of ability and disability.
Teacher-Scholar
Nashville, tennessee
2019