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.

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Teacher-Scholar Historical Public Witness

Dominican House of Studies/Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception

Andrew Hofer, O.P.

To study seven early Christian preachers who model various aspects of "incarnational" preaching and produce a resource encouraging preachers to integrate public speech with all of life.

Teacher-Scholar
Washington, district of columbia
2019
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Teacher-Scholar Historical Worship Leadership

Emory University

Susan E. Hylen

To study the history of women's participation in church life in the early church with pastors and church leaders, discerning how historical claims do (and should) function in contemporary discussions.  

Teacher-Scholar
Atlanta, georgia
2019
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Teacher-Scholar Formation Worship Leadership

Fuller Theological Seminary

Ed Willmington

To research six vocational competencies of well-formed worship leaders and develop a variety of resources to share insights related to the formation of worship leaders.

Teacher-Scholar
Pasadena, california
2019
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Teacher-Scholar Formation Sacraments

Lee University

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
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Teacher-Scholar Formation Historical

Trinity Christian College

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
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Teacher-Scholar Collaboration Public Witness

Union Presbyterian Seminary

Paul Galbreath

To develop liturgical resources for congregational use that link Christian discipleship and earth care, grounding environmental advocacy in corporate worship practices.

Teacher-Scholar
Richmond, virginia
2019
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Teacher-Scholar Worship Resources

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

Robert Pendergraft

To curate a sourcebook of materials for use in the local church with the specific aim of strengthening intergenerational participation in worship.

Teacher-Scholar
Belton, texas
2019
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Teacher-Scholar Accessibility Worship Practices

Vanderbilt University

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
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Teacher-Scholar Congregational Life Scripture

Western Theological Seminary

Travis West

To encourage deeper engagement with scripture in worship and congregational life by developing a curriculum for teaching Hebrew language and culture in the local church.

Teacher-Scholar
Holland, michigan
2019
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