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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Worshiping Communities Music

Church Music Ministry of Canada (2023)

To encourage and equip choir members as worship leaders, not performers, by creating a network for choirs in Vancouver’s Chinese churches that will commission hymn anthems, share resources, and prepare choir members to strengthen the corporate ministry of congregational singing.

Worshiping Communities
Coquitlam, british columbia
2023
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Worshiping Communities Education/Leadership

Church on The Ave

To create a worship learning and vision group that will develop its theological understanding of worship and collaboratively imagine and implement new, culturally inclusive worship elements.

Worshiping Communities
Seattle, washington
2023
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Teacher-Scholar Preaching

Columbia Theological Seminary

Jake Myers

To create a series of free, open-access homiletical education videos that empower and equip bi-vocational preachers for more faithful, creative, and transformative service to the Church. 

Teacher-Scholar
Decatur, georgia
2023
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Worshiping Communities Intergenerational Technology

Congregational Church of the Good Shepherd

To connect older and younger generations in both church and neighborhood communities through creating virtual meeting places for online worshipers and by creating opportunities for intergenerational musical and artistic engagement.

Worshiping Communities
Chicago, illinois
2023
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Teacher-Scholar Leadership

Cornerstone University

Eunice Hong

To gain a better understanding of Asian American women clergy’s experiences of congregational and worship leadership, exploring the kinds of resources that would support their flourishing. 

Teacher-Scholar
Grand Rapids, michigan
2023
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Teacher-Scholar Trauma Visual Arts

Dallas International University (2023)

Beth Argot & Kayleen Bobbitt

To conduct fieldwork exploring the use of pilgrimage, movement, and the arts in worship as means of healing trauma and encouraging spiritual integration (knowing God with both our heads and our hearts).

Teacher-Scholar
Dallas, texas
2023
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Teacher-Scholar Formation Worship Practices

Denver Seminary

Michelle A. Stinson

To explore the topic of time through biblical/theological, environmental, and agrarian reflections, probing how God’s care for creation as experienced in nature’s seasons and agriculture’s rhythms offers renewed hope as we emerge from an extended season of Covid-tide.   

Teacher-Scholar
Littleton, colorado
2023
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Worshiping Communities Alternative Liturgy

DurhamCares (2023)

To illuminate God’s beauty and brilliance in Durham’s public housing communities by offering liturgical arts learning events and collaborating with public housing residents to plan and host outdoor worship services.

Worshiping Communities
Durham, north carolina
2023
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Teacher-Scholar Cultural Engagement Intercultural

École de Théologie Évangélique du Québec

Ruth Elaine Labeth

To study the composition of scripture-based songs in Creole churches in Guadeloupe to help worship leaders and pastors envision culturally contextualized worship.

Teacher-Scholar
Montreal, quebec
2023
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Worshiping Communities Liturgy

Emmaus Reformed Church

To create embodied, tactile, and participatory worship practices and liturgies to promote communal engagement and create a hospitable and accessible worship environment.

Worshiping Communities
Holland, michigan
2023
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Worshiping Communities Liturgy Multicultural

Faculty of Theology, St. Paul University

To embody a connection between Christian liturgy and ethical living by implementing a hospitable, ecumenical, multicultural, and bilingual worship gathering for students, staff, and faculty that emphasizes the well-being of the planet and the healing of broken relationships, especially those with Indigenous peoples.

Worshiping Communities
Ottawa, ontario
2023
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Worshiping Communities Alternative

FedUp Ministries

To expand an existing food truck ministry by offering accessible communal worship opportunities in parks, bus stations, and parking lots where meals are served.

Worshiping Communities
Ann Arbor, michigan
2023
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