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 Education/Leadership Justice

Fellowship Center for Racial Reconciliation

To equip local church leaders to worship by letting “justice roll down” in their lives, by training cohort members to address structural racial disparities, and by developing a theological framework that highlights God’s desire for shalom and the advocacy for the oppressed found in scripture.

Worshiping Communities
Monrovia, california
2023
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Worshiping Communities Intergenerational

First Community AME

To promote participatory intergenerational worship by creating a collaborative worship planning team and by hosting educational events about the theology of worship and the diversity of African American worship styles, including music and dance.

Worshiping Communities
Grand Rapids, michigan
2023
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Worshiping Communities Vertical Habits/Psalms

First Presbyterian Church (2023)

To encourage active participation in the rhythms of worship (gathering, thanksgiving, response, and transformation) through weekly meals, rituals of gratitude, testimonies, and exploration of varied ways to live out faith in daily life.

Worshiping Communities
Clarksville, tennessee
2023
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Worshiping Communities Visual Arts

First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham

To explore art and creativity as an act of worship to promote shalom in the community through workshops, retreats, and learning practices of contemplative creativity.

Worshiping Communities
Bellingham, washington
2023
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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 Preaching

George Fox University

Sunggu A. Yang

To explore multidimensional preaching practices that meet listeners’ need to see, taste, feel, and even touch the compelling Word of the Triune God, resulting in a handbook to help preachers become more oriented to engaging contemporary listeners. 

Teacher-Scholar
Newberg, oregon
2023
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Worshiping Communities Visual Arts

Holland Christian Schools

To explore the intersection of artistic communication, theology and Scripture through a yearlong exploration of Ezekiel 47:1-12, by creating and reflecting on art with an artist-in-residence. 

Worshiping Communities
Holland, michigan
2023
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Worshiping Communities Education/Leadership

Ho’ōla Music and Cultural Arts

To equip Hawaiian youth to be Spirit-filled worship leaders through a program focused on what worship is, who we are as worshipers, and how to build musical and creative arts skills.

Worshiping Communities
Honolulu, hawaii
2023
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Teacher-Scholar Worship Practices

Knox College

Sarah Travis

To enhance the worship and self-identity of very small congregations through a theology of playfulness, by networking with leaders of small congregations, and writing a resource designed to enhance worship in small churches. 

Teacher-Scholar
Toronto, ontario
2023
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