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 Liturgy

Trinity United Methodist Church

To train worshipers in improvisational theater techniques in order to create a variety of worship experiences that facilitate intergenerational participation in worship. 

Worshiping Communities
Milford, ohio
2020
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Worshiping Communities Visual Arts

Tualatin Presbyterian Church (2020)

To promote engagement with scripture and the Christian year in worship by reflecting on the life and teachings of Christ through stained glass art.

Worshiping Communities
Tualatin, oregon
2020
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Teacher-Scholar Preaching Youth

Union Presbyterian Seminary

Richard Voelz

To create and field-test a workbook that will equip pastors to walk with adolescent preachers as they prepare to preach in public worship and other congregational contexts.

Teacher-Scholar
Richmond, virginia
2020
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Teacher-Scholar Collaboration Ecumenical

University of West Georgia

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
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Worshiping Communities Liturgy

Wake Forest Baptist Church (WFBC)

To pilot an interactive worship experience that fosters practices of justice, stewardship, and vocational exploration, and facilitates personal and communal encountering of God. 

Worshiping Communities
Winston-Salem, north carolina
2020
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Teacher-Scholar Liturgy Worship Resources

Western Theological Seminary

Ronald Rienstra

To write a book comprised of brief essays that explore the deep patterns in worship as well as in worship's constituent parts (ordo, scripture, sermon, song, prayer, action).

Teacher-Scholar
Grand Rapids, michigan
2020
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Teacher-Scholar Intercultural Music

Baylor University

Monique M. Ingalls

To conduct ethnographic fieldwork of interethnic gospel choirs and to identity promising strategies for how worship music can build "convivial" interethnic congregational cultures.

Teacher-Scholar
Waco, texas
2019
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Worshiping Communities Accessibility Education/Leadership

Bridge Disability Ministries

To develop a program that will assist churches in becoming physically, culturally, and spiritually accessible to people with disabilities, in order to create worshiping communities that honor the gifts and full participation of each person.

Worshiping Communities
Bellevue, washington
2019
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Teacher-Scholar Missional Public Witness

Calvin University

Lee Hardy

To study the connection between congregations' worship and mission activities, focusing on church-supported affordable housing in gentrifying urban neighborhoods.

Teacher-Scholar
Grand Rapids, michigan
2019
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