October 2, 2024 in Bishop, Communications, News
Lilly Endowment Inc. Funds Faith Alive
For Immediate Release
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has received a $1,249,933 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish Faith Alive.
The program is funded through Lilly Endowment’s Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative, a national initiative designed to help Christian congregations more fully and intentionally engage children in intergenerational corporate worship and prayer practices.
Through Faith Alive, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, ELCA, will work with congregations to create a more welcoming space for children in worship. By examining current worship practices, we will help congregations deconstruct and reconstruct elements of worship to better integrate children into the prayer and worship life of the community. This process will empower congregations to more fully embrace the baptismal promises they make to all children, giving worshiping communities the opportunity to take bold steps that deepen the role of worship and prayer in the faith lives of families.
Faith Alive will provide congregations with a process that centers, celebrates, and cherishes the presence of children in worship.
“While many congregations lament the absence of more children, we hope that Faith Alive will help congregations identify and address barriers to welcoming children and families, creating worship that more fully embraces their participation. Our goal is not to create ‘child-ish’ worship, but rather ‘child-centric’ worship, embracing intergenerational practices that involve all ages,” said Bishop Bryan Penman.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod is one of 91 organizations to receive funding through the latest round of the initiative. These organizations represent a broad spectrum of Christian traditions, including Catholic, mainline Protestant, evangelical, Orthodox, Anabaptist, and Pentecostal communities, with several rooted in Black Church, Hispanic, and Asian American Christian traditions.
“Congregational worship and prayer play a critical role in the spiritual growth of children and offer settings for children to acquire the language of faith, learn their faith traditions and experience the love of God as part of a supportive community,” said Christopher L. Coble, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for religion. “These programs will help congregations give greater attention to children and how they can more intentionally nurture the faith of children, as well as adults, through worship and prayer.”
About Lilly Endowment Inc
Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. The principal aim of the Endowment’s religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment also seeks to improve public understanding of diverse religious traditions by supporting fair and accurate portrayals of the role religion plays in the United States and across the globe.
Contact:
The Rev. Stacey-Kyle Rea
