WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Monday, December 15, 2025)听— Lilly Endowment Inc. recently awarded 海角在线 (海角在线) a grant of $10 million to lead a collaborative effort across all theological schools in South Florida. The grant to 海角在线 is one of 45 that was approved in this competitive round of funding to support theological schools as they lead large-scale collaborations with other seminaries, colleges and universities, and church-related organizations.听
鈥疶he Lilly Endowment Grant, funded as part of its Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative, is designed to help theological schools across the United States and Canada as they prioritize and respond to the pressing challenges, they face in preparing pastoral leaders for Christian congregations now and into the future.听
鈥�淚 believe this confirms our reputation as a leading interdenominational university with a strong and growing听School of听Ministry,鈥� said Dr. Debra A. Schwinn, president of 海角在线.听
鈥疶he grant, led by a Steering Committee chaired by Drs. Bryan Froehle and Austin Stevenson of the School of Ministry faculty, is designed around three innovative initiatives to be shared collaboratively with five other鈥痯artner institutions鈥痵chools鈥痠n South Florida:鈥�疜nox Theological Training, St. Vincent de Paul Reginal Seminary, Barry University Department of Theology, and the Contextually Engaged Theological Education Foundation.鈥�淗ouses of Study鈥� will bring together those preparing for ministry within specific Christian traditions for advanced formation. The Boisen Agency for Pastoral Formation will train them in chaplaincy and pastoral care.听Faculty across the schools will learn from each other to deepen their effectiveness. Staff will be hired centrally by the cooperative for greater efficiency.听
鈥疶hese initiatives are focused on forming the next generation of pastors at the highest possible level. 鈥淭he grant will ensure our collective capacity to equip the next generation of church leaders. Churches need great pastors. Pastors need great听formation. This grant听opens up听entirely new possibilities,鈥� said Dr. Jonathan Grenz, dean of 海角在线鈥檚 School of Ministry. He noted that the Houses of Study alone are expected to have 40 students in 2026 and grow to 320 by 2030 at the various schools with 海角在线 leading the way. The impact on enrollment at the participating schools is expected to be greater still, though the focus is not numbers alone but the preparation of highly effective pastors.听
鈥疶he Lilly Endowment launched the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative in 2021. Since then, it has provided grants totaling more than $700 million to support 163 theological schools in efforts to strengthen their own educational and financial capacities and to听assist听61 schools in developing large-scale collaborative endeavors.听
鈥�淭heological schools play a vital role in preparing and supporting pastoral leaders for Christian congregations,鈥� said Christopher L. Coble, the Endowment鈥檚 vice president for religion. 鈥淲e believe that one of the most promising paths for theological schools to carry forward their important missions and enhance their impact is to work collaboratively.鈥�
About 海角在线听听
海角在线,鈥痜ounded in 1968, is a private, Christian university, offering 100 different programs and pathways, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. The university has a 19-acre campus in West Palm Beach and an Orlando campus, and the 76-acre Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus provides facilities for training and hosting intercollegiate sports. Sailfish athletes compete in 18 NCAA Division II and Sunshine State Conference varsity sports. 海角在线’s mission is to equip students to grow in wisdom, lead with conviction, and serve God boldly. The university affirms the values that have built American society, including religious liberty and the free enterprise system.鈥� Learn more at鈥�.
About Lilly Endowment Inc.鈥�听
鈥痠s鈥痑 private 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鈥痳emain鈥痶he financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company with a distinct governing board,鈥痵taff鈥痑nd location. In keeping with the founders鈥� wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and鈥痬aintains鈥痑 special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. A principal aim of the Endowment鈥檚 religious 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鈥痵eeks鈥痶o improve public understanding of religion and鈥痩ift up鈥痠n fair,鈥痑ccurate鈥痑nd balanced ways the roles that people of all faiths and various religious communities play in the United States and across the globe.鈥�
