Furman University’s Mere Christianity Forum, part of the college’s Religious Council, announced May 24 an $800,000 grant from the Lilly Endowment.
The company has dispensed 92 grants to colleges and universities, theological schools, denominational agencies, individual congregations and other faith-based organizations for its “Thriving Congregations Initiative.”
MCF plans to use the funds to develop “The Vinery: Awakening Faith and Flourishing,” a five-year project with a vision for cultivating dynamic learning cohorts among congregations nationwide that are seeking to engage in ministry with their university neighbors, particularly young adults.
“We’ll have three consecutive 24-month cohorts of eight congregations per cohort,” said Rev. Rimes McElveen, executive director of the Mere Christianity Forum. “The main goal of the project is to support young adults in their quest to discern their own convictional commitments around faith and vocation. But we think one of the best ways to fulfill that larger purpose is the specific goal of helping congregations thrive in vital ministry with their close university neighbors.”
The Vinery project’s first group of churches will start in January 2022, the second group will launch in 2023 and the third in 2024. Furman students will also have an opportunity to intern in this program.
In addition, the program will be led by Rev. Alexis Carter Thomas, a minister, author and adjunct professor at Lander University.
“With more than a decade of experience in congregation-based collegiate ministry, researching, writing and teaching, she is the perfect partner for MCF to bring this initiative to life,” McElveen said. “Through her leadership, MCF will invite congregations to participate in learning cohorts that foster deep listening and truthful discernment around their congregational histories, practices and theological resources.
Congregations participating in the Vinery may be encouraged to work through issues of injustice or white supremacy or persistent classism as part of their journey to achieve the goal of the relationship between them and universities becoming mutually beneficial and self-sustaining.
The online application for the program will be available through July 31, 2021 at thevinery.org. Selected congregations for the inaugural cohort will be notified by Sept. 1, with one-on-one and group discussions, meetings and retreats beginning January 2022.
For more information, contact Rimes McElveen at rimes@faithreasontomfoolery.org.
