Grove City College to launch project to support pastors
Grove City College recently received a nearly $1 million grant to help establish the Project on Rural Ministry.
According to a press release, the Project on Rural Ministry an outreach to support pastors in rural areas as they serve their congregations and communities.
The $989,582 grant is part of Lilly Endowment Inc.'s Thriving in Ministry, an initiative that supports a variety of religious organizations across the nation as they create or strengthen programs that help pastors build relationships with experienced clergy who can serve as mentors and guide them through key leadership challenges in congregational ministry.
The press release said that the Project on Rural Ministry will focus on the unique circumstances of pastors serving rural and small town communities in western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and northeast Ohio.
It is grounded in the fundamental insight that Christian colleges are uniquely positioned to amplify the voices, strengthen the networks and facilitate the ongoing learning of local pastors and ministry leaders.
"Grove City College strives to be a good institutional neighbor. This program provides an excellent opportunity to champion rural ministries while addressing their specific strengths and challenges. Through it, we can leverage the interdisciplinary resources of Grove City College to support and encourage the thriving of pastors and the social, economic and spiritual renewal of our rural communities," Grove City College President Paul J. McNulty '80 said. He added, "We are grateful for the financial support of the Lilly Endowment and are looking forward to building a strong program to support men and women who are called to serve the church communities that are so vital to our rural areas."
The Project aims to bolster the partnership of college, church, and community by convening three groups of 10 pastors residing within a 150-mile radius of Grove City, Pa. During the five-year life of the grant, these pastors will participate in opening and closing conferences, three regional gatherings, online networking and a series of peer-to-peer site visits alongside other pastors in their group. In addition, the Project will facilitate innovative collaborations between faculty, students and churches by funding 30 student internships as well as 30 service learning projects. An interdisciplinary team of faculty will also visit each church to address a wide array of economic, social and ministry challenges frequently experienced in rural areas.
From its inception, the College's leaders have sought to prepare citizens for service to society, a commitment evidenced today by robust student involvement in community service as well as the College's service-learning initiative. Educational support for area clergy has been a characteristic of the College from its earliest years, when its first president, Isaac Ketler, instituted a summer Bible conference to train local ministers. The Project on Rural Ministry extends and reimagines these institutional legacies, furthering Grove City College's commitment to love of neighbor and advancing the common good.
The Project will be led by Executive Director Seulgi Byun, associate professor and chair of the Department of Biblical and Religious Studies at Grove City College.
"The Project on Rural Ministry is expected to unite students and faculty from multiple academic departments with regional clergy, allowing our students to explore their personal and professional callings and our pastoral partners to benefit from the expertise, enthusiasm and energy of the Grove City College community. At the same time, we want to listen and learn from the churches in our region. We couldn't be more excited about the potential impact of this grant," Byun said.
