Bethany Receives $10M Grant from Lilly Endowment

Bethany Theological Seminary has been awarded a $10 million grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. to support the Seminary’s new  partnership with undergraduate institutions, which encourages students to pursue graduate theological education and careers in ministry.

The new project is entitled, “Preparing the Way: Expanding Vocational Paths for Undergraduate Students.” It  is being funded through Lilly Endowment’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative. The grant to Bethany is one of 45 that were approved in a competitive round of the initiative to support theological schools as they lead large-scale collaborations with other seminaries, colleges and universities, and other church-related organizations.  

The Lilly Endowment — a private foundation based in Indianapolis, Indiana — supports the causes of community development, education, and religion.

This  grant will establish the Brethren Higher Education Consortium and foster collaboration between Bethany and the six undergraduate colleges and universities that are affiliated with the Church of the Brethren: Bridgewater College, Elizabethtown College, Manchester University, McPherson College, Juniata College, and the University of LaVerne. Bethany is establishing UP@Bethany, which will  allow juniors and seniors at those institutions to take Bethany courses prior to receiving their undergraduate degrees. The grant will also support continued collaboration with Earlham School of Religion, a key partner of Bethany for the last 30 years. The Lilly Endowment grant will enable Bethany to create an endowed fund, helping to ensure the Seminary’s long-term success.

“We are thrilled and humbled to receive this transformational grant from the Lilly Endowment,” says Rev. Dr. Jeff Carter, president of Bethany Theological Seminary. “Thanks to Lilly’s generous support, we will create new pathways to careers in ministry for exceptional students attending Brethren colleges and universities. The grant will also allow us to provide students at these institutions an introduction to graduate study and access to advanced courses in theology and Biblical studies that are not typically available to undergraduates.”

Bethany currently enrolls 115 students in five master’s degree programs and nine graduate certificates, including those from across North America and a strong and growing contingent in Nigeria. Most Bethany students study at a distance, so all courses are accessible via Zoom using state-of-the-art classroom technology. This format ensures that undergraduates will enjoy robust educational experiences without leaving their undergraduate campuses.

In preparation for the grant from Lilly Endowment, Bethany piloted Up@Bethany with select students from Manchester University. Junior Josh Adler — a triple major in philosophy, peace studies, and music performance — has been delighted by the quality of the experience.

“It’s been very interesting to be in a class with students who are older than me, including some who are actively working as pastors,” says Adler. “They all have a stronger background in theology than I have, so listening to their conservations is like sitting in on a jazz session with someone like Theolonius Monk: I do a lot more listening than playing. What I do contribute to the conversation are connections from my Manchester education- bringing to the table ideas from Native American philosophers and theologians I’m studying in my Indigenous Philosophy course.”

The grant will provide $5 million in immediate funding to get the program up and running. Bethany will be required to raise $3 million from other donors in order to receive $5 million in matching funds from Lilly Endowment.

The Seminary’s fundraising will build upon the success of its ongoing comprehensive campaign — Flourish: A Campaign for Bethany Theological Seminary, which has already generated significant new funding to strengthen the student experience, bolster faculty creativity and innovation, and bolster annual fundraising.

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