St. Bonifacius, MN — Crown College has received a grant of $ 1 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish the Pathways for Enhanced Ministerial Development, a new Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program through its Graduate School of Ministry.
The Pathways for Enhanced Ministerial Development program is being funded through Lilly Endowment’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative, which is intended to help theological schools across the United States and Canada strengthen their educational and financial capacities to prepare and support pastoral leaders for Christian congregations both now and into the future.
This initiative will serve pastors with formation-focused theological training, potential church-based residencies, and practical leadership equipping skills that address the challenges of ministry today. The grant will also establish pastor and church leadership summits and support the development of a pastoral journal. Through this program, scheduled to begin in Fall 2027, Crown College will expand its service to pastors and congregations nationwide.
“This historic grant will have a profound impact on ministry leaders, Crown College, and the Christian and Missionary Alliance,” said Dr. Bill Kuhn, Dean of the School of Theology and Ministry. “This new initiative extends our long-standing investment in preparing leaders for faithful service. It is our prayer that the Doctor of Ministry degree will equip women and men to serve their churches and communities with the life-giving message of Christ.”
Crown College is one of 163 theological schools that have received grants since 2021 through the Pathways initiative. Together, the schools serve a broad spectrum of Christian traditions in the U.S. and Canada. They are affiliated with evangelical, mainline Protestant, nondenominational, Pentecostal, Orthodox, Catholic, Black church, Latino, Asian American, Indigenous and historic peace church traditions.
“Theological schools have long played a central role for most denominations and church networks in preparing and supporting pastoral leaders who guide congregations,” said Christopher L. Coble, the Endowment’s vice president for religion. “These schools are paying close attention to the challenges churches are facing today and will face in the foreseeable future. The grants will help these schools engage in wide-ranging, innovative efforts to adapt their educational programs and build their financial capacities so they can better prepare pastors and lay ministers to effectively lead the congregations they will serve in the future.”
About Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is a 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 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. A 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.
