News Release
December 1998

Lilly Endowment grant to Moravian Theological Seminary to ensure flourishing congregational ministries

In a major national effort to increase theological school's capacities to prepare good students to be fine ministers of congregations, Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. has approved $53 million in grants to 45 theological schools in the United States and Canada. Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, PA has been selected to receive a grant in the amount of $1,221,087.

The grant funds are earmarked for expansion of the Seminary’s Bahnson Center, including a new videoconferencing facility, a student computer lab, and the addition of multimedia capabilities. Additionally, the grant will provide for new faculty and student computers, computer network expenses and technical support.

"We were very pleased to learn that the Seminary’s proposal was selected from a very competitive group of applicants, said Dr. Ervin J. Rokke, president of Moravian College and Moravian Theological Seminary. "This generous grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. will bring state-of-the-art communications equipment to the Seminary and allow us to greatly expand our capabilities. The foundation’s commitment to religious education will benefit Seminary students for years to come."

Dr. David Schattschneider, dean and vice president, Moravian Theological Seminary, said, "These new computer-based technologies will enable the Seminary to overcome the geographic disunity that separates the Seminary from other Moravians worldwide. The Seminary will extend its programs, through Seminary in the South and enhancements to Mobile Seminary, to reach more people in the Lehigh Valley, in Pennsylvania, and throughout the country. Local students, too, will benefit from the project, with more direct connections to library resources, the faculty, and to other students."

"Lilly Endowment’s mission in the field of religion is to deepen and enrich the religious life of American Christians, primarily by helping to strengthen their churches," said Craig Dykstra, Endowment vice president for religion. "Because we believe that to improve congregational ministry there must be both a new generation of excellent students and very strong theological schools, this grants program aims to assist those institutions best poised to make a strategic advance to improve their capacity to prepare the next generation of congregational or parish ministers."

All 202 theological schools in the United States and Canada accredited by the Association of Theological Schools were invited to apply for grants in the program.

Lilly Endowment is a private foundation that follows the wishes of its founders by supporting causes of religion, education and community development.