In 2018 and 2019, Leadership Education awarded 31 Reflective Leadership Grants to lay and ordained Christian leaders.
This grant program provided up to $15,000 to step away from their current work to reflect on accomplishments, broaden perspectives and discern next steps.
These leaders serve in a range of roles, from project director to senior administrator, and work in a variety of organizations, including denominations, seminaries, church-related colleges, consultancies, congregations, Christian non-profits, Christian social enterprises and others.
Arrabon
Richmond, VA
Preparing to scale a decade of reconciliation and cultural intelligence work beyond the organization’s founder
Reformed Church in America
Grand Rapids, MI
Discerning vocational shifts and role expansion in a denomination in transition
Eleventh Episcopal District of the AME Church
New Smyrna Beach, FL
Expanding a ministry with formerly incarcerated people from a local to a global scale
Argrow’s House
Davenport, IA
Exploring models of infrastructure and capacity for scaling a successful social enterprise
common cathedral
Boston, MA
Developing new leadership capacities for an organization that has moved from surviving to thriving
Christian Fellowship Congregational Church (UCC)
San Diego, CA
Crafting a theology and spirituality of jazz to match a growing ecumenical experience of faith formation
All Saints Lutheran Church
Palatine, IL
Discerning new leadership and ministry models after the merger of congregations and a non-profit
Pres House
Madison, WI
Building capacity and connection for a wellness-centered campus ministry that is responsive to marginalized students
Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century, National Network of Young Adults
Nashville, TN
Navigating the integration of funding models, leadership strategies and social media competencies to scale a growing organization
First Christian Church
Adel, IA
Discerning best practices for missional community engagement in rural churches
Evangelicals for Social Action/The Side Center
St. Davids, PA
Growing beyond the founder’s leadership and creating space for alternative voices
Midian Leadership Project, New Hope Community Church
Charleston, WV
Identifying strategies for a multicultural and justice-oriented sports ministry in a high-trauma environment
Emmanuel Gospel Center
Boston, MA
Discerning a sustainable growth pace from leading women of color working on urban issues & racial justice
Congregate Charlottesville
Charlottesville, VA
Creating a public witness ministry for clergy toward faith-rooted justice organization and systemic change
Phillips Theological Seminary
Tulsa, OK
Exploring practices to increase the number of black women in ministerial leadership while supporting their flourishing
Mountain Sky Conference, United Methodist Church
Denver, CO
Developing visionary leadership in a new denominational conference to unite diverse groups in a shared identity
Lexington Theological Seminary
Lexington, KY
Developing new leadership capacities to move a seminary from crisis to innovation and sustainability
Indiana Annual Conference of the AME Church, Sacred Soaring South District
Indianapolis, IN
Exploring rituals and practices in the African Methodist Episcopal Church to revitalize the church and neighborhoods
The Mary Elizabeth House, Inc., A Ministry
Washington, D.C.
Discerning next steps to help teen mothers aging out of the child welfare system become spiritually centered, economically empowered change agents
First United Methodist Church
Marriott-Slaterville, UT
Imagining a financially stable, faith-based assisted living senior community in a rapidly changing context
The QC Family Tree, Inc.
Charlotte, NC
Should an intentional Christian community move with those being displaced by gentrification or reinvent its work?
Project Transformation National
Dallas, TX
Investigating sustainability models for a mission movement that has grown rapidly from regional to national
Exodus Foundation.org
Charlotte, NC
Right-sizing an economic model for a rapidly growing re-entry mentoring program and national advocacy campaign for ending mass incarceration
Urban Village Church
Chicago, IL
Exploring how church planters and cross-cultural clergy are innovatively capitalizing on contextual challenges and opportunities
Plainsong Farm & Ministry
Rockford, MI
Rooting farm-based ministry in racial justice and the rule of St. Benedict for a maturing nonprofit
Evangelical Covenant Church
Chicago, IL
Growing in executive, non-anxious and Christ-centered leadership for denominational excellence
Toledo Mennonite Church
Toledo, OH
Nurturing community partnerships and cultivating peace by turning guns into garden tools through blacksmithing
Parish Collective
Seattle, WA
Pivoting from a small founding team to a national and international staff with a focus on diversity, entrepreneurial leadership and creative funding models
Center for Public Justice
Washington, D.C.
How does an adaptive CEO open the organization to a broader community?
Boundless Impact
Greensboro, NC
Creating hubs for missional innovation to build thriving communities that are intentionally diverse, inclusive and equitable
Constance Abbey, Inc.
Memphis, TN
Revisioning a new monastic residential community toward neighborhood redevelopment with sustainable living support services for our neighbors