Lilly $598,000 grant enables theological exploration for youth at Georgetown College

Georgetown, Ky (WTVQ) – Georgetown College has received a grant of $598,000 to establish Faithways Academy, a 12-day summer experience for high school youth. It is part of Lilly Endowment Inc.’s High School Youth Theology Institutes initiative, which seeks to encourage young people to explore theological traditions, ask questions about the moral dimensions of contemporary issues and examine how their faith calls them to lives of service.

Faithways Academy is an on-campus living experience for rising sophomores to graduating seniors from all denominations. The program includes instruction in biblical knowledge and interpretation, Church tradition and theology, worship, Christian ethics, travel for a mission experience, and recreational community building activities.

“We are excited to expand our offerings so high school students can learn from our faculty and explore the world of faith and service,” said Dr. Roger Ward, director of the Center for Christian Discernment at Georgetown.

Dr. Sheila Klopfer, chair of the Religion Department and co-writer of the grant, added “This is a wonderful opportunity for high school students to have a fun pre-college campus living experience, build community with new friends and faculty, and learn about and practice their faith in rich meaningful ways.”

Curt Lowndes, pastor of First Baptist Church in Morehead, KY and a graduate of Georgetown College and Duke Divinity School said, “This is truly wonderful news for churches and high school students across the commonwealth. The community of Christian leaders at Georgetown challenged me to deepen and practice my faith in the world. I am confident Georgetown will do the same for these future church leaders.”

The Academy is slated to begin in June 2016. Information about registration and tuition will be available on the college website in March, 2016.

Georgetown College is one of 82 schools participating in the initiative. The schools are located in 29 states and the District of Columbia.  Although some schools are independent, many reflect the religious heritage of their founding traditions. These traditions include Baptist, Brethren, Lutheran, Mennonite, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Reformed churches, as well as Roman Catholic, non-denominational, Pentecostal and historic African-American Christian communities.

“These colleges and universities are well-positioned to reach out to high school students in this way,” said Dr. Christopher L. Coble, vice president for religion at the Endowment. “They have outstanding faculty in theology and religion who know how to help young people explore the wisdom of religious traditions and apply these insights to contemporary challenges.”

The Endowment is giving $44.5 million in grants to help a select group of private four-year colleges and universities around the nation to create the institutes. The grants are part of the Endowment’s commitment to identify and cultivate a cadre of theologically minded youth who will become leaders in church and society.

An additional grant to the Forum for Theological Exploration will establish a program that will bring together leaders of the high school youth theology institutes to foster mutual learning and support.