AST awarded $2.5 million USD Lilly Endowment grant

Atlantic School of Theology (AST) has received a grant of $2.5 million USD from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish its Ecumenical Shared Ministries Training Program (ESMTP). 

ESMTP will operate with a combination of local resources housed with the collaborating partners and online teaching that uses the resources of AST.  

AST is working with St. John’s College in Winnipeg, the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism in Saskatoon, Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Henry Budd College for Ministry in The Pas, M.B., and the Canadian Council of Churches on a project that will develop curriculum and training for lay and ordained leaders in Ecumenical Shared Ministries. 

The project is being funded through Lilly Endowment’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative. This initiative is designed to help theological schools across the United States and Canada as they prioritize and respond to the most pressing challenges they face as they prepare pastoral leaders for Christian congregations both now and into the future. The grant to AST is one of 45 that was approved in this competitive round of funding to support theological schools as they lead large-scale collaborations with other seminaries, colleges and universities, and other church-related organizations.  

“We are enthusiastic about the opportunities this grant provides to advance ecumenical ministry across Canada through innovative education and training,” shared The Rev. Dr. Heather McCance, President of Atlantic School of Theology.  

“We deeply appreciate the visionary support of the Lilly Endowment in advancing theological education for pastoral leaders, and look forward to collaborating with our partners to enhance AST’s capacity in this vital work.”