Since 2005, the Congregational Studies Team has offered annual Fellowships* to support scholars who are interested in disciplined inquiry into the life of local communities of faith in North America. These 18-month fellowships included $18,000 in research support, plus $2,000 for related travel. In addition, Fellowships included a program of mentoring by a senior-scholar coach and participation in two summer consultations that bring together the Fellows and coaches with the Team.
Scholars in a variety of disciplines — from practical theology to the social sciences, from history to religious studies — have engaged in projects that involve learning from and about living communities of faith in the United States and Canada. They have published widely from that work, expanding what we know about congregational life, and they have actively made their work available directly to communities of faith. These early-career scholars are now among the rising leaders in studying congregations.
This program is currently on hiatus pending future funding.
Information on current fellows and past fellows can be found here.
*This program was supported by a major grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. and is administered by the Congregational Studies Team: Nancy Ammerman, Anthea Butler, Bill McKinney (project director), Omar McRoberts, Larry Mamiya, Gerardo Marti, Joyce Mercer, James Nieman, Bob Schreiter, and Steve Warner.