Institute For Ecumenical & Cultural Research

THE COLLEGEVILLE INSTITUTE IS A PLACE OF SCHOLARSHIP, WORSHIP, DIALOGUE, AND COMMUNITY IMMERSED IN THE BENEDICTINE RHYTHM OF WORK AND PRAYER.

CALLED TO LIVES OF MEANING AND PURPOSE INITIATIVE: IN THE COORDINATION'S FIFTH YEAR, OUR TEAM FOCUSED ON PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRANTEES AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FOR ENDOWMENT PROGRAM STAFF, OVERSEEING THE RESEARCH PROJECT AND SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF RESOURCES FOR GRANTEES AND THEIR CONGREGATIONS. WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH 13 ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE SUPPORTING APPROXIMATELY 250 CONGREGATIONS REPRESENTING 36 STATES AND THREE CANADIAN PROVINCES.

THE COLLEGEVILLE INSTITUTE WELCOMES SCHOLARS, CLERGY, CHURCH LEADERS, THINKERS, ARTISTS, AND WRITERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD SEEKING TO DISCERN AND COMMUNICATE THE MEANING OF CHRISTIAN IDENTITY AND UNITY IN A RELIGIOUSLY AND CULTURALLY DIVERSE WORLD. WELL-TRAINED, CREATIVE, ARTICULATE WOMEN AND MEN GATHER FOR ONE OR TWO SEMESTERS FOR CAREFUL THOUGHT IN A PLACE OF INQUIRY AND PRAYER, ENGAGING IN INDEPENDENT STUDY WITHIN A COMMUNITY SETTING.

THE ECCLESIAL LITERATURE PROJECT SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN PASTORAL LEADERSHIP IN MAINLINE AND MODERATE EVANGELICAL CHURCHES BY ENCOURAGING PASTORS, MEMBERS OF PASTORS' CONGREGATIONS, AND OTHERS WRITING ABOUT THE LIFE OF THE FAITH TO REACH A BROAD AUDIENCE THROUGH SERIOUS RELIGIOUS WRITING. IN GENERAL, WE INTEND TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE QUALITY OF THE SPIRITUAL AND INTELLECTUAL LIFE OF CONGREGATIONS THROUGH THEIR LEADER'S PARTICIPATION IN A WRITING PROGRAM. WE AIM TO FURTHER THE ROLE THAT WRITING PLAYS IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE BY PROVIDING DIRECT SUPPORT TO PARTICIPANTS, WHICH WILL STRENGTHEN THEIR WRITING AND HELP THEM COMMUNICATE MORE EFFECTIVELY IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE. IN 2022, WE HOSTED 5 WRITING WORKSHOPS, CLOSED-OUT THE EMERGING WRITERS MENTORSHIP PROGRAM COHORT 2, LAUNCHED EMERGING WRITERS MENTORSHIP PROGRAM COHORT 3, AND SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED OUR LEADERS AND PARTICIPANTS OF COLOR.

COMMUNITIES OF CALLING INITIATIVE'S GOAL AND PURPOSE CONTINUES TO BE: SUPPORT 13 CONGREGATIONS AS THEY BECOME COMMUNITIES OF CALLING WHO ENGAGE VOCATION IN THEIR WORSHIP LIFE, THROUGH THEOLOGICAL STUDY, AND IN CONVERSATION WITH AND SERVICE TO THEIR NEIGHBORS. ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT A VIBRANT ECUMENICAL LEARNING COMMUNITY AMONG THE CONGREGATIONS THAT MODELS HOW FOCUSING ON VOCATION, BOTH INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNAL, REVITALIZES THE LOCAL CHURCH FOR ITS MISSION IN THE WORLD. TOGETHER WITH THE CONGREGATIONS, TO CREATE VARIED RESOURCES ON VOCATION THAT ARE CONTEXTUALLY APPROPRIATE.