$76.8 Million Given to Develop Clergy

INDIANAPOLIS — The Lilly Endowment is granting $76.8 million to 39 church-related U.S. colleges, Protestant and Catholic, to help overcome growing clergy shortages.

The grants support campus programs that encourage students to consider careers in the clergy or related forms of service. Over three years, Lilly has granted $171.3 million to 88 schools.

The foundation "is focused heavily on attracting a new generation of talented ministers for congregations," said Lilly's vice president for religion, Craig Dykstra.

In a related program, Lilly, the largest provider of religion grants among U.S. foundations, gave $30,000 each to 135 congregations for clergy to take leaves for renewal programs.