With $1.25 million Lilly Endowment grant, MTSO will help strengthen children’s worship

Methodist Theological School in Ohio has received a five-year grant of $1,250,000 from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish “Kids Incorporated: Incorporating the Next Generation into the Full Life of Congregational Worship.”

The program is funded through Lilly Endowment’s Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative. The aim of the national initiative is to support faith-based organizations as they help children grow in faith and deepen their relationships with God.

The purpose of MTSO’s “Kids Incorporated” program is to empower partner congregations to better serve children and their families by enhancing children's spiritual development and increasing understanding, accessibility and engagement opportunities for children within worship settings. With a focus on children ages 4-12, MTSO will address developmental differences across various age groups and promote intergenerational worship experiences.

The grant will be directed by MTSO Associate Dean Lisa Allen-McLaurin, who also serves as professor of worship, music and spirituality. MTSO Grants Liaison Richard Hinkelman will serve as the program’s church liaison.

Over the course of five years, MTSO will create three successive cohorts of ministry professionals and church leaders, representing six churches per cohort, who are committed to implementing change within the congregational worship setting.

Participant cohorts are currently being formed. Interested churches and leaders are encouraged to reach out to Richard Hinkelman at rhinkelman@mtso.edu to express their interest. The first cohort will begin its work in January 2026 and run through December 2027. Participating churches will qualify for a financial ministry grant to continue their development and implementation of incorporating the next generation of worshippers.

“I’m pleased that we are receiving support from Lilly Endowment on this new initiative,” said MTSO President Jay Rundell. “We believe we can increase children’s engagement in meaningful expressions of worship and prayer within the congregational experience.”

MTSO is one of 170 organizations funded through three rounds of the initiative, which was launched in 2022. The grants are funding efforts to help organizations that serve congregations in a broad spectrum of Christian traditions develop new and/or enhance existing programs as they design worship services and prayer practices that more intentionally and fully engage children.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. The principal aim of the Endowment’s religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment also seeks to improve public understanding of diverse religious traditions by supporting fair and accurate portrayals of the role religion plays in the United States and across the globe.

Methodist Theological School in Ohio provides theological education and leadership in pursuit of a just, sustainable and generative world. In addition to the Master of Divinity degree, the school offers master’s degrees in counseling, social justice, theological studies and public theology, along with a Doctor of Ministry degree.

CONTACT:

Danny Russell, communications director
drussell@mtso.edu, 740-362-3322