Trinity Episcopal Church of Atchison, Kansas, has received a grant of $60,000 to enable its minister, The Reverend Jon Hullinger, to participate in the 2025 National Clergy Renewal Program. Trinity Episcopal Church is one of 233 congregations across the United States selected to participate in this competitive grant program, which is funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. and administered by Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. Established by the Endowment in 2000, the program’s grants allow Christian congregations to support their pastors with the gift of extended time away from their ministerial duties and responsibilities.
Ministers whose congregations are awarded the grants use their time away from the demands of daily ministry to engage in reflection and renewal. The approach respects the “Sabbath time” concept, offering ministers a carefully considered respite that may include travel, study, rest, prayer, and immersive arts and cultural experiences.
Through the National Clergy Renewal Program, congregations apply for grants of up to $60,000 to support renewal programs for their pastors. Collaborative in nature and implementation, the program allows congregations to partner with their ministers in developing experiences that address their unique renewal needs and aspirations. Recognizing that ministers’ families are subject to the stress and demands placed on pastoral leaders, the program encourages pastors to involve their families in renewal activities. Congregational needs during the minister’s renewal experience are also considered. Up to $20,000 of the grant may be used to support interim pastoral leadership during the pastor’s retreat, as well as renewal activities within the congregation. Since the National Clergy Renewal Program’s inception, more than 4,526 congregations throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico have received grants in support of renewal experiences for their pastors, including the 233 congregations receiving grants in 2025.
During his renewal period, The Reverend Jon Hullinger will travel abroad with his family while on a sabbatical. This will be an opportunity for him to step back from the day-to-day activities of his parish ministry and to spend more time with his family, friends, and God. During this time, the congregation of Trinity Episcopal Church will engage in its own season of renewal, reflecting on how it is called to share God’s Love with neighbors in Atchison by hosting a monthly series of events for the parish and local community. These parallel journeys will ensure that when the rector returns refreshed and renewed, he will be rejoining a congregation itself reinvigorated and inspired.
“Pastors play an important role in nourishing the spiritual lives of individuals and in guiding the work of the Christian congregations they serve,” said Christopher L. Coble, the Endowment’s vice president for religion. “Through these grants, we seek to honor pastors for their extraordinary service and enable them to engage in a brief period of rest and renewal. We have learned that such experiences invigorate the leadership of pastors and bring new vitality to their congregations as well.”
Dr. Robert Saler, director of the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs, noted that the National Clergy Renewal Program integrates key attributes of healthy congregations, including a mutual respect for the renewal needs of both ministers and the congregations they serve.
“The program provides an opportunity for congregations to express appreciation for their ministers’ service and leadership,” Saler said. “At a time when leaders are often praised for their pace of innovation and productivity, the National Clergy Renewal Program pays homage to the timeless wisdom embedded in the practice of reflection and renewal.”
Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis also directs the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program for Indiana Congregations through its Center for Pastoral Excellence.
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