Description

Established in 2015, the Luce Fund for Theological Education supports the development of new models of teaching and learning, research and publication, leadership development and educational program design.  Inquiries to the Luce Fund are accepted annually. Structured as an open competition for seminaries and divinity schools, it is the Theology Program’s primary vehicle for supporting institutions of graduate theological education.
 
In this second year of the Luce Fund, the program received 75 letters of inquiry, and invited 18 full proposals. Based on the review of those proposals, we recommend support for nine theological education projects.
This includes a proposed grant to Drew University Theological School.
Drew University Theological School will launch a Public Theology Initiative, with the aim of equipping and empowering its students and faculty to be theologically imaginative and publicly engaged.  Building upon a major curricular transformation currently underway at the School, project activities will involve engaging technology, connecting to social movements and their leaders through partner organizations, and promoting the arts as a vital field for spiritually-grounded and creative justice work.  Key programmatic components include the development of a web forum on public theology, experiential learning with prominent public theologians and artists, and support for faculty in teaching public theology.  The Luce Foundation’s grant will support a part-time director and project manager for the initiative, faculty development workshops, campus events featuring artists and activists, networking with other public theology initiatives, student internships, and web development.
 
Drew University Theological School is third-oldest of 13 seminaries affiliated with the United Methodist Church.  It was established in 1867 to offer ministerial training augmented by “an opportunity for a broad culture through the study of the humanities.”  The School’s current mission carries this emphasis forward, stressing “independent and imaginative thought.”