Clergy sabbatical grants

Twenty-one ELCA congregations and 23 pastors received grants from the Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment.

The ELCA recipients were among 133 congregations and 138 pastors in 36 states to receive funds. Lilly’s National Clergy Renewal Program provided grants in 2008 ranging from $18,758 to $45,000 to help congregations cover costs associated with their pastors’ sabbaticals.

Lilly applications say: “Each congregation may apply for an award of up to $50,000, and up to $15,000 of that amount may be spent for congregational support during the absence of the pastor.”

For more information on the Lilly grants, visit www.lillyendowment.org and click on “religion.”