Author

Craig T. Kocher

University chaplain, University of Richmond

The Rev. Dr. Craig Kocher is university chaplain and Jessie Ball duPont Chair of the Chaplaincy at the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia. Previously, he served as senior pastor of Oak Ridge United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge, North Carolina, and as associate dean of the chapel and director of religious life at Duke. Kocher holds a B.A. in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a master of divinity degree from Duke University, and a doctor of ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary. 

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Apply for a Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grant 

Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grants from the Calvin Institute for Christian Worship are designed for worshiping communities. These grants allow a wide range of Christian worshiping communities to focus on projects that connect public worship with Christian discipleship and faith formation. Funding awards range from $8,000 to $25,000. 

The grants support year-long projects that show promise in fostering renewed or strengthened worship practices within worshiping communities in the United States or Canada. Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grants for teacher-scholars are also available. Applications for the October 15 deadline will open on July 15, 2026.

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