Author

Donald Wagner

The Rev. Donald Wagner has served as pastor of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Lebanon, Ill., since 1993, and before that served for five years at Grace United Church of Christ in Culver, Indiana. A second-career pastor, Wagner was a grain and dairy farmer with his father and brother before being called to the ministry in 1980.

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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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