Author
Michael B. Curry
Presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church
Michael B. Curry is the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church. He was elected June 27, 2015 and his nine-year term began Nov. 1, 2015. Since 2000, he has been the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, based in Raleigh. He received a master of divinity degree from Yale University Divinity School and has done continued study at The College of Preachers, Princeton Theological Seminary, Wake Forest University, the Ecumenical Institute at St. Mary’s Seminary and the Institute for Christian & Jewish Studies. He served in North Carolina, Ohio and Baltimore, Md., before his election as bishop in 2000.
Lilly Endowment Inc. announces Exploring Christian Practices Initiative
The Exploring Christian Practices Initiative aims to multiply opportunities and increase access to settings that help individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds explore and engage in Christian practices to address their spiritual interests and questions, find and build community with others, nourish their religious lives and grow in faith.
In this open and competitive initiative, the Endowment invites charitable organizations to submit proposals for grants of up to $2.5 million each that may be used for up to a five-year period to develop new and/or enhance existing programs that present promising strategies for advancing the aim of the initiative and provide compelling and thoughtful responses to its guiding questions. The Endowment anticipates awarding approximately 60 grants and announcing grant awards in December 2026.
The Endowment will host four virtual information sessions (February 17, 19, 24, and 25) to discuss the Exploring Christian Practices guidelines for submitting a proposal. An Interest Form and Letter of Interest are due March 25, 2026. Complete proposals are due May 18, 2026.
Learn More and register for information sessions