Candler receives $1 million Lilly grant for youth program

By Shelia M. Poole

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Candler School of Theology at Emory University has received a $1 million grant from the Lilly Endowment to support its Youth Theological Initiative.

The initiative, which was founded in 1993, conducts research and provides theological education for youth and young ministers. The cornerstone of the initiative is an annual summer academy, an intensive, residential program for rising high school juniors and seniors to study theology and its connection to social justice work. There's also a research component to learn how young people are engaging their faith.

While other programs focusing on youth and theology exist, Candler's YTI program is the "grandparent" of them all, said Gretchen Wolfram, a spokeswoman for the Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment, which supports programs that aid community development, education and religion.

The hope is that these programs will "result in an enthusiastic, invigorated, capable and talented ministry," Wolfram said. "Of course, we're aware of the lack of young people thinking about going into the ministry. Sometimes, the old paths of this progression -- a strong association in church and mentors in the church to shepherd you along -- have sort of broken off and are less effective."

In fact, a recent report by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found that a large number of  people between the ages of 18 and 29 are much less religious than older people. The study also found that fewer young adults belong to a particular faith than older Americans.

The Lilly Endowment funds will be used primarily to underwrite the operating costs of the Candler youth program, training and housing, said Elizabeth Corrie, director of YTI and an assistant professor at the school.

Since YTI's  founding, more than 900 youth have been involved.

Corrie said at a young age some people are starting to "wonder if this might be the path for them. The idea is that if you invite them in while in high school to participate in serious theological discussion, it might get them more excited and think of it as a real possibility."