NBTS Awarded $997,248 Grant for “Seminary Through Alternative Routes”
October 9, 2025
New Brunswick Theological Seminary (NBTS) has received a grant of $997,248 from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish “Seminary Through Alternative Routes” (STAR).
The program is being funded through Lilly Endowment’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative, which is intended to help theological schools across the United States and Canada strengthen their educational and financial capacities to prepare and support pastoral leaders for Christian congregations both now and into the future.
STAR will offer asynchronous, skill-based microcredentials and certificate programs designed to provide accessible, affordable, and practical theological education to pastors, lay leaders, and other working adults. These programs will allow students to gain essential skills in areas such as leadership development, nonprofit management, community engagement, spiritual wellness, and preaching.
STAR’s microcredentials will be stackable and structured to accommodate the schedules of students balancing ministry and professional responsibilities. They will also provide opportunities for learners to transition into one of the Seminary’s master’s degree programs if they wish to pursue further study.
STAR involves partnership with two key partners: Choose Healthy Life (CHL) and Churches Learning Change (CLC). These mission-aligned partners will assist with course development and program promotion.
“We are excited about the potential impact of this project—not only in better serving those engaged in ministry, but also in increasing student enrollment and generating sustainable revenue to support our mission,” says NBTS President Rev. Dr. Micah L. McCreary.
NBTS is one of 163 theological schools that have received grants since 2021 through the Pathways initiative.Together, the schools serve a broad spectrum of Christian traditions in the U.S. and Canada. They are affiliated with evangelical, mainline Protestant, nondenominational, Pentecostal, Orthodox, Catholic, Black church, Latino, Asian American, Indigenous and historic peace church traditions.
“Theological schools have long played a central role for most denominations and church networks in preparing and supporting pastoral leaders who guide congregations,” said Christopher L. Coble, the Endowment’s vice president for religion. “These schools are paying close attention to the challenges churches are facing today and will face in the foreseeable future. The grants will help these schools engage in wide-ranging, innovative efforts to adapt their educational programs and build their financial capacities so they can better prepare pastors and lay ministers to effectively lead the congregations they will serve in the future.”
About Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. A principal aim of the Endowment’s religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment also seeks to improve public understanding of religion and lift up in fair, accurate and balanced ways the roles that people of all faiths and various religious communities play in the United State and around the globe