WESLEY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY EMPOWERS D.C. AREA YOUNG ADULT OUTREACH AND CONGREGATIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INNOVATION HUB; EACH OF THE 16 SELECTED CONGREGATIONS WILL BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR A $20,000 GRANT TO FUND OUTREACH PROJECT

(WASHINGTON) July 2, 2018 – Wesley Theological Seminary announces the 16 congregations in the DC metro area that have been accepted to the Wesley Innovation Hub, a congregational learning and outreach cohort developed by the Washington, D.C.-based seminary. The Wesley Innovation Hub is funded by a $1.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Young Adult Initiative, which supports congregations and other Christian organizations to build relationships, create programs and test new ministries that enrich the lives of young adults (ages 23-29) in their communities.

To meet the needs of both churches and young adults in the DC area, Wesley Innovation Hub brings together diverse congregations across the region to learn and practice ministry innovations that engage young adults beyond their congregations for social change. The Wesley Innovation Hub began with four congregations in 2017, all of whom are now receiving grants to implement new initiatives with young adults.

“After the successful start of our master cohort last year, we are thrilled to welcome these new congregations to the Wesley Innovation Hub,” said the Rev. Beth Ludlum, Wesley Vice-President for Strategic Initiatives and director of the Wesley Innovation Hub program. “Throughout the next two years, we look forward to learning, praying, dreaming, and discerning together as we see what new things God has in store for faith communities and young adults in the Washington region.”

The 2018-2020 program participants are:

8th Day Faith Community	DC	Non-denominational
Capitol Hill UMC / The Well	DC	The United Methodist Church
Colesville UMC	Silver Spring, MD	The United Methodist Church
Covenant Baptist	DC	United Church of Christ/Baptist
Emmanuel UMC	Laurel, MD	The United Methodist Church
Faith Tabernacle UHCA	DC	United Holy Church of America
Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church	DC	Pentecostal/Holiness
Mclean Baptist Church	McLean, VA	Baptist
Metropolitan AME Church	DC	African Methodist Episcopal
Metropolitan Community Church - DC	DC	Metropolitan Community Church
Mount Vernon Place	DC	The United Methodist Church
Mt. Sinai Baptist Church	DC	Baptist
National Korean UMC	Rockville	The United Methodist Church
National UMC	DC	The United Methodist Church
Oakdale Church	Olney, MD	The United Methodist Church
Third Street Church of God	DC	Church of God

The 16 program participants, representing 10 denominations, are congregations large and small, urban and suburban. The two-year program will provide an initial 10-month listening and learning process to enable congregations to consider the skills and interests of young adults in their neighborhood, understand their own congregational identity and gifts, and brainstorm ways to collaborate. Participating churches will then apply for a $20,000 grant to experiment with and track new innovations with young adults.

The Wesley Innovation Hub is funded by a generous grant from the Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment, Inc. Since 2016, the Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Young Adult Initiative has made grants totaling $19.4 million to 12 colleges, universities and theological schools around the United States for innovation hub creation. Each hub partners with local congregations to engage young adults and explore ways to work with them to strengthen their ministries. 

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Located in the nation’s capital and centered in the Christian tradition, Wesley Theological Seminary, with its Institute for Community Engagement and the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, equips exemplary teachers, preachers and leaders to be prophetic voices in the church and the world.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family — 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, the Endowment 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.

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