Lilly Vocation Grant
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About the Program

"Vocation is not the exceptional prerogative of a few
specially good or gifted people ... All men and women
are called to serve God."
-- F.R. Barry


The "Discerning Vocation: Community, Context and Commitment" program at Whitworth University seeks to help students develop a deeper sense of vocation as a way of responding to God's call into the ministry and in other professions. Based on the Reformed and evangelical concepts of vocation, this program stresses that:

  • the calling to a vocation is best made out of prayer and reflection in the midst of communities of discernment
  • vocation grows out of an understanding of a variety of cultural and professional contexts in which vocation is lived out
  • individual ethical commitments guide choices concerning our communities, including a commitment to living out prophetic and priestly roles through vocation

On the basis of this understanding of vocation, "Discerning Vocation: Community, Context and Commitment" will implement three main objectives. These objectives seek to:

  • develop communities of vocational discernment throughout the college by providing opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to develop mentoring relationships
  • increase the understanding of church, cultural, and professional contexts by developing opportunities for students to minister in local churches, participate in internships and service learning opportunities, and live in vocationally-themed off-campus locations
  • enrich and clarify theological commitments by developing additional programs and curriculum in which students can reflect on the spiritual, moral, and political commitments accompanying vocation

"Discerning Vocation: Community, Context, and Commitment" develops 14 new programs at Whitworth University and builds upon nine existing programs. Five strategies have been implemented which involve:

  • building institutional capacity in the form of expanded programs in the departments of religion and music
  • faculty and staff development, including mentoring retreats, reading groups, conferences and vocational workshops
  • curricular development in introductory courses, senior capstone programs, service and vocational opportunities, undergraduate scholarship, graduate studies and lecture programs
  • co-curricular programs, including intentional communities, annual retreats, student leadership and alumni involvement
  • strengthening relationships with the church and community via existing programs, expanded certificate programs, internships and research opportunities, reading groups and collaborative relationships with theological seminaries

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