Canada’s Theological Schools Are on the Move… and We’re in Great Company
When we shared that Knox College had received nearly $1 million USD from the Lilly Endowment’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative, we hinted that this was part of something even bigger. So let’s zoom out for a second, because what’s happening here isn’t just about us. Thirteen Canadian theological schools received substantial grants through the 2025 round of Pathways funding. Here they are:
Ambrose University – Calgary, AB
Atlantic School of Theology – Halifax, NS
Heritage Theological Seminary – Cambridge, ON
Huron University College – London, ON
Knox College – Toronto, ON
Northwest College and Seminary – Langley, BC
St. Augustine’s Seminary of Toronto – Scarborough, ON
St. Mark’s College – Vancouver, BC
St. Peter’s Seminary – London, ON
Vancouver School of Theology – Vancouver, BC
Victoria University (U of T) – Toronto, ON
Waterloo Lutheran Seminary – Waterloo, ON
This is amazing.
It’s a powerful sign that Canadian schools are investing deeply in the formation of pastoral and lay leaders for today’s Church. Each of these schools brings a unique voice to the table. And together, we’re painting a picture of theological education that is diverse, resilient, and deeply responsive to the needs of congregations across the country.
What is the Lilly Endowment?
Lilly Endowment Inc. is one of the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Founded in 1937 by members of the Lilly family (of Eli Lilly and Company), it operates as a completely separate entity from the pharmaceutical company. From the beginning, the Endowment has had three key areas of focus: community development, education, and religion.
The Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative is part of its religion grantmaking with an effort to strengthen Christian congregations by supporting the pastoral leaders who serve them. Lilly Endowment has long been a major supporter of theological education, particularly in ways that make ministry formation more effective, sustainable, and responsive to contemporary challenges.
Through Pathways, the Endowment is funding:
Leadership development for pastors and lay leaders
Financial sustainability for theological schools
Creative new models for theological education
Well-being, resilience, and support for ministry leaders
Practical connections between theological education and congregational life
You can explore projects from a previous round of funding (across North America) by browsing the Pathways for Tomorrow Grant Directory on the ATS website.
Some notable mentions you may recognize:
Wycliffe College – for the Canadian Institute of Empirical Church Research, gathering much-needed data on the Canadian Church
Faith+Lead Academy (Luther Seminary) – innovating in digital education design for today’s church
Tyndale University – through the Tyndale Centre for Pastoral Imagination, offering deep resources and support for ministry leaders
We’re thrilled to be in this company and even more excited to keep learning, collaborating, and sharing as our growing team over here at Ministry Forum begins to roll out four key initiatives in the months and years to come.