Lifelong Learning Grants
Through the years, the Foundation has provided over a million dollars to support educational events, workshops, and seminars which cover a wide range of topics and serve anywhere from 10 to more than 200 people. Teaching elders, commissioned pastors, church staff members, and lay leaders all greatly benefit from these events. View the 2023 Lifelong Learning Events at the right.
2024 Lifelong Learning Program Grant — OPSF’s Lifelong Learning Program Grant provides funds to Presbyterian (USA) institutions, including mid-councils, colleges, and camps and conference centers.
- Grants of up to $15,000 will support educational events, workshops, programs, and seminars which equip congregational leaders, enrich congregational vitality, and strengthen denominational ties. Priority is given to funding programs which demonstrate the capacity to support and sustain congregational ministry leaders (ordained and non-ordained).
- We want our funds to serve congregations and congregational leaders to the greatest effectiveness, so we are here to dialogue about your potential program. To talk about your potential program or brainstorm before or during your application process, reach out to OPSF’s president, the Rev. Shelli Latham.
- View the full grant eligibility and criteria here.
Note: Please preview the sample grant application and gather all necessary information prior to starting your online application.
13-State Grant Area
2023 Funded Events
Click on the links below to learn more and to register for these co-sponsored OPSF events.
Glacier Presbytery Clergy Training
Glacier Presbytery Camp & Conference Center will Mission Camps and Retreats to help train Teaching Elders, CPs, Lay Leaders and families in mission in intergenerational teams
Emc3 coaching, Online training
Emc3 coaching will offer online training for Teaching Elders, CPs and Lay Leaders to serve as spiritual wellness practioners.
Glacier Presbytery - Within and Without: Strengthening Faithful Outreach
Three workshops attached to presbytery meetings: Cory Schlosser-Hall (Feb) -Moving ourselves
(and our congregations in partnerships) from old visions into our newly adopted mission statement; Elona Street-Stewart (July) -with the first nations people who are our neighbors; and one of the new PCUSA co-moderators (Oct) -Drawing from PCUSA heritage and resources to follow through on the mission calls we have discerned.
Heartland Presbytery: Healthy Congregations Leaders Groups
Four-part program, including pre-training for clergy, a day-long event.
Peace Center for their Healthy Congregation training; and, finally, a fall retreat.
Homestead Presbytery: Mental Health Spiritual Renewal Retreats for Pastors
Two contemplative retreats – Spring and Fall, at the Benedictine Retreat Center in Schuyler NE • Each retreat is designed to be a “time away” for pastors – a time to connect with God and with each other, along with a time to explore new experiences of prayer and meditation. The Benedictine Monks welcome us to join them in prayer and are available to serve as Spiritual Directors.
Indian Nations Presbytery/Oklahoma: Pastoral Leaders Retreat
As pastoral leaders recover from the pandemic the 2022 retreat will focus on a “hands and hearts” theme with one leader offering a body-oriented session and the other an interactive arts session. The retreat meets a need for rest, relaxation, learning together, visiting with old friends and making new friends. Through speakers, worship, four meals together, time to be alone or with others, hiking through the surrounding woods, retreat participants return to the challenges of everyday ministry with renewed vigor and more links to others than when they arrived. The retreat will be held at St. Crispin’s Episcopal Conference Center.
Presbyterian Urban and Immigrant Ministry Network: Anti-Racist Education and Engagement Project
75-90 minute in-person and virtual dialogues to educate/engage people, contracting with Micah Rose Emerson as facilitator.
Topic examples: What is the Moving Sidewalk of Racism?, What is Critical Race Theory?, Define White Supremacy Culture, What is Brave Space vs. Safe Space?
Presbyteries of Northern Kansas, Southern Kansas, Heartland, John Calvin, Missouri Union and Giddings-Lovejoy: Spirit of Stewardship Conference
This conference focuses on the stewardship/financial issues relevant to smaller, rural congregations.
Topics include Broken Expectations, The Current Financial Landscape and Keeping it Spiritual, Giving Great Offering Talks, Telling Your Impact Stories and Building Donor Relationships…
Synod of Lakes and Prairies: Synod School
The 2023 Convocation Speaker will be Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, Director of the Presbyterian Office of Public Witness in Washington, DC and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations. The Evening Worship leader will be DeEtte Decker, Acting Senior Director of Communications for the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Over 125 volunteer teachers offer programming for children and youth and teach 75 adult classes daily.
Synod of Rocky Mountains: Synod-Wide Collaborative Leadership Equipping
This multi-layered program will provide training and support to presbytery leaders focusing on: Administrative Commissions (January); PJCs and Treasurers (February); Clerks (March); and Coaches (January through September).
Utah Presbytery: Fall and Spring Pastoral/CLP Retreats
The Fall Retreat is “Pastoral Spiritual Formation and Self-Care”. The 2-day session will be held at Homestead Resort in Midway, UT. Retreat leaders will be Rev. Heather Monkmeyer, a Spiritual Director, and Rev. Mirjam Haas-Melchior, Executive Presbyter.
The Spring Retreat will be “Pastoral Preaching and Effectiveness in Challenging Times”. The event will be held at the Episcopal Diocesan Center in Salt Lake City, and be led by Elder and Career Coach, Clare Coonan of Adjacent Consulting; and a Princeton Theological Seminary Professor of Preaching and Pastoral Care.
Winnebago Presbytery: Ministry in a Secular Age with Dr. Andrew Root
A 2-day Spring Retreat lead by Dr. Andrew Root’s and based on Root’s five-book series on “Ministry in a Secular”, with the heart of the program focusing on Root’s books
“Congregations in a Secular Age” and the speed of change and the effects of burnout and depression in congregational life. The event will conclude with into “Churches and the Crisis of Decline: A Hopeful, Practical Ecclesiology for a Secular Age” and Roots’ practical ideas for being the church in a secular age, leading into three-ongoing cohorts.
Grant Payment Request Form
Complete the Lifelong Learning Grant Payment Request form including a written evaluation of your event. Payment requests must be received no later than November 15 of the year the event was held.