Home : The Voice : February 2002 : Maryville College

Maryville College Intentional About
Relationship to PCUSA in New Goals

On January 25, Maryville College administrators, faculty and staff members, friends and students celebrated the end of a strategic planning process and the beginning of a new, five-year period that many believe will take the college "on to greatness." The celebration involved 150 people, most of whom had been involved in the nearly 24-month planning process. "Active covenants with the PCUSA synod and presbytery" is a goal listed twice under objectives of the strategic plan. Those covenants would be vital to the college in the following areas: Maryville's recognition as a church-related, liberal arts college of high quality; its development of a program that integrates sound ethical judgment into students' career planning and vocational identity; and its ability to offer students, faculty and staff extensive opportunities for spiritual growth and worship.

Maryville College President Gerald Gibson said in his January 25 address: "I see a Maryville College that is known for its faithfulness to its heritage as a college of the church, a place where both faculty and staff promote whole-person education, where faith and learning are joined intentionally and effectively."

Grant Will Help

Maryville College is one of 28 colleges and universities in the country to receive a $1 million-plus grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to create or enhance programs that enable young people to draw upon the resources of religious wisdom as they think through their vocational choices and to consider the ministry as a profession they might pursue.

Maryville received almost two million ($1,999,906) for its implementation grant proposal written by Dr. Bill Meyer, associate professor of religion and philosophy, entitled "The Maryville College Initiative on Vocation." The grant will support the College's Initiative on Vocation from January 2002 through August 2006. Meyer said, "This will give students an integrated four-year opportunity to explore and consider their future lives and work in relation to a sense of calling and wider purpose -- and how that purpose relates to their religious faith or existential convictions."

Craig Dykstra, vice president for religion at the Indianapolis-based Lilly Foundation, said: "These exciting grants directly address one of the major themes of the Endowment's grantmaking in religion, and that is to help identify, recruit, call and nurture into Christian ministry a new generation of talented pastors."

Totaling $55.3 million, the 28 grants awarded by the Endowment will fund programs affecting students, faculty and staff at all the schools. Schools have planned activities such as student retreats, enhancing worship on campus, changing career-planning services, curricular changes, lecture series and conferences, special courses, semesters of study in seminaries and divinity schools, internships in congregations and faith-based organizations and projects.

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