Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, is one of 40 theological schools to receive a $10,000 planning grant from Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc., to participate in a national technological initiative. The planning grant allows Concordia Seminary to design a comprehensive proposal for the appropriate implementation of a technology-based teaching program. If this comprehensive plan is approved by Lilly Endowment Inc., a $300,000 implementation grant would be awarded Concordia Seminary in July 2000.

"We are delighted to be selected as one of 40 seminaries to receive this planning grant," commented Dr. Andrew Bartelt, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Concordia Seminary. "Concordia Seminary took an intentional step toward the effective use of educational technology in the classroom when it installed a campus-wide computer network over the past two years, including data lines in every classroom and every renovated dormitory room. We look forward to taking the next step, with the help of this grant, to further the use of computer technology in the educational process."

With the program, Lilly Endowment hopes to address the needs of seminaries to gain access to important technological resources, train faculty and staff in their use, provide for their maintenance and updating, and rethink teaching practices in the light of the new possibilities that these technologies offer.

Craig Dykstra, Lilly Endowment vice president for religion, said, "Improving the quality of theological school teaching is a central focus of the Endowment's grant-making in theological education. Our long-term goal, of course, is to enrich American Christianity with a generation of knowledgeable ministers who can lead vibrant and healthy congregations in this country."

For more information, contact Dr. Andrew Bartelt, Concordia Seminary, 801 DeMun Avenue, St. Louis, Mo., 63105; 314.505.7013; e-mail: [email protected].