Our History

History and Legacy of Leadership Education

Our organization was originally founded in 2008 by a major grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. with the goal of strengthening Christian institutions that enable U.S. congregations and pastors to flourish. Under the name "Leadership Education at Duke Divinity,” we continued to learn more about how to support this flourishing, and our commitment to congregational vitality deepened. In April 2026, Leadership Education at Duke Divinity School publicly launched a new identity for this work under our new name: Forum for Congregational Life.

At its founding, Leadership Education was a training center for Christian institutional leaders that offered training as well as convening. Craig Dykstra, who was then Senior Vice President for the Religion Division of the Lilly Endowment, had been looking for home for such a center for nearly 20 years. Greg Jones, then Dean of Duke Divinity School, was eager to establish an interdisciplinary training program that was grounded in a Christian vision of leadership and institutions. Jones led the organization’s formative years and in 2010 became a senior advisor, while working on other projects. In 2011, Dykstra joined Duke Divinity’s faculty and led the establishment of a senior leadership program.

In the last decade, we realized organizations supporting congregations wanted more than leadership training; they felt isolated and welcomed participating in networks focused on congregational life. We discovered grants are an effective way to cultivate such networks, bringing together denominations, schools, faith-based non-profits and consultants.

Our grant programs such as Reflective Leadership Grants gave leaders the gift of time to shift from responding to urgent needs to focusing on what is important for the long haul. We discovered that when grantees gather, there are opportunities for learning and collaboration across different traditions, regions and convictions. Ultimately, congregations are better served.

Changing Our Name

We wanted a name that clearly reflects the shift in our approach and our deepened sense of mission. The name “Forum for Congregational Life” emphasizes our calling to be a connection and resource point that affirms, equips and inspires networks of Christian institutions and leaders that nurture congregational life.

A new activity of the Forum is to convene working groups of practitioners and scholars to explore significant questions with which congregations and their supporters are wrestling. The group will identify resources from various parts of the church that address the questions and recommend resources that are still needed.

In this way, the Forum is not a “center” or “institute” that is itself a producer of knowledge; instead, it is a connection point that nurtures networks. The Latin etymology of “forum” suggests an outside place where people gather for deliberation, discernment and decision. As such, the Forum is a kind of “balcony” that provides leaders with a fresh vantage point to see congregational life.

This renewed focus is rooted in our belief that congregations make a difference in the lives of people and communities. Christian congregations are the primary social and institutional manifestation of Christian faith. From the work of communal worship, congregational members are given broadened imaginations to see God at work in their homes, neighborhoods, workplaces and beyond. Congregations are more resilient in these vital efforts when they are surrounded by supportive networks of fellow congregations and supporting organizations.

The transition to the Forum is made possible by a generous grant of $40 million from Lilly Endowment, Inc. to Duke University in December 2025.

Past Offerings

Grants

Traditioned Innovation Awards

Each year, four institutions were awarded $10,000 for responding to challenge by holding the future and past in tension, acting creatively while remaining true to traditions of the institution and our faith.