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Louisville, KY - [October 15, 2024] – As the Louisville Institute (“LI”) celebrates its 35th year and is guided by a commitment to strengthen its work at the intersection of the church and the academy, it is refocusing its mission by launching restructuring initiatives. These initiatives, which are fully supported by the LI Advisory Board and Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (“LPTS”) Board of Trustees, mark a strategic pivot to enhance the impact of LI’s programs, ensuring mission fidelity and broadening their reach to better serve the church. This transformation is being carried out in consultation with the Lilly Endowment, Inc. (“LEI”), which fully funds LI, and aligns with the evolving needs of the broader church.
A wider ecumenical representation is just the first step—the LI Advisory Board recently approved expanding its number to include a broader representation of the North American Church. LI leadership will reflect a greater diversity of voices and theological perspectives thus opening more avenues for the academy to serve the church.
It is healthy for an organization to embark on some level of restructuring when refocusing mission, particularly at significant inflection points. Recognizing that transitions of this magnitude can raise questions, particularly regarding staffing, we want to assure all stakeholders that the decisions being made are part of a deliberate process aimed at good stewardship of both resources and talent. Fellow LEI-funded organizations that have restructured previously, sometimes more than once, have emerged stronger and more effective. They model excellence in serving the Church, and we have every confidence that the LI will become an exceptional partner in collaborating with these fellow organizations.
As program initiatives are restructured and refined, some programs may be paused. Others will continue, with the expectation that eventually, all programs will undergo some examination to ensure they are administered as intended and advance the flourishing of the church.
The LI leadership team, including the LI Advisory Board, LPTS Board, and our funding partners at LEI, are united in their support of these efforts. As LI moves through this period of change, we remain focused on our core mission of bridging the church and the academy for the flourishing of both. The LI and LPTS leadership will keep our community informed as we reach key development and milestones in this exciting journey.
We ask for your understanding and continued support as this important work continues. In moments like these, it is essential to maintain a spirit of unity and focus on the larger goal: ensuring that the mission of the Louisville Institute continues to thrive and serve the church for years to come, along with Louisville Seminary’s commitment to educating individuals to proclaim the Gospel, care for all, and work for justice in communities everywhere.
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Inquiries, please contact:
Alicia Anderson
Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Human Resources Generalist
aanderson@lpts.edu
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