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The Sun-Walking Fellowship at Louisville Seminary
Radiates in New Directions
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Louisville, KY [June 15, 2026] - In the afterglow of celebrating its 3rd Annual Makers’ Fest on May 30, 2026 (see pictures below), the Sun-Walking Fellowship at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (LPTS) looks forward to new possibilities with a new staff to fulfill its mission: strengthening congregational ministry with young people through art that uplifts human dignity.
Founded in 2023 with the generous support of a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., the Sun-Walking Fellowship has accompanied six congregations over the past several years, pairing each faith community with an artist-consultant to help them dream up and learn through artistic projects ranging from puppetry to podcasting, intergenerational recipe-sharing to filming interviews with elders in the church. Key to the program’s ethos is making sure that middle- and high-school-aged young people experience being part of the planning team at each congregation and learn how to work together in an intergenerational community through artistic practices. The young people are given opportunities to lead; the congregations learn how to play better. Congregations apply to be accepted into the grant program, attend an arts-filled opening retreat, work with their artist-consultant for four months, then return to Louisville to present what they have learned at the annual Makers’ Fest. Over the next two years, Project Director Dr. Marcus A. Hong hopes to work with an additional six to eight congregations.
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With Assistant Project Director Rev. Amina McIntyre taking on a new role as Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care/Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy at LPTS, the Sun-Walking Fellowship is restructuring its staff in order to continue its work through 2027. Dr. Hong, who has been serving since 2024 as the Seminary’s Director of Lifelong Learning and only part-time as Sun-Walking’s Project Director, will move to a full-time Project Director role. Two grant-funded staff positions opening soon will include an Administrative Coordinator and an Arts Coordinator, who will work with Dr. Hong to plan events, accompany congregations, and seek out artist-consultants. These two roles will begin in August 2026.
“I am so grateful for the work and partnership of Rev. McIntyre over the last two years,” shares Dr. Hong. “Although I wrote the grant proposal in 2022, it is Rev. McIntyre who has breathed life into what was only a dream. I have learned so much from her artistry, her practical experience in planning events, and her willingness to experiment. I look forward to carrying the work we have started together into a future made bright by all that we have already done.”
"Having written and developed the original proposal for this grant, as full-time director, Dr. Hong will very ably continue and build upon the excellent and very creative work he, Rev. McIntyre and their grant partners have already done," remarks Rev. Dr. Debra J. Mumford, Vice President for Academics and Dean of the Seminary. "We look forward to seeing where his tremendous artistic talents, ingenuity, and resourcefulness may lead."
"Thank you to Dr. Hong for his ongoing commitment to the Sun-Walking Fellowship at LPTS," adds Rev. Dr. Andrew D. Pomerville, President of Louisville Seminary. "I'm delighted to support his plans for the next chapter of this grant as he guides this project. His passion for this work is extraordinary.
Congregations interested in joining a cohort can apply at the Sun-Walking Fellowship website.
| | Photos provided by Clay Street Missionary Baptist Church and Sun-Walking Team. | | |
SAVE-THE-DATE
Mark your calendars for these LPTS events happening on campus or hybrid over the summer and into the fall!
More info coming soon!
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June 27-July 1: Worship and fellowship with alums, students, and friends at General Assembly (GA227) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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July 23, 10:00 AM: "Equipping Faithful Parents" Coffee Break hosted by the Faithful Formation Project
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July 30, 10:00 AM: "Difficult Conversations: Pre-Adolescent Children" Coffee Break hosted by the Faithful Formation Project
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August 31-September 3: Third Annual Mosaic Symposium - a week of events which include new student orientation, a 1-credit course, worship, community meals, centered around the theme, "Woven Together: Where our humanity meets the world today."
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September 2, 6:00 PM: Caldwell Lecture
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September 3, 9:00 AM: Alum Reunion 5:00 PM: Alum Reunion Reception
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September 3, 11:00 AM: Fall Opening Convocation of the 173rd Academic Year
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September 10, 10:00 AM: "Faith, Fathers, and Sons" Coffee Break hosted by the Faithful Formation Project
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September 15, 12 Noon: Black Church Studies (BCS) "Akwaaba" Lunch & Learn
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September 18, 9:00 AM: MFT Continuing Education Day
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September 23, 6:00 PM: Presler Lecture
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September 26, 9:00 AM: BCS Ministry Leadership Seminar
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October 1, 6:00 PM: Katie Geneva Cannon Lecture
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October 6, 11:30 AM: J. Bradley Wigger's "Children Imagine God" Book Launch & Community Lunch
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October 27, 11:30 AM: Black Church Cornerstone Collaborative "RISE and ReNew: Stories of Hope and Heritage in Rural Ministry" Lunch & Learn
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October 28, 6:00 PM: Greenhoe Lecture
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October 29 & 30: Fall Board of Trustee Meeting
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Live out your calling by practicing theology, finding belonging, and working for justice.
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Led by the Holy Spirit, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary educates people to proclaim the Gospel, to care for all, and to work for justice in communities everywhere.
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