The Seminary's grant research profile has grown while focusing on a number of strategically important fields of study. Use the interactive directory below to learn more about research projects.
- December 2019
The “Disability and the Church” project, funded by a Project Grant for Researchers through the Louisville Institute and led by the Rev. Dr. Erin Raffety and a team of 5 research assistants, conducted ethnographic research with 11 congregations, ministries, and families with people with disabilities in New York City, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania from 2019-2020 in order to gauge challenges and best practices in congregational ministry with people with disabilities
DIRECTOR(S)
Erin Raffety
- December 2019
Princeton Theological Seminary requested a 3-year grant to establish the “Imaging Church” project. In the first phase, digital ethnography was undertaken to develop portraits of 23 thriving congregations from among a variety of candidates recommended by denominational leaders and fellow ecclesial researchers. The aim was to expand upon the seven key characteristics of thriving congregations, as identified by previous researchers, by helping to identify That Extra Special Something (TESS), which researchers claim “is probably the most important factor” in breathing life into a congregation and its ministries.
CO-DIRECTORS
Gordon Mikosky
Erin Raffety
- May 2018
The Log College Project is an innovative initiative at Princeton Theological Seminary to help Christian congregations design, test, and implement new models of youth ministry. Twelve congregations will receive $15,000 grants to build new ministries that take theology and young people seriously. This project is funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc., built by the Institute for Youth Ministry, and housed at Princeton Theological Seminary.
- January 2017
The Zoe Project is dedicated to building life-supporting, faith-transforming relationships between young adults and Christian congregations. Between 2017-2020, twelve congregations set out together on a 3-year learning pilgrimage, sponsored by Princeton Theological Seminary, to learn how to build better relationships with young adults, and nurture their spiritual lives. Funded by the Lilly Endowment’s Young Adult Innovation Hub initiative, each church commissioned an intergenerational team of Zoe Fellows to work together to design ways young adults and congregants could support each other’s lives and faith.
DIRECTOR
Kenda Creasy Dean
- June 2014
The Confirmation Project seeks to learn the extent to which confirmation and equivalent practices in five Protestant denominations in North America are effective for strengthening discipleship in youth. These denominations include the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church in the USA, and the United Methodist Church. It seeks to provide Christian leaders with examples of good practice and with strategies that are effective in helping young Christians grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. Strengthening discipleship includes nurturing faith in Jesus Christ and facilitating youth encounters with Christian traditions (Scripture, creeds, confessions, and practices) to support lifelong Christian vocation. This project is funded by the Christian Youth: Learning and Living the Faith grant provided by the Lilly Endowment, Inc..
CO-DIRECTOR(S)
Katie Douglass
Richard Osmer
“One of the biggest lessons I learned was how to be charitable to views other than my own. Christian charity was shown to me, not just in the readings for class, but from the professors, and the Seminary community.”