Becoming a Disciple-making Congregation

What do you dream for the children in your congregation in their life with God?

How might you design worship and prayer practices to help them – and people of all ages — become the disciples you imagine?

The diocese has a $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support our congregations to imagine and develop disciple-making strategies that include intentionally intergenerational worship and prayer practices alongside age-specific programs that help disciples of all ages know God and not only know about God.

The diocese will come alongside congregations to:

• Spark imagination around intergenerational worship and its connection to holistic Christian formation;
• Equip and empower congregational leaders — clergy, staff, caregivers and children — with skills to:
• Help children and adults express their faith through worship and prayer
• Design and lead inclusive and sensory-rich worship rooted in
• Episcopal liturgical sources and grounded in local practices and traditions.
• Help to forge and support connections among congregations.

Wonder

Apply to participate in a discernment and grant process to gain access to 10 hours of coaching and a grant of up to $7,500 to support experiments in intergenerational worship and prayer that meet your disciple-making goals.

• February 2, 2026: Applications and additional information available
  
• February 17, 2026: Zoom introduction and Q&A
  
• April 20, 2026: Part 1 application due
  
• May 8, 2026: 24 churches selected
  
• May 15, 2026:  Zoom orientation for participating churches
  
• July 17, 2026: Part 2 applications due for participating churches
  
• August 7, 2026: Grant funding distributed
  
• February 1, 2027: Final reports due for participating churches
  
• February 2, 2027: Online celebration for participating churches

Learn

Register now for free webinars to deepen ministry with children and families. These webinars are designed for formation leaders, caregivers and others who are interested in learning more about helping children to become disciples.

• January 21, 2026, from 12-1:15 p.m.: What is the spirituality of childhood?
• February 10, 2026, from 7-8:15 p.m.: What is intergenerational ministry?
• March 2026: What is intergenerational worship? (Details coming soon.)

CONNECT

Network with formation leaders throughout the diocese to spark your imagination, build relationships and discover new resources.

• February 2026: Register for a lunch-and-learn to connect with peers and contemplate: What is a disciple? We are offering four nearly identical sessions; choose the one for your convocation. Registration closes January 30, 2026.
• October 2-3, 2026: An overnight retreat in Greensboro for formation leaders will create space for prayer, worship and hands-on practice. Details will be announced in mid-2026. For now, mark your calendars!