December 2, 2024
Contact: Judith Cebula
317.916.7327 | cebulaj@lei.org
Lilly Endowment elects Witvliet to its board of directors
INDIANAPOLIS –Lilly Endowment Inc. has elected Dr. John D. Witvliet to serve on its board of directors, effective December 1, 2024. Witvliet is the founding director of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (CICW) and professor of worship, theology and congregational and ministry studies at Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary. Witvliet holds a master’s degree in theology from Calvin Theological Seminary, a master’s degree in music from the University of Illinois, and a doctorate in liturgical studies and theology from the University of Notre Dame.
A teacher, scholar, public speaker, administrator, editor, theologian, and musician, Witvliet has led CICW since 1997. During this time, CICW has sponsored more than 150 ecumenical conferences and seminars, published 140 academic and resource publications and awarded more than 1,250 grants, including grants both to enhance worship practices in congregations from a wide range of denominations and to support teacher-scholars who serve them. Considered as one of the country’s leading scholars and teachers on the history, theology and practice of Christian worship, Witvliet is the recipient of several awards including those from the National Association of Pastoral Musicians and the Hampton Ministers Conference. He is also a contributing editor at Comment, serves on the board of trustees of Fuller Theological Seminary, has lectured internationally in Hong Kong, Nepal, Mexico, Northern Ireland, England, and the Netherlands, and has served as collaborating editor for publication series with Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Cascade Books, Alban Institute, and GIA Publications.
“Lilly Endowment will benefit greatly from John’s service on our board of directors,” said N. Clay Robbins, the Endowment’s chairman and CEO. “With his extraordinary intellect, strong commitment to his faith and deep understanding of the strengths, challenges and aspirations of congregations throughout our country, he will add immeasurably to the Endowment’s grantmaking in all our areas of interest and especially in religion. We are most pleased that he has agreed to join the Endowment’s board.”
About Lilly Endowment
Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. Although the Endowment maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana, it also funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion. A principal aim of the Endowment’s religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment also seeks to foster public understanding about religion and lift up in fair, accurate and balanced ways the roles that people of all faiths and diverse religious communities play in the United State and around the globe.