KERRVILLE, TX – Schreiner University is pleased to announce its participation as a key partner in the establishment of the Arc of Ministry Center at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, funded through a $10 million grant awarded by Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of its Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative. This collaborative endeavor brings together institutions within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) educational network, including Schreiner University, Austin College, Huston-Tillotson University, the Presbyterian Pan American School, and the Hispanic Youth Leadership Academy.

The Arc of Ministry Center is designed to create a cohesive and integrated pathway of faith formation and leadership development that spans boarding school, undergraduate education, and theological training. Through cohort-based programming and experiential learning opportunities, high school and college students will be invited to explore their spiritual identity, Christian vocation, and leadership potential within their communities. The conceptual framework for this interconnected approach emerged through sustained dialogue among partner institutions. Within this collaborative process, Rev. Dr. Dongwoo Lee, University Minister and faculty member at Schreiner University, provided early conceptual guidance through PC(USA) networks and collaborated extensively in developing the proposal’s theological and educational architecture.

“This new Presbyterian ecosystem reinforces our own institutional mission to prepare students for meaningful work and purposeful lives,” said Dr. Charlie McCormick, President of Schreiner University. “By bringing our unique institutional strengths and programs to this network of educational partners who share our commitment to growing and developing future leaders, Schreiner and her partners will impact students in ways that would be difficult for any of us to accomplish alone.”

In this collaboration, Schreiner University will serve as a significant undergraduate formation partner, strengthening the continuum between secondary education and seminary preparation. Drawing on its longstanding commitment to Christian higher education, the University will support students in discerning vocation, cultivating leadership, and engaging in service that integrates faith and learning.

Lilly Endowment launched the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative in 2021. Since then, it has provided grants totaling more than $700 million to support 163 theological schools in efforts to strengthen their own educational and financial capacities and to assist 61 schools in developing large-scale collaborative endeavors. The Arc of Ministry Center

represents one of the initiative’s most substantial and forward-looking collaborative projects.

Schreiner University looks forward to the opportunities this partnership will create for students, faculty, and participating institutions and is honored to contribute to a shared vision for the future of Christian education and leadership formation.

About Schreiner University

Schreiner University is a premier private university located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Schreiner offers a personalized, integrated education that prepares students for meaningful work and purposeful lives in a changing global society. Guided by the promise to help students “Enter with Hope, Leave with Achievement,” the University serves a diverse student body, fostering intellectual, spiritual, and social growth through comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs. For more information, visit http://www.schreiner.edu.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.

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 and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. 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. For more information, visit lillyendowment.org.