As of February 1, 2016, the Lilly Summer Discernment Institute (LSDI) has been dissolved as an independent program. The Ministry & Service internship funding that has been provided through LSDI will now be administered by Sewanee Career Readiness (SCR), but will remain under the guidance of All Saints’ Chapel. Folding the Ministry & Service internship funding into SCR’s online internship funding application will make it easier for students.  Ministry & Service funding will continue to be awarded to Sewanee students who are interested in exploring ordained ministry and other vocations that embrace service as a way of life.

  • The deadline for students to apply for this funding is April 1.
  • The internship funding amount will match all other internship funding: $375/week for up to 8 weeks.
 Ministry & Service Internship Fund Information

History. In 2002, a grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc., provided funding for students to do vocational discernment via retreats and summer internships. Thanks to an endowment that consists almost entirely of estate gifts from William Spencer, C’41, and Barlow Henderson, internship funding for students who are interested in careers in ministry and service will continue indefinitely.

Name Change. “Lilly/LSDI” will now be known as the “Ministry & Service Internship Fund.” LSDI will fold into the University’s internship funding program and cease to be a separate program.

Application Selection Criteria. SCR will advise students about how to apply for Ministry & Service funding, but students are welcome and encouraged to seek the input and advice of the Chapel staff.

Tracks (Ministry, Service). Ministry & Service funding will maintain its Ministry (formerly known as Track 1) and Service (formerly known as Track 2) ratio guideline of 50%-50%. Some applications will be “blended”, so awarding the funding will be at the discretion of the selection committee.

Selection Committee Membership. The Ministry & Service selection committee will consist of the Lay Chaplain, the Assistant Outreach Coordinator, a second staff member from the Chapel, and one faculty member (to be selected by SCR and/or the Lay Chaplain.) The selection committee meets once a year to review internship funding applications and to award funding (in early April.)