February 2026

Faith and Justice Awarded Key Role in $5M Lilly Endowment Storytelling Grant

The Center for Faith and Justice is honored to serve as a key partner in a collaborative project awarded a $5 million grant from the Lilly Endowment. As part of the National Faith Storytelling Initiative, this effort builds on a theological framework we have cultivated for many years, centered on the pluriformity of the Gospel endings, to launch FIRE: Multivocal Expressions of Faith.

FIRE seeks to challenge one-dimensional narratives of the spiritual life by amplifying diverse and vibrant expressions of faith that reflect the fullness of the Good News. In a culture where Christianity is often portrayed through narrow or exclusionary lenses, FIRE reclaims a richer story illuminating the plurality of gospel witness through multimedia storytelling that connects, inspires, and transforms.

At the heart of FIRE is a fresh engagement with the four gospel endings as living metaphors for the life of faith: John’s call to Follow, Matthew’s invitation to Invite, Luke’s reminder to Remain, and Mark’s courage to Embrace. Together, these four endings shape our vision for four-dimensional storytelling, supporting a creative ecosystem that reflects the vibrancy, diversity, and theological depth of Christian life in all its forms.

We are especially grateful to the Riverside Church in the City of New York, a historic congregation long at the forefront of progressive reform in American Christianity and a vital partner of the Center for Faith and Justice in recent years.

As Senior Minister Rev. Adriene Thorne reflects, “I am delighted to deepen the powerful connection between Riverside Church and the Center for Faith and Justice. Through this partnership, we are not only sharing stories of Christian vitality and hope, we are shaping a public witness rooted in the courageous love and justice of Jesus. In these treacherous times, I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from one another and to tell another Christian story – one that connects our communities across distance, grounded in a shared commitment to faith that expands the narrative.”

Community Reflections on Justice and Diaspora through Borders & Belonging

We've begun the first month of our communal conversations on Borders and Belonging by Pádraig Ó Tuama and Glenn Jordan. Centered on the biblical story of Ruth, this text takes a deep dive into how this ancient book remains relevant to modern-day conflicts and conversations.

We're moving slowly this spring, taking two chapters at a time and soaking in the recordings from our winter gathering. We also looked at this month's children's book, Still Dreaming, which tells the story of Mexican repatriation through the eyes of a child. In the comments, participants looked back at their family trajectories, considered generational harm, and longed for community practices for transforming conflict and hatred.

Join Us for March: Justice as Lovingkindness

• Watch the Friday event remarks from Padraig, offered at our Winter Gathering.
• Read on your own timeline and join the community conversation.
• Stream the Live Conversations twice a month to hear what the book is stirring in Peter, Sophie, and special guests, including the author of Love is Still Winning in March.
• Each month’s content includes book excerpts from Borders and Belonging, videos, readings, and a liturgy.
• New this year! A meaningful children’s book that will help us grow in compassion at any age.

→ Join today as an individual or become a church partner.

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