(RNS) — Craig Dykstra, a longtime philanthropy executive who, through his grant-making, helped nurture theologically grounded Christian congregations and strong pastoral leaders, died after a long illness. He was 78.
For nearly a quarter-century, from 1989 to 2012, Dykstra served as vice president of religion at the Lilly Endowment in Indianapolis, a significant position responsible for overseeing the nation’s largest grant-making program for religious inquiry and support of faith-based institutions. He later served as a research professor of practical theology at Duke Divinity School, from which he retired in 2020.
At a time when mainline denominations were declining, Dykstra helped Christian leaders design grant programs to strengthen and root congregations in age-old congregational Christian practices, such as hospitality, forgiveness, and singing. He wanted to reward pastoral excellence and to cultivate Christian vocations among young people.
In all, he was responsible for shepherding 6,321 Lilly Endowment grants to congregations, denominations and divinity schools. Among the most notable were grants supporting the creation of summer youth academies for high school students exploring a Christian vocation and a sabbatical program to help pastors take time off for theological reflection and renewal.
“He believed the church provides a community of practice where we engage together intergenerationally and across centuries and cultures in pract …