NWC receives NetVUE grant to support women in ministry initiatives

Northwestern College will develop new initiatives to support and equip women who are exploring future leadership roles in Christian churches, thanks to a $47,113 Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE) grant from the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC).

The grant is part of NetVUE’s Fostering Leadership for Communities of Faith program and is made possible through generous financial support to the CIC from Lilly Endowment Inc. It will provide two years of funding for initiatives that include a mentorship program for Northwestern’s female students who are discerning a call to ministry and an annual conference on the topic. Northwestern’s grant proposal was developed by Dr. Cambria Kaltwasser, associate professor of biblical and theological studies, and Dr. Jeremy Williams, assistant professor of biblical and theological studies.

“We have so many women students who are gifted in biblical interpretation and articulating the gospel and have all the different skills for ministry, but they often can’t imagine themselves as spiritual leaders in the church because they’ve never seen women in ministry or heard a woman preach,” says Kaltwasser. “This grant will provide opportunities for them to connect with women in ministry in our area and will bring in scholars who can illuminate what Scripture says about women in ministry, so they can imagine themselves in that role.”

Williams adds, “Many students may not have heard a biblically based, theologically grounded argument for women in ministry. We want to be able to present that and show that we are deeply committed to Scripture and to women in ministry.”

Kaltwasser and Williams are already in the process of developing partnerships with local congregations and pastors who want to come alongside the women who will be in Northwestern’s cohort. They are also planning to bring in nationally renowned scholars for the program’s first conference during the 2026–27 school year.

“We want to champion women who are discerning a call and say, ‘We recognize your gifts, and we’re here to support you and help you navigate the questions that arise as you pursue that calling,’” says Kaltwasser.

NetVUE consists of more than 300 independent colleges and universities committed to fostering exploration of vocation in their campus communities. Northwestern was a founding member of NetVUE when it was established in 2009.

The Council of Independent Colleges is an association of more than 700 nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils and higher education affiliates.