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The CHANGE Initiative

About the CHANGE Initiative

The CHANGE Initiative is a Lilly Endowment Pathways for Tomorrow grant committed to enhancing the sustainability of theological seminaries through shared administrative services. By designing and implementing cost-effective services provided by experts in their fields, the CHANGE Initiative provides seminaries with access to affordable administrative expertise so that seminaries can devote more of their resources to their primary mission of educating leaders for the church and world.

The three-phase grant project includes a research phase with six collaborating seminaries, a design phase that includes the formation of an independent nonprofit service provider and an implementation phase to develop shared administrative services and products. The Initiative’s long-term vision is to add partnering schools across the United States and Canada as the services are implemented. 

David W Boshart

“This grant is the result of a vision that leaders of dozens of ATS institutions have been developing for a number of years. We’re excited to be the principal institution in this project, providing leadership within the wider ATS community to help stand-alone seminaries increase their efficiency and financial sustainability and improve services to students and faculty.”David Boshart, PhD, AMBS President.

Research phase collaborating institutions

Administrative services currently in design

  • Business and Finance Strategic Consulting
  • Financial Aid
  • General Counsel
  • Health Insurance
  • Human Resources
  • IT Security
  • IT Strategic Consulting
  • Title IX

Once implemented, each of these services will be available to seminaries as a single offering or as a bundle.

Who we are

Headshot of Marilyn Harris
Marilyn Harris, MS, SHRM-CP
Director of HR and Title IX Services
Rachel Sefcik, MBA
Director of Financial Aid Services, CHANGE Initiative
Matthew Mills, MBA, CPA
Business and Finance Strategic Consultant, CHANGE Initiative
Ron Ringenberg
Ron Ringenberg, MBA, MS
Grant Administrator, CHANGE Initiative
Jeff Williams
Jeffrey Williams, PhD
Executive Director, CHANGE Initiative

Media coverage of The CHANGE Initiative

Contact us to learn more at CHANGE@ambs.edu.