Give
In addition to registration fees collected during each spring gathering, the Institute’s year-round administration, planning, and development of resources for the wider church also depends on the generosity of donors.
Gifts may be used to support several areas, among them:
Institute of Liturgical Studies Endowment
Established in 1995, the Institute’s endowment helps ensure its long-term stability by reducing dependence on registration fees, providing reduced registration for retired persons, and by generating support for offerings such as Truemper Concert performances.
The Peter J. L. Perella Scholarship Fund
In 2014, the Institute’s student scholarship fund was named in honor, and later, in memory of the Rev. Peter J. L. Perella. Peter contributed to the Institute as a member of its advisory council and served the wider church as director of worship formation and liturgical resources of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. By waiving registration fees for all full-time students regardless of year or degree program, this scholarship supports students and seminarians who are preparing for worship-related vocations and wish to attend the Institute while enrolled as full-time students. Peter first attended the Institute as a recipient of this scholarship, and gifts to this fund allow the Institute to continue its support of future church leaders.
Commissioning Fund
In addition to the Christus Rex Hymn Commission Series, the Institute annually commissions writers, musicians, and artists to help develop resources that serve the church’s liturgy and song in ever-changing contexts. Many resources first “field tested” at the Institute can be found in worship books such as Evangelical Lutheran Worship and Lutheran Service Book. Several songs by Anne Krentz Organ first commissioned for “Table of Thanksgiving: How Eucharist Forms Us” (2019) were included in All Creation Sings.
General Operating Fund
Gifts may also be directed to the Institute’s general operating fund which supports the day-to-day and year-round administration of the Institute such as printing and postage costs, catering and banquet expenses, honoraria for presenters, and more.
Ways to Give
You are invited to make a tax-deductible contribution to the Institute of Liturgical Studies in the following ways:
To give electronically, we recommend the following steps:
Click here for more detailed instructions with screenshots.
- Visit give.valpo.edu
- Enter a gift amount under “Choose gift amount.”
- Under “Choose the area you are most passionate about,” click “Valparaiso University Designation Options.”
- A separate box will pop up. Scroll all the way to the bottom to select “Other”. Once selected, click “Continue.”
- An open field will populate where you can indicate your gift is for “Institute of Liturgical Studies.” To aid in the Institute becoming fully self-sustaining, we encourage gifts to be made to “Institute of Liturgical Studies: Endowment.” If you’d like to give to another area, you can indicate that by specifying in this field.
- Complete the remaining fields to process your gift. You can also use the “Tribute” and “Additional Comments” section at the bottom of the form to give in honor or memory or provide additional information.
Checks payable to Valparaiso University with “ILS Endowment” or the fund of your choice, written in the memo line, may be sent directly to:
Valparaiso University Institute of Liturgical Studies
1600 Chapel Drive
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Questions about giving may be directed to Institute Executive Director, James Wetzstein.