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The Fund for Theological Education will continue to support excellence and diversity in pastoral ministry and theological scholarship

Contact: April L. Bogle
(404) 727-1492
Tasha Schroeder
(404) 727-1173

ATLANTA, October 12, 2006 - Lilly Endowment Inc. has awarded a $6.3 million, three-year grant to The Fund for Theological Education (FTE) to continue fellowship programs that identify and encourage gifted candidates under the age of 35 for Christian ministry and doctoral study.

"We recognize the need to increase the number of qualified youth choosing ministry as a vocation and to expand the diversity of students pursuing advanced degrees in religion and theology," said Craig Dykstra, Senior Vice President for Religion at the Endowment. "This grant is an investment in gifted young men and women from diverse backgrounds who want to explore and respond to God's calling in their lives. Given FTE's broad expertise, we are confident this can make a significant contribution to developing future leaders for the church."

FTE offers fellowships and a network of support to approximately 40 doctoral-level students and 110 seminary and undergraduate students each year who are exploring or preparing for ministry. The new grant will fund:
* Doctoral Fellows: African-American doctoral students receive a stipend of up to $18,000, renewable for an additional year. They attend FTE's Doctoral Fellows Conference and receive other professional development opportunities.

* Dissertation Fellows: African-American doctoral students at the final writing stage of their dissertations receive a stipend of up to $18,000. They attend the FTE Doctoral Fellows Conference and receive other professional development opportunities.
* Ministry Fellows: Second-year Master of Divinity students nominated by their seminary deans or presidents are awarded $10,000 for tuition and living expenses and to fund a self-designed summer project to enrich their formation for ministry. They also attend FTE's Excellence in Ministry Conference. Twenty awards will be made each year.
* Undergraduate Fellows: College juniors or seniors nominated by faculty, administrators, campus ministers or parish pastors receive a $2,000 award for educational expenses or a special experience related to ministry. They also attend FTE's Excellence in Ministry Conference. Fifty awards will be made each year.

"Ministry today has truly become an uncommon calling for youth bombarded with other values in popular culture," said Rev. Ann Svennungsen, president of The Fund for Theological Education. "But there are faithful, bright and gifted students who, with encouragement and financial support, see the goodness of pursuing ministry or scholarship as their life's work - and recognize the importance of this work for serving the common good. We are grateful to Lilly Endowment for its vision in supporting the next generation of pastors and scholars."

FTE also awards Fellowships to 40 students entering the Master of Divinity program each year through its Calling Congregations Initiative, which is funded by a separate Endowment grant. In addition, FTE awards 12 stipends each year through its North American Doctoral Fellows program to African-American, Asian American, Native American or Hispanic doctoral students who are preparing to teach in theological schools. This program is funded by the National Council of Churches and a variety of foundations and private donors.

Concerns about the need for professional clergy have been growing for some time as large numbers of "baby boomer" pastors prepare to retire and local congregations seek qualified young ministerial candidates. Statistics by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate clergy vacancies rank among the highest for professions requiring an advanced degree, with many denominations reporting significantly lower numbers of clergy under age 35. For example, a study recently conducted by Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., found that ministers under 35 comprise only about 5 percent of the supply of pastors in the United Methodist Church.

The Fund for Theological Education is a leading national advocate for excellence and diversity in Christian ministry and theological scholarship. It supports the next generation of leaders among pastors and scholars, annually providing $1.2 million in fellowships and a network of support for gifted young people from all denominations and racial/ethnic backgrounds.

FTE is also a resource for educational and faith communities, offering programs that encourage high-quality candidates to explore vocations in ministry and teaching. Since 1954, the Atlanta-based organization has awarded more than 5,800 fellowships in partnership with others committed to the future of quality leadership for the church. More information about FTE is available on the Web at www.thefund.org.

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