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National Nonprofit Marks Milestone Effort
to Find Next Generation of Church Leaders
ATLANTA, June 2, 2008 – Congregations in most Christian denominations feel a growing need to
attract and retain qualified young clergy to their pulpits. As a generation of Baby Boomer pastors
prepares to retire, interest in congregational ministry is declining among students in North American
theological schools. The result is an ecumenical leadership gap that requires investment and
intervention to maintain quality and ward off mediocrity in the ministerial profession, according to
program officers at The Fund for Theological Education (FTE), an Atlanta-based nonprofit.
FTE seeks to reverse a 20-year decline in the number of clergy under age 35 by attracting and
supporting gifted college, seminary and doctoral students whose talents qualify them for any
profession but whose passions draw them toward the mantle of ministry or theological scholarship.
The Fund also aims to improve diversity on the faculties of North American theological schools.
“Some call Generation Y the most narcissistic generation in recent history, but that’s not what we
see,” said Dr. Trace Haythorn, FTE president. “We see bellwether Millennials motivated by a passion
for service, deep faith and a heightened interest in social issues. A new generation is stepping up to
explore paths of ministry and theological scholarship—but they’re redefining what that means for them
and what they seek in the church and its role in society.”
This month FTE awards more than $1.5 million in fellowships and support to 162 top students from
40 U.S. states and Canada—representing more than 30 denominations—to explore or prepare for
vocations as pastoral ministers or as professors in the theological academy.
Over the past decade, the Fund has awarded $16 million in support to nearly 1,500 students, the
majority of whom have pursued ordained ministry, a church-related vocation or a faculty post teaching
religion and theology.
“This intervention demonstrates that young people answer the call if we offer them support,” said
Haythorn. “But we have to take support to scale to meet the need for the talented, diverse leadership
congregations and campuses need.”
-more-
FTE—page two
FTE Ministry Program Fellowships are awarded to undergraduate students (college juniors and
seniors); entering seminary students nominated by their congregations for awards to match church
support; second-year Master of Divinity students who are nominated by their seminary president or
dean; and recent college graduates who are participants in faith-based volunteer service and are
pursuing a Master of Divinity degree.
FTE Doctoral Program Fellowships are awarded to outstanding doctoral students from
underrepresented racial/ethnic groups who aspire to teach and do research as faculty in theological
schools. More than one-third of theological schools report they do not have a scholar of color on their
faculties. FTE Doctoral and Dissertation Fellowships support talented African-American doctoral
students; the Fund’s North American Doctoral Fellowships assist African-American, Asian-American,
Native American or Hispanic doctoral students. Both initiatives provide stipends for education-related
expenses and networking support to accelerate completion of the doctoral degree and to obtain
teaching positions.
The 2008 FTE Ministry and Doctoral Fellows will attend a national leadership conference, Next
Generation Leaders: Voices and Vocations that Change the World, to be held June 8-15 at Emory
University in Atlanta.
The Fund for Theological Education is a leading ecumenical advocate for excellence and diversity
in Christian ministry and theological scholarship. Since 1954, FTE has awarded nearly 6,000
fellowships in partnership with others committed to the future of quality leadership for the church. For
more information visit www.thefund.org.
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2008 FTE Undergraduate Fellows
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Brittany N. McGraw Bluffton University Church of the Brethren
Sarah M. Moran Regis University Roman Catholic Church
Sara J. Moser Northwestern College United Methodist Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Kaitlin M. Nelson Huron University College
America
Imhotep A. Newsome Howard University Non-denominational
Joel T. Niemann Hastings College Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Christopher L. Owen Marquette University Non-denominational
Koren B. Robins Virginia Wesleyan College United Methodist Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Anna K. Rohde Concordia College
America
Emily E. Rowell University of Virginia Episcopal Church
Kelly E. Ryan Grinnell College United Church of Christ
Anthony J. Sandusky American Baptist College Missionary Baptist Church
Caitlin K. Scott Connecticut College Episcopal Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Karen M. Sease Furman University
America
Nathan S. Sell University of the South - Sewanee Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Scott A. Shaffer Eastern University United Methodist Church
Sarah L. Sheehan Furman University Southern Baptist Church
Hannah M. Sherrod Maryville College Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Vic D. Short Hastings College Roman Catholic Church
Amy L. Showalter Goshen College Mennonite Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Timothy D. Siburg Pacific Lutheran University
America
Nathan Tramp Hastings College Episcopal Church
Joseph S. Vuletich Regis University Roman Catholic Church
Kristen L. Walling American University Christian Church (DOC)
Megan N. Worthman Hastings College United Church of Christ
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2008 FTE Congregational Fellows
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Diane M. Kenaston Candler School of Theology United Methodist Church
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2008 FTE Ministry Fellows
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2008 FTE Volunteers Exploring Vocation Fellows
Lutheran Theology
Lutheran Volunteer Evangelical Lutheran
Jason S. Glombicki Seminary at
Corps Church in America
Philadelphia
Jesuit School of
Jesuit Volunteer Corps: Roman Catholic
Hung N. Pham Theology at
Southwest Church
Berkeley
Lutheran School of
Lutheran Volunteer Evangelical Lutheran
Rory S. Phillips Theology at
Corps Church in America
Chicago
McCormick
PCUSA Young Adult Presbyterian Church
Caroline H. Underwood Theological
Volunteer Program (U.S.A.)
Seminary
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2008 FTE Doctoral Fellows
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2008 FTE North American Doctoral Fellows
Garrett-Evangelical Theological
Manuel Villalobos-Mendoza New Testament
Seminary
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2008 FTE Doctoral Renewal Fellowships
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2008 FTE Dissertation Fellows
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