8/9/2019 Lilly Endowment Awards $6 Million Grant to FTE for Vocations Initiative with Congregations

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Contact: Kerry Traubert

(404) 727-1170

Lilly Endowment Awards $6 Million Grant to FTE

for Vocations Initiative with Congregations

The Fund for Theological Education will lead grassroots

effort encouraging gifted youth to explore Christian ministry

ATLANTA, January 4, 2006 With a $6 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.,

The Fund for Theological Education (FTE) will expand its work with congregations

nationwide as vital partners in identifying and cultivating gifted young candidates for

vocations in Christian ministry.

The Endowment grant will fund Calling Congregations, a regional FTE initiative

involving local churches in grassroots programs to find and support the next generation

of outstanding pastoral leaders for Christian denominations.

We know that congregations are critical to the faith maturation and vocational

discernment of young men and women, said Craig Dykstra, Senior Vice President for

Religion at Lilly Endowment Inc. This grant is an investment in engaging

congregations more deeply in this work. Given FTEs broad expertise, we are confident

this can make a significant contribution to developing future leaders for the church.

Concerns about the need for professional clergy in mainline religious

denominations 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.

FTEs Calling Congregations program will establish a national network of 500

congregations and church-related institutions from four regions across the U.S. by 2009.

-more-

http://www.thefund.org/programs/congregations.phtml

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These congregations will be members of an ecumenical partnership committed

to supporting vocational discernment among their young church members, and the

consideration of ordained ministry in particular. At least one-third of the member

congregations will be from racially and ethnically diverse and rural communities.The initiative will also seek to link church-related organizations such as

denominations, campus ministries and seminaries with churches in the Calling

Congregationsnetwork to enhance vocational discernment programs for youth.

FTE will provide partner congregations with a portfolio of tools to assist young

people with exploring a central question: What will I do with my life in light of my faith?

These include workshops and conferences, national training for adults mentoring youth,

teaching tools, mini-grants for local projects, Web-based resources, youth scholarships

to special events, and up to 40 fellowships each year matching a congregations

financial support toward tuition and living expenses for a young church members first

year of seminary.

The Calling Congregations program will be launched in 2006 with the

establishment of a Midwest region based in Chicago, which will include Northern

Indiana and Indianapolis, and other areas. FTE plans to launch additional regions in

2007 and 2008.

Ministry today has truly become an uncommon calling for youth bombarded withother values in popular culture, said Ann Svennungsen, president of The Fund for

Theological Education. But there are faithful, aware and gifted students who long for

the support of parents, other adults and peers to explore the call to ministry. Without

encouragement, many young people defer, deny or hide their interest in serving the

church. In todays environment, weve learned that potential pastors need

encouragement at an earlier age, for a longer period of time, and from a wider range of

institutions and individuals than ever before.

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.

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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 5,600 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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