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Media Contact: Kerry Traubert(404) 727-1170ktraubert@thefund.org

Local Congregations Spark Search for Future LeadersWith Grassroots Vocation Initiatives

Cultures of Call grants help churches invest in the next generation of pastorsat a critical time for nurturing vocations

ATLANTA, January 19, 2010 More local congregations across the country are findinginnovative ways to tap the future leaders the church needs with help from Cultures of Call grantsfrom The Fund for Theological Education (FTE).

FTE is awarding nearly $50,000 to five initiatives selected from proposals nationwide. Theprograms, to be implemented over the next 18 months, represent congregations in six differentdenominations. The investment is part of an ecumenical Calling Congregations initiativedesigned by FTE to equip churches and church-related organizations to play active roles infostering vocational discernment among young men and womenand to support thoseconsidering pastoral ministry as a profession.

Congregations across North America are seeking new ways of cultivating and calling talentedyoung leaders for the future as fewer students entering theological schools today do so with theaim of one day serving a local congregation as a pastor.

With these awards, FTE reaches a milestone of $400,000 in Cultures of Call grants sincelaunching the program with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. in 2007. The Fund invites

congregations and other groups to submit letters of intent for the next grant cycle byFebruary 2, 2010.

Congregations are recognizing that the ability to renew quality church leadership acrossgenerations requires a culture of call that pays attention to the calling of each of its members,especially young people, said Jim Goodmann, FTE Calling Congregations Regional Directorand Grant Program Administrator. That commitment to calling forth talented leadership for thefuture church is at the heart of these efforts. Grants are opportunities to engage the leadershipof congregations as communities of faith, in company with their pastors. Congregations thatpractice vocation care as a norm of their life together cant help but have a significant impact onthe future of the church.

The 2010 FTE Cultures of Call grant recipients are:

Bethlehem Baptist Church, Alexandria, Va.$10,000 forSomebodys Calling MyName, a project that creates a space to assist teens and young adults with discerningGods call in their lives through retreats, contemplative practices and shared gatheringswith ministry leaders.

Bridge Street African Methodist Episcopal Church, Brooklyn, N.Y.$10,000 forEquipping the Body for Service, enabling an intergenerational exploration of vocations

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in an environment where stories of call, questions and conversation about vocation areshared, along with opportunities for study and reflection.

Church of All Nations (Presbyterian Church USA), Minneapolis, Minn.$10,000 forDiscerning Vocations Together, which integrates a Parish Resident Internship programwith congregational life, creating new opportunities for congregation members andresident interns to discern vocations together through forums, group meetings and

community service. The Cornelius Corps, New Community Church (The Church of the Savior),

Washington, D.C. $ 7,500 forGods Call on Your Life, which will engage ValeUnited Methodist Church in Oakton, Va. and Myers Park Presbyterian Church inCharlotte, N.C. in seasons of teaching on dimensions of Gods call and will recruit andtrain teams to establish cultures of call within their congregations.

Wellesley Congregational Church (United Church of Christ), Wellesley, Mass.,$10,000 forGrowing in Faith Together (GIFT), to foster an intentional approach to faithformation and vocational discernment for youth and adults together. GIFT will offer a 20-week program for adults that runs parallel to the churchs ninth-grade confirmation class,with intersections in small groups for sharing prayer, conversation and learning regarding

Christian practices, beliefs and discernment of gifts and Gods call.

Calling Congregations seeks to establish a national network of 500 congregational and church-related partners committed to the cause of raising future pastoral leaders. It offers regionalworkshops; a national conference; teaching tools; Web-based resources and up to 40fellowships annually which match a congregations financial support toward tuition andexpenses for a young church members first year of seminary. Formore information aboutCultures of Call grants, visit www.thefund.org/programs/calling orwww.thefund.org/programs/congregations_map to see what previous grant recipients are doing.

The Fund for Theological Education supports the next generation of leaders among pastors andtheological educators, providing more than $1.5 million annually in fellowships and a network of

support to gifted young people from all denominations and racial/ethnic backgrounds. For moreinformation, visit www.thefund.org.

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