8/9/2019 The Fund for Theological Education Appoints Kim Hearn Regional Director for Calling Congregations

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

Kim Hearn

The Fund for Theological Education AppointsKim Hearn Regional Director for Calling Congregations

Candler and Wisconsin alumna to leadprograms calling new generation to ministry

ATLANTA, April 21, 2009 The Fund for Theological Education (FTE) has named Kim

Hearn to the post of Regional Director for its Calling Congregations initiative, with lead

responsibility for the Southeast Region of the U.S.

Calling Congregations is a national, ecumenical movement to equip congregations and

church-related organizations to play a leading role in the vocational discernment of young men and

women, and to increase the number of gifted young people considering pastoral ministry as a

profession. In her leadership role, Hearn will work with congregations and other groups throughout

the Southeast. FTEs Calling Congregations initiative, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc., seeks to

establish a national network of 500 congregational and church-related partners who are actively

engaged in developing future leaders for the church. The initiative offers regional workshops, a

national conference, teaching tools, Web-based resources and fellowships which match a

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

year of seminary.

Hearn joined the Fund in 2006 after graduating from Emory Universitys Candler School of

Theology, where she earned a Master of Divinity degree. She also holds a Master of Theology

degree from Emory University with a concentration in ethics and serves on an interdisciplinary

grant team at Emory that is exploring pastoral perspectives on genetic testing.

While in seminary, Hearn participated in the National Capitol Semester for Seminarians

program and as an intern for The National Council for Adoption in Washington, D.C. and for the

Center for Ethics at Emory. Prior to pursuing a theological education, Hearn served in managerial

roles for Verizon Wireless. Among other civic commitments, she is a volunteer for the Juvenile

Diabetes Research Foundation. A native of Sheboygan, Wis., Hearn holds a bachelors degree in

sociology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

The work of inspiring a new generation of leaders requires role models who bring intellect

8/9/2019 The Fund for Theological Education Appoints Kim Hearn Regional Director for Calling Congregations

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and compassion in service to the church, said Rev. Stephen Lewis, director of FTEs Calling

Congregations initiative. Kim Hearn brings both these gifts and an exemplary commitment to higher

education, ethics and congregational life in service to the mission of nurturing future church leaders.

FTE is a leading ecumenical advocate for excellence and diversity in pastoral ministry and

theological scholarship. It supports the next generation of leaders among pastors and scholars,annually providing more than $1.5 million in fellowships and support to gifted young people from all

denominations and racial/ethnic backgrounds. For more information, visit www.thefund.org.

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