Contact: April L.

Bogle
(404) 727-1492
Tasha Schroeder
(404) 727-1173

Lilly Endowment Awards $6.3 Million Grant to FTE

to Continue Ministry and Doctoral Fellowship Programs
The Fund for Theological Education will continue to support
excellence and diversity in pastoral ministry and theological scholarship

ATLANTA, October 10, 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.
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• 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.
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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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