Kimberly Daniel kdaniel@fteleaders.org 404.727.

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FTE Board of Trustees Appoints Stephen Lewis as Next President

ATLANTA, June 27, 2011The Fund for Theological Education (FTE) Board of Trustees has named the Rev. Stephen Lewis as the organizations next president, effective October 1, 2011. An accomplished FTE senior officer and manager, Lewis has eight years of program experience at the Fund, guiding teams that advance its mission to identify, support and develop gifted and diverse young leaders for the church and society. Lewis has also played a pivotal role in creating and managing new initiatives to engage congregations, higher education partners, church-related organizations and civic leaders in vocation care practices that call and cultivate outstanding leaders. FTE begins its next vital chapter with a rising leader who embodies the values and strengths of its programs and the innovative spirit of a new generation, said Florida Smith Ellis, chair of the FTE Board of Trustees. Stephen brings proven commitment to transformational leadership, extensive management experience in the business and nonprofit sectors, and a collaborative approach to creating innovative new models to fulfill FTEs mission.
Stephen Lewis FTE President-Elect

Lewis most recently served as FTEs Vice President of Program, with responsibility for leading program strategy

and managing the FTE teams serving fellowships, congregational outreach, alumni relations, development and communications. He joined FTE in 2003 as national director for Calling Congregations, a national initiative to equip local churches and other organizations with practices and resources to nurture vocational discernment in young people and adults. Lewis also directed Project Rising Sun, a leadership program for young pastors from diverse backgrounds.

The roots of my personal and professional calling run deep in this work, said Lewis. I am thankful for the opportunity to continue FTEs long history of support for excellence and diversity in pastoral ministry and theological scholarshipand to explore new ways to serve the leadership development needs of young people and their adult mentors. I invite partners from every sector who care about a sustainable future for the church and for local communities to join us. Lewis, a former banking officer with experience at Moodys Investors Service and Bank of America, was ordained as a Baptist minister in 2003. Prior to joining FTE, he served as a training manager for the Institute for Church Administration & Management in Atlanta, where he focused on developing business and administrative capacities among clergy and lay leaders. He was a teaching assistant for the Black Church Studies Department at Emory Universitys Candler School of Theology while serving as assistant pastor of Trinity Tabernacle Baptist Church in Atlanta. Lewis holds a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University, where he is a member of the Duke Divinity Schools Board of Visitors. He earned his bachelors degree in finance from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Lewis will serve as president-elect until October 1. With his appointment, FTE Interim President Peg Birk will continue to serve FTE as a senior adviser for the organization. Birk, president and chief executive officer of Interim Solutions in Minneapolis, has led management and operations at FTE since September 2010. The Board is extremely grateful for the outstanding commitment, capabilities and care that Peg has contributed over the past year, said Ellis. Her exceptional leadership and her keen insights ensured stable and creative continuity of programs and services, while strengthening and growing the capacities of FTEs staff. The Fund for Theological Education is a national, ecumenical organization dedicated to identifying a new generation of talented, diverse Christian leaders who renew the church and change the world through vocations in pastoral ministry, theological scholarship and community service. Visit www.fteleaders.org for more information. ###

Editors note: There is a photo available for this release at www.fteleaders.org/stephen/lewis