IPHC The Bishop's Office

Fund Invites Congregations Nationwide to Apply for Grants

Awards aim to help congregations cultivate call to Christian ministry among gifted youth

ATLANTA, July 2007 – To help congregations identify and nurture the next generation of leaders for the church, The Fund for Theological Education (FTE) is offering competitive grants ranging from $5,000 to $12,000 for grassroots programs that cultivate a sense of Christian vocation and the call to ministry among youth.

Aimed at improving the capacity of congregations to do this work, the grants awarded will support projects up to 18 months in duration. Church-related organizations are also eligible to apply if their project is focused on building a ‘culture of call’ within congregations. FTE will award $200,000 in grants over three years, beginning in 2007. Application forms are available at www.TheFund.org.

The grants are awarded through the Fund’s Calling Congregations initiative, a national, ecumenical effort to encourage and equip churches to play a leading role in the vocational discernment of young men and women—and to increase the number of gifted young people considering ordained ministry as a profession. Lilly Endowment Inc. funds the initiative.

“These grants offer seed money for congregations with innovative ideas that inspire a new generation to ask the question, ‘What will I do with my life in light of my faith?,’” said Melissa Wiginton, FTE vice president for Ministry Programs and Planning. “The goal is to spark connections between congregational leaders and the youth in their midst, and between congregations who care about proactive leadership development for the church.”

Concerns about the pipeline of talented clergy have increased as large numbers of “baby boomer” pastors prepare to retire and local congregations seek qualified ministerial candidates. A 2006 study by the Lewis Center for Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary shows a significant 20-year decline in clergy under age 35 across denominations, both Protestant and Catholic.

Churches that have received FTE Calling Congregations grants include Calvary Lutheran Church in Bemidji, Minn. for a ‘life and leadership’ summer internship program; Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas for a theological discernment program for high school students; First African Presbyterian Church in Lithonia, Ga. to expand congregation-based projects that build awareness of the ministry vocation’s importance; and Norfolk United Methodist Church in Norfolk, Va., for engaging youth throughout its denominational conference in vocational exploration and discernment projects.

FTE’s Calling Congregations program seeks to establish a national network of 500 congregational and church-related partners by 2009. In addition to grants for congregations, the Fund offers workshops and conferences, national training for adults mentoring youth, teaching tools, Web-based resources and up to 40 fellowships each year matching a congregation’s financial support toward tuition and living expenses for a young church member’s first year of seminary.

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. For more information about FTE, visit www.thefund.org.

This information is provided as a courtesy to our visitors. The Fund for Theological Education (FTE) is not associated with IPHC Ministries in any way. IPHC Ministries makes no warranty, either express or implied, regarding the suitability of this information for our visitor's use.

Last update on 1/28/2008
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Fund Invites Congregations Nationwide to Apply for Grants

Awards aim to help congregations cultivate call to Christian ministry among gifted youth

ATLANTA, July 2007 – To help congregations identify and nurture the next generation of leaders for the church, The Fund for Theological Education (FTE) is offering competitive grants ranging from $5,000 to $12,000 for grassroots programs that cultivate a sense of Christian vocation and the call to ministry among youth.

Aimed at improving the capacity of congregations to do this work, the grants awarded will support projects up to 18 months in duration. Church-related organizations are also eligible to apply if their project is focused on building a ‘culture of call’ within congregations. FTE will award $200,000 in grants over three years, beginning in 2007. Application forms are available at www.TheFund.org.

The grants are awarded through the Fund’s Calling Congregations initiative, a national, ecumenical effort to encourage and equip churches to play a leading role in the vocational discernment of young men and women—and to increase the number of gifted young people considering ordained ministry as a profession. Lilly Endowment Inc. funds the initiative.

“These grants offer seed money for congregations with innovative ideas that inspire a new generation to ask the question, ‘What will I do with my life in light of my faith?,’” said Melissa Wiginton, FTE vice president for Ministry Programs and Planning. “The goal is to spark connections between congregational leaders and the youth in their midst, and between congregations who care about proactive leadership development for the church.”

Concerns about the pipeline of talented clergy have increased as large numbers of “baby boomer” pastors prepare to retire and local congregations seek qualified ministerial candidates. A 2006 study by the Lewis Center for Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary shows a significant 20-year decline in clergy under age 35 across denominations, both Protestant and Catholic.

Churches that have received FTE Calling Congregations grants include Calvary Lutheran Church in Bemidji, Minn. for a ‘life and leadership’ summer internship program; Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas for a theological discernment program for high school students; First African Presbyterian Church in Lithonia, Ga. to expand congregation-based projects that build awareness of the ministry vocation’s importance; and Norfolk United Methodist Church in Norfolk, Va., for engaging youth throughout its denominational conference in vocational exploration and discernment projects.

FTE’s Calling Congregations program seeks to establish a national network of 500 congregational and church-related partners by 2009. In addition to grants for congregations, the Fund offers workshops and conferences, national training for adults mentoring youth, teaching tools, Web-based resources and up to 40 fellowships each year matching a congregation’s financial support toward tuition and living expenses for a young church member’s first year of seminary.

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. For more information about FTE, visit www.thefund.org.

This information is provided as a courtesy to our visitors. The Fund for Theological Education (FTE) is not associated with IPHC Ministries in any way. IPHC Ministries makes no warranty, either express or implied, regarding the suitability of this information for our visitor's use.