Contact: Kerry Traubert

(404) 727-1170
Fund Awards $1.2 Million to
Next Generation Of Pastors and Scholars

Fellowships support gifted youth pursuing ministry and teaching

ATLANTA, June 14, 2007 –To improve the supply, quality and diversity of young candidates for
ministry and theological scholarship, The Fund for Theological Education has awarded $1.2 million in
fellowships and support to 169 exceptional students from across the country.
The 2007 FTE Fellowships help fill the pipeline of young talent for pastoral leadership and
theological faculty positions. Recent studies show a significant decline across most Christian
denominations in the number of clergy under age 35, as well as limited interest among seminary
students in answering the call to serve local churches. Today, only about half of seminary students
plan to be ordained, and fewer still—about one-third—plan to lead a congregation. Diversity in the
theological academy is also a concern; one-third of theological schools and seminaries in North
America report that they do not have a person of color on their faculties.
FTE Fellowships provide financial assistance and a network of support to gifted students from
diverse racial/ethnic, denominational and geographic backgrounds. For the first time, FTE is awarding
Volunteers Exploring Vocation Fellowships to participants in national faith-based volunteer
organizations.
“The church needs talented and diverse leaders more than ever,” said Melissa Wiginton, vice
president for Ministry Programs and Planning. “We are impressed by the breadth and depth of our
2007 FTE Fellows. These outstanding young leaders bring energy and idealism that will benefit the
church and the world.”
FTE has awarded fellowships to 119 gifted undergraduate and seminary students:
Undergraduate Fellows (50 college juniors and seniors) receive a $2,000 award for educational
expenses or an experience related to the exploration of ministry.
Congregational Fellows (40 entering Master of Divinity students) receive a $2,000 to $5,000
award to match, dollar for dollar, support from their congregation for tuition and expenses.

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Ministry Fellows (20 second-year Master of Divinity students) are awarded $10,000 for
educational expenses and to fund a self-designed summer project to enrich their formation as
ministerial leaders.
Volunteers Exploring Vocation Fellows (nine recent college graduates who are participants in
faith-based volunteer service organizations) are awarded $2,500 to pursue a Master of Divinity
degree.
Undergraduate and seminary students were nominated for the fellowship awards by professors,
pastors, and seminary deans or presidents. They attend the FTE Conference on Excellence in
Ministry June 20-24 at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill., where they meet
with peers, theologians, pastors and other church leaders. Ministry Fellows also attend a
Congregational Leadership Intensive prior to the conference.
FTE also has awarded fellowships to 50 outstanding doctoral students from underrepresented
racial/ethnic groups who aspire to teach and do research as faculty in theological schools:
Doctoral Fellows (26 African-American doctoral students). This year, nine students will receive a
stipend of up to $18,000, renewable for a second year. In addition, 17 FTE Doctoral Fellows will
receive renewal and supplemental grants.
Dissertation Fellows (nine African-American doctoral students at the final stage of their
dissertations) receive a stipend of up to $18,000. Doctoral and Dissertation Fellows attended the FTE
Doctoral Conference held June 1-3 at Duke University Divinity School in Durham, N.C., and receive
other professional development opportunities.
North American Doctoral Fellows (15 African-American, Asian-American, Native American or
Hispanic doctoral students) receive a stipend ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 and networking support
to help them in their doctoral work.
“We believe the increasing demands on doctoral students in higher education today warrant
increased support to help them succeed,” said Dr. Sharon Watson Fluker, FTE vice president for
Doctoral Programs and Administration. “These awards raise our investment in a new generation of
diverse scholars for the academy.”
The Fund for Theological Education is a leading ecumenical advocate for excellence and diversity
in Christian ministry and theological scholarship. Since 1954, FTE has awarded nearly 6,000
fellowships in partnership with others committed to creating a pipeline of quality leadership for the
church and the academy. The Fund is also a resource for educational and faith communities, offering
programs that encourage highly capable candidates to explore vocations in ministry and teaching. For
more information about FTE and a list of its 2007 fellowship recipients visit www.thefund.org.
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