User:Kyandoh

What is FTE?

For a half-century, The Fund for Theological Education (FTE) has been a nonprofit, ecumenical resource for fellowships and programs supporting future pastors and theological educators in North America.

FTE was created out of this concern that best and brightest were going into medicine, law, business and that the ministry might no longer attract gifted students. In a 2008 interview with USA Today, FTE President The Rev. Trace Haythorn described the organization's mission as "Bright, gifted young people have many choices...in a popular culture that tends to glorify self-gain and lucrative professions, offering students the space and financial support to think about the relationship between faith and vocation is critical."

History

FTE began in 1954 as a Protestant organization seeking to attract gifted young men, most of whom attended theological schools in the Northeast. It was funded by John D. Rockefeller [[1]] and Rockefeller Brothers Fund. [[2]] Early Trustees included Harvard President Nathan Pusey [[3]] and Morehouse College President Benjamin E. Mays. [[4]]

Soon FTE began to diversify. In 1960, it began its first program directed specifically to underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, and in the 1970s it expanded these initiatives significantly. After 1970, women accounted for an increasingly larger percentage of recipients. Today young women constitute more than half of FTE’s Fellows. FTE has also diversified denominationally. Early recipients were almost all members of mainline Protestant denominations. Although still heavily Protestant, FTE Fellows represent more than 30 different denominations, include evangelical, nondenominational, Orthodox, and Roman Catholic college and seminary students from 40 U.S. states and Canada.

In the late 90’s, funding by Lilly Endowment Inc. [[5]] led to revitalization and renaissance of programs for students exploring pastoral ministry and theological scholarship. Former Association of Theological Schools Executive Director Jim Waits led FTE in 90s and president now is Rev. Dr. Trace Haythorn, former director of Values and Vocation program at Hastings College. In recent years, FTE has expanded its programs but still has fundamental goal of strengthening pastoral ministry in North America and addressing need of local churches to find capable leaders who have graduate degrees in their field.

Leadership Gap and Diversity Gap Issues

FTE addresses two serious challenges to congregations’ needs for qualified, gifted candidates. Only half of Master of Divinity [[6]] students have interest in serving a congregation. Interest in congregational ministry seems to be on the decline. Fewer than 7 percent of clergy in most denominations are under age 35, while a wave of Baby Boomer ministers are approaching retirement.

On diversity side, fewer than 10 percent of faculty currently teaching religion and theology in higher education are non-Caucasian, according to American Academy of Religion [[7]], and about one-third of theological schools in North America report they do not have a scholar of color on their faculty.

Fellowships & Programs

FTE has a range of Fellowships and Programs [8] including Ministry Program Fellowships provide both financial help and a peer support network during a student's junior or senior year of college. More than 90 percent of students receiving FTE Ministry Program Fellowships between 1998-2008 are now serving congregations or church-related organizations.

Doctoral Program Fellowships given to both African-American doctoral students preparing for careers in theological education and scholarly research and to talented students from other racial and ethnic groups traditionally underrepresented in graduate programs. 79 percent of FTE Doctoral Fellows who have been selected since 1998 are teaching religion and theology in higher education.

Calling Congregations Initiative equips individual congregations to nurture gifted young people for ministry. Congregations receive support and resources for nurturing vocational discernment; students are nominated for fellowships by their congregations.

Project Rising Sun is a two-year leadership program for young pastors of color. This leadership academy includes retreats, leadership network, coaches, assessments, access to capacity building funds as a peer community, guided reading and reflection.

Notable FTE Fellows

FTE Fellows include leaders in congregations, theological schools and the nonprofit sector. The nearly 6,000 Fellows include Walter Brueggemann [[9]], Frederick Buechner [[10]], Katie Cannon, James Forbes [[11]], Robert Franklin Jr.[[12]], Peter Gomes [[13]], Jacquelyn Grant [[14]], William Gray [[15]] Mark Hanson [[16]], Dwight Hopkins [[17]], Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz [[18]], L. Greg Jones, John Kuykendall, Gary Simpson, Barbara Brown Taylor [[19]], Linda Thomas, Emilie Townes, Jeremiah Wright [[20]] and many others.

References

Austin, Liz: "Recruitment of young clergy poses challenge," Contra Costa Times, June 22, 2006 Davis, Mark: "Churches hunger for young clergy," Atlanta Journal-Constitution, August 28, 2006 Gonzales, David: "Finding, and Refining, a Spiritual Calling," New York Times, May 19, 2008 [21] Laney, James: "Atlantans need to help new generation help others," Monday, March 31, 2008 Turner, Dorie: "Group of seminarians and supporters are intent on need for more young church leaders", USA Today, June 13, 2008 Van Biema, David: "Rural churches grapple with a Pastor exodus," TIME Magazine, Jan. 29, 2009 [22]

Category:Organizations based in Atlanta