Fund for Theological Education
Encyclopedia
The Fund for Theological Education (FTE) is a nonprofit, ecumenical resource for fellowships and programs supporting future pastors, volunteers, and theological scholars in North America. FTE is primarily funded by The Lilly Endowment
and is headquartered on the ground floor of the Luce Center near the campus of Emory University in Atlanta, GA.
and Rockefeller Brothers Fund
. Early Trustees included Harvard President Nathan Pusey and Morehouse College President Benjamin E. Mays.
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. led to revitalization and renaissance of programs for students exploring pastoral ministry and theological scholarship. 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.
On the evening of October 6, 2011 FTE will host an inauguration ceremony for Rev. Stephen Lewis who will become the fourth president to take the helm since the restructuring of FTE in the late 1990's.
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
, and about one-third of theological schools in North America report they do not have a scholar of color on their faculty.
, Frederick Buechner
, Katie Cannon, James A. Forbes
, Robert Franklin Jr. Peter Gomes, Jacquelyn Grant, William Gray, John R. Gunn
, Mark Hanson
, Dwight Hopkins
, Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz
, L. Greg Jones, John Kuykendall, Gary Simpson, Barbara Brown Taylor
, Linda Thomas, Emilie Townes, Jeremiah Wright
and many others.
Lilly Endowment
Lilly Endowment Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana is one of the world's largest private philanthropic foundations and is among the ten largest such endowments in the United States....
and is headquartered on the ground floor of the Luce Center near the campus of Emory University in Atlanta, GA.
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. RockefellerJohn D. Rockefeller
John Davison Rockefeller was an American oil industrialist, investor, and philanthropist. He was the founder of the Standard Oil Company, which dominated the oil industry and was the first great U.S. business trust. Rockefeller revolutionized the petroleum industry and defined the structure of...
and Rockefeller Brothers Fund
Rockefeller Brothers Fund
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund , , is an international philanthropic organisation created and run by members of the Rockefeller family. It was set up in New York City in 1940 as the primary philanthropic vehicle of the five famous Rockefeller brothers: John D...
. Early Trustees included Harvard President Nathan Pusey and Morehouse College President Benjamin E. Mays.
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
Lilly Endowment
Lilly Endowment Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana is one of the world's largest private philanthropic foundations and is among the ten largest such endowments in the United States....
Inc. led to revitalization and renaissance of programs for students exploring pastoral ministry and theological scholarship. 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.
On the evening of October 6, 2011 FTE will host an inauguration ceremony for Rev. Stephen Lewis who will become the fourth president to take the helm since the restructuring of FTE in the late 1990's.
Leadership Gap and Diversity Gap Issues
FTE addresses two serious challenges to congregations’ needs for qualified, gifted candidates. Only half of Master of DivinityMaster of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
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
American Academy of Religion
The American Academy of Religion is the world's largest association of scholars in the field of religious studies and related topics. It is a nonprofit member association,...
, 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 including:- Ministry Program Fellowships that 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. Deadlines to apply for these fellowships is in the spring.
- Doctoral Program Fellowships are 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. Deadlines to apply for these fellowships is in the spring.
- Calling Congregations 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.
- Volunteers Exploring Vocation (VEV) is an initiative intended to both financially help and provide resources for young adults exploring the relationship between faith and day-to-day work. Participants connect with peers and mentors during a year of service with one of fourteen faith-based service programs.
- 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 BrueggemannWalter Brueggemann
Walter Brueggemann is an American Protestant Old Testament scholar and theologian.-Life:The son of a minister of the German Evangelical Synod of North America, he was ordained in the United Church of Christ. Brueggemann received an A.B. from Elmhurst College , a B.D. from Eden Theological...
, Frederick Buechner
Frederick Buechner
Frederick Buechner is an American writer and theologian. Born July 11, 1926 in New York City, he is an ordained Presbyterian minister and the author of more than thirty published books thus far. His work encompasses different genres, including fiction, autobiography, essays and sermons, and his...
, Katie Cannon, James A. Forbes
James A. Forbes
James Alexander Forbes, Jr. is the Senior Minister Emeritus of the Riverside Church, an interdenominational church on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, New York City. He was the first African American minister to lead this multicultural congregation, and served it for 18 years.- Early life and...
, Robert Franklin Jr. Peter Gomes, Jacquelyn Grant, William Gray, John R. Gunn
John R. Gunn
The Reverend John R. Gunn was first a minister, and then at about age 43 became a columnist whose daily messages inspired readers for over 36 years. After his death, letters to the editor requested that the columns continue, and so they were reprinted daily for 15 more years...
, Mark Hanson
Mark Hanson
Mark S. Hanson is the third and current Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Before being elected presiding bishop, he served as bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod...
, Dwight Hopkins
Dwight Hopkins
Dwight N. Hopkins is a professor of theology at the University of Chicago and an ordained American Baptist minister.When Hopkins is not teaching at the University of Chicago, he is teaching at Trinity United Church of Christ where his students expect to be treated as his university students...
, Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz
Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz
Ada María Isasi-Díaz is professor emerita of ethics and theology at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. As a Hispanic theologian, she is an innovator of Hispanic theology in general and specifically of Mujerista theology...
, L. Greg Jones, John Kuykendall, Gary Simpson, Barbara Brown Taylor
Barbara Brown Taylor
Barbara Brown Taylor is an American Episcopal priest, professor, and theologian and is one of the United States' best known preachers....
, Linda Thomas, Emilie Townes, Jeremiah Wright
Jeremiah Wright
Jeremiah Alvesta Wright, Jr. is Pastor Emeritus of Trinity United Church of Christ , a megachurch in Chicago exceeding 6,000 members...
and many others.