wfn.org | Eugene Carson Blake Endowment Receives $100,000 Challenge Grant

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

20-April-1998 
98136 
 
    Eugene Carson Blake Endowment Receives 
    $100,000 Challenge Grant 
 
    by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.- An anonymous $100,000 challenge grant has been given to 
the Eugene Carson Blake Endowment to train ecumenical leaders for the 
church (see the March 13, 1998, "NEWS BRIEFS," page 9). 
 
    According to General Assembly stated clerk the Rev. Clifton 
Kirkpatrick, the anonymous donor's gift is intended "to encourage 
congregations to contribute to the fund through the Presbyterian Church 
(U.S.A.) Extra Commitment Opportunity (ECO) program." 
 
    In announcing the gift, Kirkpatrick said, "This generous and creative 
gift will not only contribute to the ecumenical preparation of a new 
generation of church leaders, it will encourage congregations to recall the 
importance of ecumenical commitments of the Presbyterian Church.  I hope 
many congregations will respond to the challenge." 
 
    When the endowment reaches its goal of $800,000, it will support an 
annual program of Eugene Carson Blake Fellowships.  Graduating seminary 
students selected for the fellowships will participate in an intensive 
one-year training experience including a semester at the Bossey Institute 
of the World Council of Churches in Switzerland. 
 
    "Eugene Carson Blake is perhaps the most significant Presbyterian 
church leader in the 20th century," Kirkpatrick noted. "It is appropriate 
as this century draws to a close that we create this fellowship program in 
memory of him and consider his legacy." 
 
    In February a conference on Blake's legacy was held at Princeton 
Theological Seminary, at which time the endowment campaign was launched. 
Papers from the conference will form a special issue of the "Journal of 
Presbyterian History" to be published in early 1999. 
 
    Congregations wishing to contribute to the Eugene Carson Blake 
Endowment may send their gifts to Central Receiving, 100 Witherspoon 
Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396, earmarked for ECO #049976. 
 
    For more information about the endowment and fellowship program and to 
make individual contributions, contact the Rev. John Lindner, Ecumenical 
Trust, 475 Riverside Drive, Room 915, New York, NY 10115, or call toll-free 
1-888-212-2920. 

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