wfn.org | Johnson C. Smith Seminary Student is Named First Blake Scholar

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

24-August-1999 
99276 
 
    Johnson C. Smith Seminary Student 
    is Named First Blake Scholar 
 
    Endowment Campaign Enters Final Year 
 
    by William P. Thompson, chair of the Blake Endowment Campaign 
    and Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
NEW YORK - Fannye L. Belt, a third year Presbyterian student at Johnson C. 
Smith Seminary in Atlanta, has been awarded the first scholarship by the 
Eugene Carson Blake Endowment for Ecumenical Leadership Development. 
 
    Belt  will receive tuition, room and board for participation in the 
49th Graduate School of the Ecumenical Institute of the World Council of 
Churches in Bossey, Switzerland.  She is one of 65 students from over 30 
countries nominated for the program by their church this year. 
 
    In addition to a core curriculum of ecumenical studies, the Bossey 
program includes a visit to the Vatican and an in-depth study of a theme. 
The 1999 theme is "Christian Identity in a  Religiously Plural World." 
 
    The funding of the Eugene Carson Blake Endowment is a three-year 
initiative in memory of the Rev. Eugene Carson Blake, a leading 
Presbyterian of the 20th Century.  In his years in Presbyterian ministry 
Blake served as pastor, as stated clerk of the General Assembly of the 
former United Presbyterian Church in the USA, as president of the National 
Council of Churches (NCC), and as general secretary of the World Council of 
Churches. 
 
    The campaign to create the Eugene Carson Blake Endowment for Ecumenical 
Leadership Development will culminate in a special service of worship on 
April 2, 2000 at the Pasadena (Calif.) Presbyterian Church where Blake 
served as pastor. 
 
    Belt anticipates a ministerial career in ecumenical relations and 
worldwide ministries.  She said, "It is my special desire to promote the 
involvement of Black congregations in international ministries."  She 
recently completed a handbook titled "The New World Order: What Does It 
Mean to the Black Church?"   Belt also serves as a PC(USA) representative 
to the Interfaith Relations Committee of the NCC. 
 
    "While my life has been greatly enhanced by a variety of global and 
ecumenical opportunities, none will better prepare me than the opportunity 
afforded by the Blake Scholarship for study at the Ecumenical Institute," 
she said. 
 
    Gifts to the Blake Endowment make possible annual scholarships for U.S. 
seminary students to attend the Graduate School of Ecumenical Studies at 
Bossey.  Gifts from individuals or congregations may be directed to the 
Ecumenical Trust, 475 Riverside Dr. Rm. 915, New York NY 10115.  For 
further information call 1-888-212-2920.   

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