wfn.org | Duke receives $10 million to encourage pastoral leadership

[NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG]

Dec. 19, 2000 News media contact: Linda Green·(615)742-5470·Nashville, Tenn.
10-71B{577}

By David Reid*

DURHAM, N. C. (UMNS) -- The Divinity School at United Methodist-related Duke
University in Durham, N.C., has received a $10 million grant from Lilly
Endowment Inc. to transform its approach to theological education assist in
the development of a new generation of strong pastors.

The Rev. L. Gregory Jones, dean, said the Learned Clergy Initiative is
designed to inspire a new generation of clergy "that will view ministry as a
fulfilling vocation where they can make a real difference in their
communities."

Announcing the unprecedented gift, Duke University president Nannerel O.
Keohane said, the school is "cognizant of the nationwide challenge to
attract the best students to theological education and to connect
professional education with congregational life. Through our strategic
planning process, Duke Divinity School has developed an exciting vision to
meet this challenge for theological education. We thank the Lilly Endowment
for its commitment to support this vision through such a remarkable grant."

The broad-based initiative provides a total of 60 three-year fellowships
over the next five years for students at the seminary, significantly
increasing the number of full scholarships available to students in the
master of divinity program.  Approximately 460 students from 40
denominations are enrolled in the theological school

The Learned Clergy emphasis also calls for a series of sustained learning
opportunities that will bring together clergy and lay leaders with faculty
and divinity students to cultivate good habits of study, reflection and
conversation. These interrelated projects will be local, regional and
national in scope and focus on developing the moral and theological
imagination required for strong congregational leadership. 

"Ordained ministers must be prepared to provide sustained intellectual and
spiritual engagement with the deep questions and issues being raised by
people in their congregations," Jones said. "It is ironic that while lay
people are expressing greater interest in the spiritual life, too many
congregations are growing weaker because of unimaginative pastoral
leadership."

Daniel O. Aleshire, executive director of the Association of Theological
Schools, said, "this program uniquely combines a number of efforts to which
theological schools should give careful attention. Lilly Endowment is
nurturing the kind of intellectual work that is desperately needed in
American religion."

The Learned Clergy Initiative will link Duke students, faculty and staff
with 15 "teaching congregations" across the country, fund two new faculty
positions, provide six five-year scholarships for doctoral students and
expand teaching facilities.
 
"Vital congregations require excellent pastoral leadership and the most
effective pastors have a lifelong commitment to learning and growth," said
Craig Dykstra, Lilly Endowment vice president for religion. "We are
investing in Duke Divinity School because of its strong vision for
transforming ministry by developing pastoral leaders who bring wisdom,
passion and imagination to their vocation."

The school will award the new Divinity Fellowships to master of divinity and
master of church ministries students who show high potential for leadership
and an interest in full-time study for pastoral leadership. Only students
planning to be ordained will be considered for the program. Each of the
merit-based fellowships will also provide an internship with a senior pastor
possessing a record of strong congregational leadership. In addition, the
fellows will participate with faculty, graduate students, clergy and laity
in one of the sustained learning experiences.

The 15 teaching congregations will be selected to represent diverse
geographical locations, denominations and ethnic and demographic makeup. The
project is designed to provide mutually enriching relationships that will
make each partner stronger.

"Theological education needs to be bold in its commitment to the importance
of faithful education and rigorous formation of people for ministry," Jones
said. "We urgently need ministers who have a passion for lifelong learning
and leadership."

In 1999, Lilly Endowment awarded a $3.5 million grant to the Duke Divinity
School to study the pastoral leadership needs of churches. The Pastoral
Leadership Project has engaged a group of 40 church leaders from 20
denominations and a smaller core seminar group of church-related
academicians and denominational leaders to better understand the leadership
needs of churches. Initial research reports underwritten by the project were
released in October at a joint meeting of the Religious Research Association
and the Society for Scientific Study of Religion. 

The Lilly Endowment is a private, Indianapolis-based foundation that
supports community development, education and religion.

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Reid is director of communications for Duke University Divinity School. 

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United Methodist News Service
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