wfn.org | WEISS SEMINARY FUND ESTABLISHED

[RICH.SCHRAMM@ecunet.org]

To: wfn-editors@wfn.org

AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS SERVICE 
Office of Communication  
American Baptist Churches USA 
P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851 
Phone: (610)768-2077 / Fax: (610)768-2320 
Web: www.abc-usa.org
Richard W. Schramm, Director 
 E-mail: richard.schramm@abc-usa.org

WEISS FUND FOR EXCELLENCE WILL SEEK 'BEST 
AND BRIGHTEST' FOR SEMINARY EDUCATION
by Virginia R. Holmstrom, American Baptist Educational 
Ministries 
 GREEN LAKE, WIS.-At a celebration dinner of the 
General Board June 24 recognizing the ministry of retiring Dr. 
Daniel E. Weiss, American Baptist Churches USA President 
Trinette McCray announced the formation of The Daniel E. 
Weiss Fund for Excellence, a new merit-based scholarship 
program to be administered by American Baptist Educational 
Ministries to prepare gifted American Baptists for ministry 
and service.
 The Weiss Fund for Excellence recognizes the 
outstanding commitments of Weiss, who is retiring Aug. 31 as 
general secretary of American Baptist Churches USA, to 
leadership development and theological education.  These 
commitments include many years of fruitful ministry as a 
local church pastor, professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological 
Seminary, vice president of Gordon College, executive vice 
president of Pace University, and president of Eastern 
College and the Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (1973-
1981). Weiss also served as executive director of ABC 
Educational Ministries from 1983 to 1988.
 In the surprise announcement, McCray addressed Weiss's 
concern for leadership.  "We know one of the major concerns 
for you has been the quality of leadership for our churches.  
This fund is established to encourage the best and the 
brightest young people to attend seminary . . . and pay 
their way."
 "There is a great need for theologically astute 
persons to engage the social, economic and political systems 
of our culture," said Dr. Jean B. Kim, Educational 
Ministries' executive director.  "The impact of the Gospel 
on our increasingly complex society depends on the best 
biblically-based thinking of gifted American Baptist clergy 
and laypersons who are prepared to act for love and 
justice." 
 In response to this need, The Weiss Fund for 
Excellence has been designed to identify outstanding 
American Baptists who might not otherwise choose theological 
study, and to offer these persons substantial financial 
assistance for the first year of such study.  Scholarships 
will be awarded to candidates who will strengthen American 
Baptist congregations and their witness in the world through 
their theological thinking and leadership.  Also, to 
continue substantial tuition support beyond the first year, 
Educational Ministries has committed an amount from its 
financial aid endowment for recipients continuing in 
seminary or theological school beyond the first year.
 Weiss, overcome with deep appreciation at the 
unexpected announcement of the Fund named for him, said,  
"Thank you for establishing this fund that will provide 
something that is so desperately needed in our denomination.  
I am incredibly honored to have my name associated with it."  
 The total to date from individuals' gifts and pledges, 
plus Educational Ministries $250,000 endowment commitment, 
exceeds $400,000.  The interest from each additional 
$100,000 will support another person's first year of study.  
Educational Ministries will seek gifts to enlarge the fund 
in order to provide at least one additional scholarship each 
year.
 Kim said that Educational Ministries will seek 
nominations of qualified individuals from pastors, Youth 
Leader Core advisors, American Baptist campus ministers, 
chaplains at ABC-related colleges and universities, and 
others.  Nomination and application information will be 
available from Educational Ministries' Office of Financial 
Aid after Dec. 1, 2000. 
 The Board of Educational Ministries long has 
encouraged and assisted persons in their journeys toward 
mature discipleship and in their preparation for ministry.  
To that end Educational Ministries distributes more than 
$600,000 each year in financial aid to American Baptist 
students and ministerial leaders. 
6/28/00
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