Fund for Theological Education

"The Fund for Theological Education was established in the early 1950s. At that time, a national group of top seminary educators, clergy and civic leaders had become increasingly concerned that the quality of those entering the ministry had declined and that many of the most talented students were choosing professional careers outside the ministry. In order to encourage outstanding college graduates to consider pastoral ministry, a bold and unprecedented initiative was launched in 1954 to attract promising but otherwise undecided candidates to seminary education.

"The philanthropy of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. made the early work of the Fund possible, awarding highly regarded fellowships through the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Harvard President Nathan Pusey and Morehouse College President Benjamin E. Mays were founding trustees of what evolved to become The Fund for Theological Education (FTE). Theologian Frederick Buechner and the Rev. William Gray were among early fellowship recipients, sparking a legacy of excellence and diversity..."

Board
Accessed September 2011:


 * Daniel O. Aleshire
 * Samuel G. Candler
 * Donna Claycomb Sokol
 * Verlee A. Copeland
 * Florida Smith Ellis
 * David Emmanuel Goatley
 * Sara Hayden
 * Kita McVay
 * onathan Paul Strandjord
 * Frederick J. Streets
 * William D. Watley

Contact
URL: http://www.fteleaders.org

Related Sourcewatch

 * Robert M. Franklin - former board member