By Jenny Williams
Bethany Theological Seminary has received a grant of $259,954 as part
of Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Theological School
Initiative to Address Economic Issues Facing Future Ministers. Bethany
is one of 67 theological schools across the country to receive this
funding.
Personal financial pressures are severely limiting the
ability of seminary graduates to accept calls to Christian ministry and
undermining the effectiveness of too many pastoral leaders. To help
address this issue, Lilly Endowment created the Theological School
Initiative to Address Economic Issues Facing Future Ministers. The
initiative’s aim is to encourage theological schools to examine and
strengthen their financial and educational practices to improve the
economic well-being of future pastors. All theological schools fully
accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the US and
Canada were invited to submit grant proposals.
Bethany outlined
three goals in its proposal to help future pastors incorporate sound
stewardship principles into their own lives and to lead individuals,
families, and congregations toward building lives of stewardship: 1)
identify the financial concerns of its current students and graduates,
2) respond to these concerns with intentional programming that will
increase financial literacy as well as stewardship in all areas of life,
and 3) facilitate conversation, both within the seminary and throughout
the denomination, about financial stewardship.
Of the three,
implementing programming for financial literacy and stewardship has the
most complexity and is the core of the proposal. To help students
minimize debt while in seminary, ideas and resources for simple living,
seeking outside employment, and securing outside funding will be made
available. The reality and viability of bivocational ministry also will
be intentionally addressed with students.
Building financial
literacy for the long term will involve educating faculty and staff
about the nature of debt and financial management in the lives of
today’s young adults. Next practical steps will include increased
emphasis on stewardship in the curriculum and new venues--both media and
interpersonal--for incorporating best practices into student life. The
results of all these initiatives will be of value to alumni/ae and
others outside Bethany, and the seminary plans to collaborate and
communicate in ways that benefit the denomination as a whole.
Jeff
Carter, president of Bethany, expressed concern for the well-being of
students who are carrying unprecedented financial debt. “Bethany is
poised to engage the financial concerns of students and graduates,
examine and promote practices leading to healthy and life-giving
financial stewardship, and reach beyond the seminary classroom to engage
a church and culture challenged by financial pressures. We are blessed
with faithful and conscientious students whom we seek to equip and
empower as they go forth to serve this present age.”
About Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic
foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family--J.K.
Lilly Sr. and sons J. K. Jr. and Eli--through gifts of stock in their
pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. The endowment exists to
support the causes of religion, education, and community development.
Lilly Endowment’s religion grantmaking is designed to deepen and enrich
the religious lives of American Christians. It does this largely through
initiatives to enhance and sustain the quality of ministry in American
congregations and parishes. More information can be found at www.lillyendowment.org.
-- Jenny Williams is director of Communications and Alumni/ae Relations at Bethany Seminary.
Source: 12/7/2013 Newsline
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