Tuesday, December 10, 2013<\/i><\/p>\n
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St. Paul, Minn. \u2013 Luther Seminary has received a $239,500 grant as part of Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc.\u2019s Theological School Initiative to Address Economic Issues Facing Future Ministers.\u00a0 It is one of 67 theological schools across the country to receive this funding.<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0 To help address this issue, Lilly Endowment created the Theological School Initiative to Address Economic Issues Facing Future Ministers.\u00a0 The initiative\u2019s aim is to encourage theological schools to examine and strengthen their financial and educational practices to improve the economic well-being of future pastors.<\/p>\n
All theological schools fully accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada were invited to submit grant proposals.\u00a0 Luther Seminary will use its funding to pursue a variety of projects to study both the causes and the potential solutions to personal financial pressures. The projects will range from reviewing the impact of education debt to finding ways to increase support and financial education.<\/p>\n
\u201cLuther Seminary has a long history of addressing student financial wellness, particularly in helping students understand and manage their debt,\u201d said Rick Foss, president of Luther Seminary. \u201cThis grant will allow us to expand on our past efforts and continue to enhance the financial well-being of our graduates and their congregations.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPastors are indispensable spiritual leaders and guides, and the quality of pastoral leadership is critical to the health and vitality of congregations,\u201d said Christopher L. Coble, vice president for religion at the Endowment.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheological schools play a critical role in preparing pastors and are uniquely positioned to address some of the economic challenges they face,\u201d Coble said.\u00a0 \u201cThe Endowment hopes that these grants will support broad efforts to improve the financial circumstances facing pastoral leaders so that pastors can serve their congregations more joyfully and effectively,\u201d said Coble.<\/p>\n
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