Challenging Times for Seminary Scholarships

From The Living Church

A 20 percent increase in the number of donors in 2008, coupled with the first $50,000 installment of a $250,000 grant from a Colorado foundation and two major gifts from new individual donors have helped to mitigate a shortfall in scholarship funds for postulants and candidates preparing for ordination, said Thomas Moore III, executive director, in a recent address to the board of directors of the Society for the Increase of the Ministry (SIM).

“The increase in new donors is good news for building a foundation of support, as was the $46,000 raised for the celebration of the ministry of SIM’s former executive director [The Rev. Canon John L.C. Mitman],” said Mr. Moore.

Overall, however, donations from individuals and parishes dropped over the year, he said. Sharp cuts in parish budgets and endowments greatly affected parish donations, producing a budget shortfall in the Parish Partners program by about half, he said.

“The current economic conditions make it all the more imperative that seminarians be supported,” Mr. Moore urged after the board’s meeting. “These are difficult times for us all; it is especially so for our current future ordained leaders.”

SIM is an independent, not-for-profit organization which provides direct financial support to postulants and candidates for holy orders in The Episcopal Church. Since its inception in 1857, SIM has given more than $6 million in assistance to nearly 5,000 men and women who have gone on to serve in parish ministries.

In its report to the 76th General Convention, the Standing Commission on Ministry Development noted that seminarian debt “is growing to epic proportions…[and] hindering deployment and the mission capabilities of our dioceses.”

The commission has pre-filed two resolutions addresing seminary debt in the so-called Blue Book report to General Convention. Resolution A106 commends SIM for developing a three-fold plan “to limit, manage and help ordinands successfully repay accumulated educational debt” and work to consult and coordinate with SIM to disseminate SIM’s plan to all diocesan bishops and commissions on ministry. Resolution A107 proposes a $450,000 allocation to SIM during the next three years “to be used solely for the financial support of persons studying for ordained ministry and as a supplement to the financial support of those persons already provided by SIM...”

http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2009/6/12/challenging-times-for-seminary-scholarships