Contact: Kerry Traubert

404-727-1170
ktraubert@thefund.org

GENERATION Y LEADERS FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC JUSTICE

SEE NEW HOPE IN MINISTRY AS “CHANGE AGENT” PROFESSION

Diverse Students Converge on Washington, D.C.

Seeking Economic Justice and Empowerment to Lead a Changing Church

WHAT: A diverse cross-section of youth from 40 U.S. states and Canada seeking a
vocation that channels their passion for economic and social justice will attend
Becoming Rich Toward God: Pastoral Leadership and Economic Justice. This
leadership event is convened by The Fund for Theological Education (FTE), a
national nonprofit that supports intellectually gifted and civically engaged young
people exploring or preparing to become pastoral leaders.

America has seen a 20-year drop in the number of clergy under age 35 and only half
of today’s seminary students express interest in leading a local church. But a new
wave of college students—driven by a focus on economic and social justice issues—
is taking a new look at ministry as a path to create change at home and abroad.

WHERE: Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, Va.

WHO: 140 top college and seminary students, selected competitively from across North
America, who are recipients of FTE Fellowships. They represent a wide ecumenical,
socioeconomic, geographic and ideological spectrum—liberal and conservative;
African-American, Asian-American, Caucasian and Hispanic, from urban and rural
communities, representing 33 different denominations and nondenominational
churches nationwide.

Interviews available:
• National cross-section of college and seminary students
• FTE President Trace Haythorn (trends and traits among college students, values
and vocation, the changing face of church leadership, young people and religion)
• Virginia Theological Seminary leadership

WHEN: June 14-21 (9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time/schedules vary daily); June 18 site
visits to D.C. congregations and June 19 site visits to D.C. area nonprofits
offer photo and video opportunities.

-more-
STORY IDEAS:

• Who will Lead Your Church Tomorrow? The nation’s churches need qualified
young clergy as Baby Boomer pastors prepare to retire and fewer seminary
students show interest in congregational ministry. But while studies show a 20-
year decline in clergy under age 35, a new generation—motivated by a passion
for eradicating poverty, homelessness, violence and social injustice—is picking
up the mantle of ministry. Even as segments of Generation Y turn from the
church, a new generation of leaders is stepping up to pursue a countercultural
calling.

• Losing Our Religion? A new study by Harvard University professor Robert

Putman suggests that young Americans are dramatically less likely to go to
church – or to participate in any form of organized religion – than their parents
and grandparents. Putman calls it “a huge change.” Why is a segment of
Generation Y following the countercultural call of ministry as a path to create
social change?
• “Rich Toward God: Reinventing Church. After playing a key role in the 2008
Presidential election, Millennials from a diverse cross-section of Christian
backgrounds and denominations—passionate about economic and social justice
—are looking for ways to reinvent the church, its role in creating change and the
part they play in it. Their focus on social issues transcends old-school divisions
and traditional denominational boundaries. How does a new generation of youth
preparing for leadership roles in ministry define faith in action—and how will they
change the church in America?

• “I Told You So:” Millennials Redefining What it Means to Be Rich. Who’s

really rich? America’s money crisis make some members of Generation Y look
prophetic. A growing number of Christian youth are questioning the wealth
ambitions of their peers as they pursue a “countercultural” vocation: pastoral
ministry. They may soon be ministering to friends and Baby Boomers who have
lost wealth and security in a battered economy.

• Filling the Gap: Churches Seek Young Leaders to Meet Growing Local
Needs. Local congregations in urban and rural communities are under pressure
to meet the growing needs of people buffeted by an uncertain economy.
Churches and their leaders feel the strain. Yet studies show a 20-year decline in
clergy under age 35, and interest among seminary students in congregational
ministry has declined. Where will communities find a new generation of leaders
willing to take the risk of becoming a minister in tough times?

ABOUT FTE

FTE is an ecumenical, nonprofit organization. It supports the next generation of leaders

among pastors and scholars, providing more than $1.5 million annually in fellowships
and support to gifted young people from all denominations and racial/ethnic
backgrounds.

# # #