Purpose of Funding Future Leaders

Today, almost all growing Episcopal churches enjoy the presence of a dynamic, well-prepared, articulate ordained leader.

If over time the supply of outstanding ordained Episcopal leaders diminishes, the ripple effect on the Church will be felt for years. However, if the Episcopal Church can draw on a growing supply of Christ-centered, articulate ordained leaders, the Church has a bright future indeed.

The combination of high debt from undergraduate studies, the cost of seminary education and low salary levels for new clergy serve as major disincentives for young people considering a call to ministry. Some ignore the call; others become overwhelmed by the debt and drop out of seminary; still others choose not to go into parish ministry because of the unmanageable financial burden.

The purpose of Funding Future Leaders (FFL) is to establish an endowment to financially support seminarians, so they will not have to incur any more debt during seminary.

The Society for the Increase of the Ministry determined that the financial need will require $10 million in endowment income annually. Therefore, the financial goal: raise $200 million over the next 20 years to produce that level of income to provide needs-based scholarship grants. To be eligible, seminarians, approved by their bishops and diocesan commissions on ministry, must be studying for a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree at any of the 11 Episcopal seminaries in the United States. As funds are received, grants from the earnings of the endowment will be made to seminarians starting in the 2006-2007 academic year.

Funding Future Leaders will financially support the development of the next generation of committed, well-prepared ordained leaders for the Episcopal Church.