This article is from the EMU News Archive. Current EMU new is available at www.emu.edu/news

Student Named Undergraduate 'Fellow'

Timothy H. Shenk, a student at Eastern Mennonite University, has been named a 2006 Undergraduate Fellow by The Fund for Theological Education (FTE). He is one of 70 students from across the country who have been awarded a fellowship as part of the Fund’s efforts to encourage gifted young people to explore ministry as a vocation.

Shenk is a rising senior liberal arts major with minors in history, psychology and Bible and religion and was a member of the EMU cross-cultural group to the Middle East the spring semester 2006. He is the son of Keaton and Betty Shenk of Harrisonburg and a member of Community Mennonite Church.

FTE Undergraduate Fellowships are awarded annually to help improve the supply, quality and diversity of young candidates for ministry. The 2006 FTE Undergraduate Fellows represent 24 denominations, 59 graduate educational institutions and diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds.

Fellows must hold a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, demonstrate gifts for leadership and be a junior or senior at an accredited college or university. Shenk will receive a $1,500 stipend to be used for educational expenses or a special experience related to ministry and additional funds to support a mentoring relationship.

Undergraduate Fellowships also cover expenses to attend the FTE Conference on Excellence in Ministry, "The Promise of Ministry," held this summer at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin, Tex.

There is a need to attract quality candidates to ministry. Recent studies show a significant decline across most Christian denominations in numbers of clergy under age 35. Other reports indicate declining interest among seminary students in answering the call to ministry. Today, only about half of seminary students plan to be ordained and serve a local congregation.

"We know that congregations nationwide have increasing needs for exceptional leaders, and many denominations face a potential shortage of young ordained clergy," said Melissa Wiginton, vice president for FTE Ministry Programs and Planning. "We are proud to name Timothy Shenk as a 2006 FTE Undergraduate Fellow and to support him in considering ministry as a vocation. He has demonstrated leadership abilities, gifts for ministry, a commitment to service and a record of high academic achievement."

FTE is a leading ecumenical advocate for excellence and diversity in Christian ministry and theological scholarship. It supports the next generation of leaders among pastors and scholars, providing fellowships and a network of support to gifted young people from all denominations and racial/ethnic backgrounds. FTE has awarded $1.3 million in fellowships in 2006.

The Fund is also a resource for educational and faith communities, offering programs to help encourage highly capable candidates to explore vocations in ministry and teaching. Since 1954, the Atlanta-based organization has awarded more than 5,700 fellowships in partnership with others committed to quality leadership for the church.

Information about FTE fellowships is available on the Web at www.thefund.org.

— article by: Jim Bishop; posted August 28, 2006