Ordained ministry division names 10 scholarship recipients
Dec. 7, 2006 | NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)
|
The Rev. John Dempster
|
Six men and two women preparing to further their theological studies
have been selected as the 2007-08 Dempster Scholars by the United
Methodist Church.
The five Dempster Graduate Fellowship recipients receive awards of up to
$10,000 a year for five years, not to exceed $30,000 total, and three
Dempster Graduate Scholarship recipients receive $1,000 to $5,000 a
year.
The awards are named for the Rev. John Dempster, a 19th-century
Methodist preacher who helped found three seminaries related to the
denomination.
"These awards enable the church to identify and support bright, young
scholars who can provide exceptional leadership within United Methodist
academic communities, particularly the seminaries, in order to develop
and maintain a strong United Methodist ethos and presence in our
institutions of higher education," said the Rev. Robert F. Kohler, a
staff member of the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and
Ministry. The scholarships are given through the denomination's
Ministerial Education Fund and the board's Division of Ordained
Ministry.
The board announced the recipients Nov. 19. Selection for the Dempster
award is based on intellectual excellence, academic achievement, promise
of usefulness in teaching careers, personal qualities, clarity of
spiritual purpose, and commitment to Christian ministry and the
preparation of pastoral leadership for the church.
"The fellowships are among the most important academic awards in the
nation and are a significant commitment of future United Methodist
biblical and theological scholarship," Kohler said.
The 2007-08 Dempster Graduate Fellowship recipients are:
- Matthew Richard Schlimm, an ordained elder in the West Michigan
Annual Conference and graduate of Asbury College and Duke Divinity
School. He is enrolled in his third year of a doctoral program at Duke
University, Durham, N.C.
- Douglas Dean Tzan, an ordained elder of the
Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference and graduate of the University of
South Carolina and Iliff School of Theology, Denver. He is enrolled in
his second year of a doctor of theology program at Boston University. He
is also a past fellowship recipient.
- Timothy Reinhold Eberhart, an ordained elder in the Dakotas
Annual Conference and graduate of St. Olaf College and Vanderbilt
Divinity School. A past fellowship recipient, he is enrolled in his
fourth year of a doctoral program at Vanderbilt University, Nashville,
Tenn.
- Kenneth Milton Loyer, a certified candidate in the Central
Pennsylvania Annual Conference and graduate of Messiah College and Duke
Divinity School. He is enrolled in his second year of a doctoral program
at Southern Methodist University, Dallas.
- Luther Jeremiah Oconer, an ordained elder in the Pampango
Philippines Annual Conference and graduate of Mapúa Institute and Wesley
Divinity School (Philippines) and Drew University. He is enrolled in
his fifth year of a doctoral program at Drew University, Madison, N.J.
The 2007-08 Dempster Graduate Scholarship recipients are:
- Jeremy Todd Bakker, a certified candidate in the North Texas
Annual Conference and graduate of the University of North Texas and
Perkins School of Theology. A previous scholarship recipient, he is
enrolled in his second year of a doctoral program at Yale University,
New Haven, Conn.
- Amy Peed McCullough, an ordained elder in the
Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference and graduate of Wellesley College
and Duke Divinity School. She is enrolled in her second year of a
doctoral program at Vanderbilt University.
- Julie Marie Todd, an ordained elder in the New England
Annual Conference and graduate of Boston University. She is enrolled in
her second year of a joint Iliff School of Theology/University of Denver
doctoral program. She is a previous scholarship recipient.
For more information on the Dempster Graduate scholarships and
fellowships, contact the Division of Ordained Ministry at (615) 340-7388
or e-mail jknox@gbhem.org.
*Information for this article was adapted from a release by Vicki
Brown of the Office of Interpretation at the United Methodist Board of
Higher Education and Ministry.
News media contact: Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
Related Articles
Nine graduates receive scholarships for theological education
God's call comes in different ways, clergy tell young people
United Methodist elders under the age of 35 declining
Major efforts get under way to recruit young clergy
Resources
Dempster Graduate Fellowships
Ministerial Education Fund
Division of Ordained Ministry
Explore Calling
|
