School Notes: Yale Divinity School
March/April 2014

Financial advice for future ministers

The financial pressures caused by education debt can severely limit the ability of seminary graduates to accept calls to Christian ministry and undermine the effectiveness of too many pastoral leaders. A $250,000 grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. Theological School Initiative to Address Economic Issues Facing Future Ministers will help Yale Divinity School address this issue. “Students do not come to YDS for financial reasons; we do not want financial reasons to dictate their future,” said Dean Gregory E. Sterling. “We are working to make it possible for students to pursue their calling.” The centerpiece of the YDS program will be a survey to determine the full debt load of current students and graduates, including consumer debt, and how debt affects their life and work. Three focus groups—current students, pastors, and graduates in other professions—will examine the data and offer insights and recommendations. YDS will also develop several financial resources, including an interactive website, mini-seminars on financial planning, and a semester-long course combining the themes of faith, money, and theology. A team of experts will be commissioned to produce a digital handbook on ethical, spiritual, and economic practices for living just and sustainable lifestyles.

YDS in Korea

Dean Gregory E. Sterling, associate dean John Lindner, professor Mary Moschella, and current student Derick Dailey joined 3,000 representatives from 345 church bodies, representing 500 million Christians in 110 countries, for the tenth assembly of the World Council of Churches in Busan, Korea. The dean and Lindner also met with some of the more than 50 Korean YDS alumni. Given the explosion of Christianity in parts of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, building relationships at the WCC is an important step toward a more global YDS, and creating opportunities to engage with global Christian leaders. At this year’s assembly, Sang Chang ’70MDiv was elected to represent Asian Christianity as one of the eight presidents of the WCC. Joining the alumni reception were several global church leaders, including Sharon Watkins ’84MDiv, the current head of the Disciples of Christ; Geoffrey Black ’72MAR, the current head of United Church of Christ; Clifton Kirkpatrick ’68BD, the former president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and former stated secretary of the Presbyterian Church (USA); Setri Nyomi ’81STM, general secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches; and Silishebo Silishebo ’94STM, general secretary of the United Church of Zambia.