Tapping the imagination of congregations to find the next generation of leaders for the church and society, The Fund for Theological Education (FTE) is awarding nearly $98,000 in new "Cultures of Call" grants.

Nine grants will be awarded to eight congregations — representing four denominations — and to one federation of Asian-American congregations. Each will receive funding for local programs to be implemented over the next 18 months. The awards are part of FTE's Calling Congregations initiative. The program equips churches and church-related organizations to play a leading role in the vocational discernment of young men and women—and to increase the number of gifted young people considering ordained ministry as a profession. Fewer than seven percent of clergy in most denominations are under age 35.

Among the grant recipients is First Congregational UCC in Greeley, Colo., which received $12,000 for two programs: the creation of a spirituality program for children based on a Montessori model and a youth discernment initiative served by a church-based Calling Congregations Ministry Team.

FTE launched the grant program with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. in 2007 and will award a total of $350,000 in "Cultures of Call" grants through 2009. Each award ranges between $10,000 and $15,000. The deadline for submission of letters of intent for the next grant cycle for interested congregations and other groups is Feb. 2, 2009.

"These congregations are designing imaginative new ways to nurture young people with gifts for leadership," said Jim Goodmann, FTE Calling Congregations regional director and grant program administrator. "More than ever, communities depend on strong local churches — and churches depend on strong leaders who can navigate multiple challenges. These grants help congregations find the future leaders the church needs."

For more information about Cultures of Call grants, visit <thefund.org/programs/calling>. Information regarding previous grant recipient initiatives can be found at <thefund.org/programs/congregations_map>.

Calling Congregations seeks to establish a national network of 500 congregational and church-related partners. It offers regional workshops; a national conference; teaching tools; Web-based resources and up to 40 fellowships annually which match a congregation's financial support toward tuition and expenses for a young church member's first year of seminary.

The Fund for Theological Education supports the next generation of leaders among pastors and scholars, providing more than $1.5 million annually in fellowships and a network of support to gifted young people from all denominations and racial/ethnic backgrounds. For more information about FTE, visit <thefund.org>.