Two Goshen College students receive prestigious summer theological fellowships

GOSHEN, Ind. – Goshen College students Amy Showalter, a senior Bible and religion major from Harrisonburg, Va., and Nathan Grieser, a junior music major from Goshen, both received undergraduate fellowships this summer from the Fund for Theological Education (FTE) to further their interests in the ministry.

Of the more than 300 applicants, Showalter and Grieser were among the 50 students to receive the undergraduate fellowship, alongside peers from a diverse range of denominations from across the country.

FTE was started in 1954 by leading educators, clergy and philanthropists who were concerned about the declining quality of students entering the ministry, and saw many talented students pursuing other careers. The ecumenical, nonprofit organization gives more than $1.5 million in support of future pastors and scholars, and since 1998 has given over $16 million to nearly 1,500 students.

Receiving the FTE undergraduate fellowship means Showalter and Grieser will get a $2,000 stipend to cover expenses for the upcoming school year, or to pursue any form of ministry exploration, following their attendance at the FTE Conference on Excellence in Ministry. The convention, which gives students the opportunity to participate in lectures by distinguished theologians and educators, worship services and workshops, is being held June 11-15 at the Candler School of Theology of Emory University in Atlanta, Ga.

“The thing I’m most looking forward to about the fellowship conference is getting to talk with other people our age about where they see the church going and how it could be rejuvenated,” said Grieser.

To qualify for the fellowship, students must: be nominated by a college faculty member or current pastor, be a rising junior or senior at an accredited college or university, have a 3.0 GPA, be a United States or Canadian citizen, and according to the Web site (www.thefund.org), have “exceptional gifts for ministry: love of God and church, imagination, creativity, compassion, a capacity for critical thinking skills, personal integrity, spiritual depth, dedication to a faith tradition and a passion to understand and to serve others.”

“It’s a competitive process,” said Bob Yoder, campus pastor, who nominated Grieser and Showalter. “To be accepted is a prestigious award.”

Grieser is not sure what role ministry will play in his future, but is keeping his options open. “I’m really into music recording and production, so that’s one direction I could go after college, but I could also see myself getting a master’s of divinity [degree] and doing pastoral work somewhere, or doing some kind of music ministry,” said Grieser.

On the other hand, Showalter does not necessarily want to be involved in ministry in the traditional sense, but she believes opportunities like this and her involvement in the college’s Ministry Inquiry Program (MIP) will be useful in the future no matter what she decides to do.

“I’m interested in ministry in the community,” Showalter said. “I think there are ways to minister through any job.”

Showalter and Grieser are the most recent Goshen College students to receive the award since Krista Ehst and Tim Showalter, Amy’s brother, got the honor in 2006. They are also the only Mennonites among the 50 students to receive the fellowship.

– By Tyler Falk

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.