Opportunities that Resonate with Rural Clergy

To help prepare ministers for service in rural congregations, The Duke Endowment supports several clergy leadership programs at Duke Divinity School.

Insights

• Providing leadership education requires flexible options. With clergy in so many different phases of their careers, a “one-size-fits-all” approach may be unrealistic for would-be participants. Duke Divinity School offers leadership programs that range from intensive, small-group study to one-time, “large tent” events that attract a broader constituency.
• Synergy with a major strategic initiative increases capacity. Duke Divinity School’s participation in the Thriving Rural Communities Initiative has helped expand its capacity to offer leadership programs and has sharpened its focus. As a result, the partnership between Duke Divinity School, The Duke Endowment, and the two conferences of the United Methodist Church is strengthened.

Impact

Duke Divinity School places about 230 students each year in field placements in rural United Methodist churches in North Carolina. Roughly half of those students receive scholarships and stipends funded by The Duke Endowment.

Rural pastors who attend leadership education programs at Duke Divinity School make up one-quarter to one-third of annual participants, a number that would surely dwindle without scholarship assistance from The Duke Endowment. Endowment-funded scholarships cover about 40 to 75 percent of program costs for rural pastors.

Contact Us

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Director of Rural Church
704.927.2251