Nazarene Theological Seminary

Nazarene Theological Seminary (NTS) was recently awarded a $400,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation for a new Global Initiatives Project.

NTS, in consultation with seven global Nazarene graduate theological schools and seminaries, is proposing the development of a Global Initiatives Project that would provide the resources necessary for the development of a global consortium for the purpose of sharing resources and facilitating collaborative programs between schools in the consortium.  Discussions are already underway toward a Doctor of Ministry Degree that would be collaboratively offered by NTS and Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary in Manila.  According to Lynn Szwaja, Luce’s Program Director for Theology, “The Luce Foundation is pleased to support this seminary partnership, which will meet a pressing need for graduate theological education around the world while also increasing the global awareness of NTS faculty and students.”

Initially, in addition to NTS, the member institutions of the consortium would include seminaries and graduate schools of theology from Kenya, the Philippines, Brazil, South Korea, England, Costa Rica and Australia.  In speaking about the role of NTS in the development of a global consortium of Seminaries, Dr. E. LeBron Fairbanks, Education Commissioner for the International Board of Education (IBOE), remarked, “By NTS leading the way in developing cooperative programs between schools in the consortium, these IBOE schools globally will follow the example and model established by Nazarene Theological Seminary.”

NTS’ President, Ron Benefiel, commented, “The grant from the Henry Luce Foundation is key to the development of this global consortium of seminaries and graduate schools.   In the long run, as the Church continues to expand globally, the consortium has the potential to play an important role in increasing the quality of ministerial leadership and maintaining theological cohesion for the next generation.”

To learn more about the Global Initiatives Project and other current initiatives of NTS, including a grant of $500,000 that was recently awarded to NTS by the Kern Family Foundation, log on to www.nts.edu. 

About the Henry Luce Foundation:  The Henry Luce Foundation was established in 1936 by Henry R. Luce, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Time Inc., to honor his parents who were missionary educators in China. The Foundation builds upon the vision and values of four generations of the Luce family: broadening knowledge and encouraging the highest standards of service and leadership. The Henry Luce Foundation seeks to bring important ideas to the center of American life, strengthen international understanding, and foster innovation and leadership in academic, policy, religious and art communities. You can learn more about the Henry Luce Foundation at www.hluce.org.