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The Fund for Theological Education

Announces New Trustees
Three Distinguished Church Leaders Appointed to FTE Board

ATLANTA, December 8, 2005 – The Fund for Theological Education (FTE)

announced today three new appointments to its Board of Trustees, elected by the
Association of Theological Schools: the Rev. Verlee A. Copeland, the Rev. Dr. Jonathan
Paul Strandjord and the Rev. Dr. William D. Watley.
Each will serve a three-year term, advancing the Fund’s mission to encourage a
new generation of gifted young people to consider vocations in ministry and theological
scholarship. FTE annually awards more than $1.2 million in fellowships and support to
undergraduate, seminary and doctoral students who are named as FTE Fellows.
“We value the leadership abilities of these talented and diverse trustees,” said
the Rev. Ann Svennungsen, president of The Fund for Theological Education. “Their
guidance and involvement will advance our efforts to help congregations, communities
and campuses meet growing demands for talented and faithful pastors and scholars.”
Verlee A. Copeland is a leading pastor in the United Church of Christ and is
senior minister of Union Church in Hinsdale, Ill. Prior to her appointment to Union
Church, she served for 13 years as pastor of First Congregational Church in
Greeley, Colo. Copeland held senior leadership positions in public education and
administration in the Lincoln, Neb., Public School System. A trustee of the Chicago
Theological Seminary, Copeland holds a Master of Divinity degree from Yale University
Divinity School, and a Master of Counseling Psychology degree and bachelor’s degree
from the University of Nebraska.
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Jonathan Paul Strandjord is director for theological education for the

Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) Unit for Vocation and Education in
Chicago, Ill. In this role, he directs programs that strengthen the capacity of ELCA
seminaries to identify, prepare and support future church leaders. Strandjord chairs the
steering committee of the ELCA Fund for Leaders in Mission, which distributes
$500,000 annually in endowed scholarships. He has taught ethics and theology at
Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, and has served two extended co-pastorates in
Wisconsin. The author of several published works on theological education, theological
anthropology and preaching, he received a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University, a Master
of Divinity degree from Luther Theological Seminary and a bachelor’s degree from
Luther College.
William D. Watley is senior pastor of St. James African Methodist Episcopal
Church in Newark, N.J. He formerly served pastorates in Flushing and Warwick, N.Y.,
and in Elberton, Ga. A former president of Paul Quinn College in Waco, Texas, Watley
has served on the faculties of Princeton Theological Seminary, New York Theological
Seminary and New Brunswick Theological Seminary. He serves on the board of
directors of Beth Israel Hospital and First Union Bank. Watley earned a Ph.D. from
Columbia University, a Master of Philosophy degree from the Interdenominational
Theological Seminary and a bachelor’s degree from St. Louis University.
The Fund for Theological Education is a leading advocate for excellence and
diversity in Christian ministry and theological scholarship. FTE supports the next
generation of leaders among pastors and scholars, providing fellowships and a network
of support for gifted young people from all denominations and racial/ethnic
backgrounds.
The Fund is also a resource for educational and faith communities, offering
programs that encourage highly capable candidates to explore vocations in ministry and
teaching. Since 1954, the Atlanta-based organization has awarded more than 5,600
fellowships in partnership with others committed to quality leadership for the church.
Information about FTE is available on the Web at www.thefund.org.

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