2008 Journal Cover Pages.pub - Wisconsin Conference United ...

2008 Wisconsin Conference JournalAn additional twenty-three serve in an adjunct capacity. Woodie White and Jack Meadorsserve as the United Methodist bishops in residence. Bishop L. Bevel Jones III remains atCandler working with the Development Office.In our commitment to the practice of ministry, we partner with eighty churches to ensure thatministerial preparation takes place in both the local church and on the campus. Candler’sContextual Education program intentionally pairs a faculty member with supervisorsfrom church and community ministries so that teaching teams represent the church andthe academy. Twenty-two teaching supervisors support our Contextual Education andTeaching Parish (student pastor) programs. The Rev. Dr. Alice Rogers has broadenedthe Teaching Parish program to include students appointed to churches in the Alabama-West Florida, North Alabama, North Georgia, South Georgia, and South Carolina AnnualConferences. We also taught more than 250 United Methodist students in the Course ofStudy in 2006-2007.This year, enrollment was 535, with 440 in the Master of Divinity program, 54 in the Masterof Theological Studies program, 12 in the Master of Theology program, 10 in the Doctor ofTheology program and 19 enrolled as Special, Non-Degree students. Eighty-three percentof students are enrolled full-time. The student population is 25 percent US ethnic minority,11 percent international, and 52 percent women. Nearly 50 denominations are representedwith 52 percent of MDiv students being United Methodist from 37 Annual Conferences.Other denominations of the Methodist family represented at Candler include AfricanMethodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, Christian Methodist Episcopal,Church of the Nazarene, Free Methodist, Wesleyan Methodist, and the Methodist Churchof Korea. The average age of our students is now 31, with 57 percent under thirty. Themedian age of our MDiv students is 27.Lots of wonderful new initiatives are underway. We will move into Phase I of our newbuilding in early August 2008. It offers 65,000 square feet for classrooms, offices, andcommunity life. We hope construction on Phase II will begin late in 2008. It will hold thePitts Library and the Wesley Teaching Chapel. The first year of implementation of a newMDiv curriculum is nearly complete. This program deepens faculty roles in advising andmentoring and requires a course in a religion other than Christianity. A new director oflifelong learning should be in place by fall 2008 to initiate a renewed emphasis on programsthat benefit congregations and their leaders in continuing education. Designed to addressthe changing needs of church and society both at home and abroad, this program willwork cooperatively with local churches, judicatory leaders, and denominational agenciesto strengthen the church and its ministries.At the center of our upcoming capital campaign is a program to boost financial supportfor students. This year, 76 percent of eligible students received scholarship support fromCandler with an average scholarship covering 71 percent of tuition. Among these awards,more than $2.4 million was provided to 198 United Methodist students. Gifts from theMinisterial Education Fund (MEF) have played a large role in this support. However, somuch more needs to be done. More than 60 percent of Candler’s MDiv graduates leaveschool with educational debt. This burden undermines their effectiveness in ministry, suchthat some seek alternative employment. Your continued support, gifts, and prayers meana great deal as we work to provide a strong educational program as well as support for theReports of Boards and Agencies261