The Melissa Wiginton Ministry Fellowship Endowment Fund honors the outstanding contributions of Melissa Wiginton, who joined FTE in 1998 and led the design and renewal of Ministry Fellowship Programs until 2011. Ms. Wiginton was instrumental in launching the Fund’s Calling Congregations initiative, Volunteers Exploring Vocation program and Project Rising Sun Leadership Academy. She also forged new connections with national and local partners who play key roles in nurturing future leaders. More than 90 percent of students supported by FTE Ministry Fellowship Programs since 1998 now serve as pastors or as leaders in church or nonprofit settings.

The Sharon Watson Fluker Doctoral Fellowship Endowment Fund

This doctoral fellowship honors Dr. Fluker for her extraordinary dedication and accomplishments in leading FTE Doctoral Fellowship Programs from 1998 to 2011. Under her leadership, FTE awarded more than 400 fellowships to doctoral students from diverse backgrounds with aspirations to teach in the theological academy. Dr. Fluker also created new leadership development and recruitment programs to assist students. Today, 79 percent of students receiving support from FTE Doctoral Fellowship Programs since 1998 are professors in theological schools or universities; 21 percent serve as leaders in church-related or nonprofit settings.

The James H. Costen Fellowship for Doctoral Studies:

Renowned educator and church leader Dr. James H. Costen chaired FTE’s Board of Trustees for more than 15 years. This endowment was established after his death in 2003. Dr. Costen’s commitment to FTE’s mission mirrored his life of service to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and his devotion to theological education.

Dr. Costen was President of the Interdenominational Theological Center from 1983 to 1997 and served as Moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Known for his wisdom, patience and tenacity in service to the church, Dr. Costen guided a renewal of FTE’s fellowship programs. His wife, Dr. Melva Wilson Costen, retired in 2005 after 32 years as the Helmar Emil Nielsen Professor of Worship and Music at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta. Prior to her service at ITC, she served for 20 years as a music teacher and organist/choir director in North Carolina and Georgia.

The Benjamin E. Mays Doctoral Fund supports FTE Doctoral and Dissertation Fellows. As a charter member of the Fund’s Board in the 1950s, Dr. Mays—then president of Morehouse College—was a vital force in calling for support to help send gifted African American graduate students to seminary. Many of FTE’s most distinguished alumni received Benjamin E. Mays Scholarships from 1978 to 1997, providing them with needed support to prepare to serve congregations as ministers or theological schools as professors

The James L. Waits North American Doctoral Fellowship Endowment:

Established in 2003, this endowment recognizes the enduring contributions of FTE President Emeritus James L. Waits. Dr. Waits and other national church and education leaders in the 1990s envisioned a blueprint for the Fund’s revival, leading a renaissance of programs calling gifted young adults to pastoral ministry and to the ministry of teaching in the academy. Waits served as a lead architect of the vision and as the Fund’s president for more than five years. Today, the bold and innovative leadership of James L. Waits is demonstrating results as a talented new stream of young pastors and theological educators lead congregations, campuses and communities across North America.

Prior to leading FTE, Dr. Waits served as executive director of The Association of Theological Schools, and from 1978 to 1991, he was Dean of Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. While Dean at Candler, Dr. Waits also served as the first director of the Carter Center and held the prestigious Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Divinity Chair. He is a graduate of Millsaps College and holds advanced degrees from Yale University Divinity School and the University of Chicago.