Panel on Theological Education

The Panel on Theological Education was created through the Theological Education Endowment Trust Agreement of 1983. In 2022, an additional permanent named fund – “Fund for Unitarian Universalist Theological Education” was created to receive additional gifts to support theological education and the purposes of the Panel.

The Panel shall make recommendations for the expenditure of funds from the Trust and from the Fund for UU Theological Education to the UUA president for theological and religious education.

Furthermore, the Panel reflects on the ecology of theological education in the UUA to better understand how the Panel can best serve Unitarian Universalist theological education and ministries.

Composition of the Panel

The Panel shall include the President of the UUA, the Ministerial Credentialing Director of the UUA who will serve as the Panel’s Executive Secretary, and up to six additional members invited by the President of the UUA. These additional members may include volunteers and UUA staff who bring to the Panel perspectives as ministers, religious educators, and lay leaders who possess skills that may be needed for the Panel’s work.

The President shall invite a member of the Panel to serve as Chair. The President, Chair, and Executive Secretary are responsible for setting the agenda for meetings.

Members of the Panel on Theological Education

  • Rev. Dr. Stephanie May, Chair
  • Rev. Darcy Baxter
  • Dr. Anthony B. Pinn
  • Dr. Dan McKanan
  • Rev. Cecilia Kingman
  • Rev. Darrick Jackson

  • Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt

    School Representatives:

  • Dr. Elías Ortega, President, Meadville Lombard Theological School
  • Rev. Dr. Rosemary Bray McNatt, President, Starr King School for the Ministry

Objectives

The Panel is committed to fulfilling the purpose and intent of the Theological Education Endowment Trust, aligned with the recommendations of the Commission on Institutional Change report, Widening the Circle of Concern. Specifically, this includes the ongoing work to dismantle White Supremacy Culture and its oppressive systems as expressed within the UUA.

In fulfilling this purpose, the Panel may provide funding for:

  1. Basic financial support for UU identity theological schools to be used to meet the broad needs of the schools, including programming, administration, and infrastructure
  2. UUA administered financial aid and scholarship to students
  3. Scholarship funds to be administered by theological schools
  4. Formational and skill-based programs for people preparing to become religious professionals, implemented by the UUA or by organizations of religious professionals
  5. Instruction in UU heritage, traditions, religious education and theology for students enrolled in non-UU schools
  6. Continuing education for religious professionals
  7. Support for doctoral students, those in comparable degree programs, and emerging scholars, with the potential to make significant contributions to theological education and to Unitarian Universalist studies
  8. Lay theological education and lay leadership training
  9. New directions and innovative approaches in theological and religious education
  10. Convene larger strategic conversations to nurture innovation or support theological and religious education and formation
  11. Identification of needs and advocacy of additional funds for theological and religious education
  12. Other activities that align with the Purpose of the Panel

Charge

The Panel on Theological Education is specifically charged with these tasks:

  1. Meet with the UU theological schools regarding their financial health, enrollment trends and degree and certificate programs. This may include annual detailed financial reports, enrollment data and relevant annual reports
  2. Consider and recommend funds or grants for UU theological schools and other programs which may be eligible and are in concert with the stated purposes and objectives of the Theological Education Endowment Trust
  3. Prepare and approve a budget of the annual expenditure of funds from the Trust

 The members of the Panel are empowered to meet without the representatives from the UU Theological Schools/Ministerial Formation Network for the purposes of organizing, developing, making procedures, and conducting evaluations.

Fund for Nurturing Unitarian Universalist Scholarship

The Panel on Theological Education is receiving applications for grants up to $25,000 from UU scholars who are committed to strengthening the UU movement through research and publication, excellence in teaching, and educational leadership.