Duke Divinity School has received a $100,000 grant from the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry’s Young Clergy Initiative (YCI) to help develop new leaders for the church.

The goal of the YCI is to increase the number of young clergy in the United Methodist Church by preparing and nurturing clergy for lifelong transformational ministry. The Divinity School’s grant is intended to help develop leaders of new faith communities within the UMC.

The grant will help identify candidates and support them through a variety of formational opportunities, including mentorships and funded field education. Field education opportunities will include placements with leaders of a variety of new faith communities and church plants for in-depth contextual learning.

Said Rev. Rhonda Parker, director of field education, “This grant will help identify and prepare persons called and gifted to begin new faith communities in The United Methodist Church. It will connect our student body with resources within and beyond the Divinity School by drawing on the strengths of our connectional church and our common mission to transform the world with the love of Jesus Christ. ”

The grant will also support a Church Planting and Fresh Expressions Conference in Spring 2015. Through worship, keynotes, panel discussions, and workshops, the conference will provide a forum for sharing the experiences and wisdom of church planters and for showcasing the many models of church planting.