Media Contact: Kerry Traubert

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Kim Hearn

The Fund for Theological Education Appoints

Kim Hearn Regional Director for Calling Congregations

Candler and Wisconsin alumna to lead

programs calling new generation to ministry

ATLANTA, April 21, 2009 – The Fund for Theological Education (FTE) has named Kim
Hearn to the post of Regional Director for its Calling Congregations initiative, with lead
responsibility for the Southeast Region of the U.S.
Calling Congregations is a national, ecumenical movement to equip congregations and
church-related organizations to play a leading role in the vocational discernment of young men and
women, and to increase the number of gifted young people considering pastoral ministry as a
profession. In her leadership role, Hearn will work with congregations and other groups throughout
the Southeast. FTE’s Calling Congregations initiative, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc., seeks to
establish a national network of 500 congregational and church-related partners who are actively
engaged in developing future leaders for the church. The initiative offers regional workshops, a
national conference, teaching tools, Web-based resources and fellowships which match a
congregation’s financial support toward tuition and expenses for a young church member’s first
year of seminary.
Hearn joined the Fund in 2006 after graduating from Emory University’s Candler School of
Theology, where she earned a Master of Divinity degree. She also holds a Master of Theology
degree from Emory University with a concentration in ethics and serves on an interdisciplinary
grant team at Emory that is exploring pastoral perspectives on genetic testing.
While in seminary, Hearn participated in the National Capitol Semester for Seminarians
program and as an intern for The National Council for Adoption in Washington, D.C. and for the
Center for Ethics at Emory. Prior to pursuing a theological education, Hearn served in managerial
roles for Verizon Wireless. Among other civic commitments, she is a volunteer for the Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation. A native of Sheboygan, Wis., Hearn holds a bachelor’s degree in
sociology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
“The work of inspiring a new generation of leaders requires role models who bring intellect
-more-
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and compassion in service to the church,” said Rev. Stephen Lewis, director of FTE’s Calling
Congregations initiative. “Kim Hearn brings both these gifts and an exemplary commitment to higher
education, ethics and congregational life in service to the mission of nurturing future church leaders.”
FTE is a leading ecumenical advocate for excellence and diversity in pastoral ministry and
theological scholarship. It supports the next generation of leaders among pastors and scholars,
annually providing more than $1.5 million in fellowships and support to gifted young people from all
denominations and racial/ethnic backgrounds. For more information, visit www.thefund.org.

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