The General Assembly Mission Council (GAMC) announced today a new grant designed to support the teaching of the Bible at Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges.

The John C. Martin Award – created by a partnership between the Racial Ethnic & Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women ministry area and the Office of Vocation – will provide funding for new programs, or new aspects to existing programs, for teaching the Bible.

“As we educate racial ethnic young adults and prepare them for leadership in the church and the world, it is critical that we support students’ spiritual formation at our racial ethnic schools and colleges,” said the Rev. Dr. Rhashell Hunter, director of Racial Ethnic & Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women. “The John C. Martin Award is an important new way for us to support teaching the Bible at our historically Presbyterian racial ethnic institutions.”

The John C. Martin Award will be managed by the office of Financial Aid for Studies under the auspices of its existing Teaching of the Bible Grant program, while the selection of awardees will be the responsibility of Racial Ethnic & Women’s Ministries/PW staff.

Awards will be supported by two separate John C. Martin Bible Grant gifts for the purpose of encouraging related schools and colleges to develop curriculum for teaching of the Bible and the fundamental teachings of the church.

“As we begin to implement the new GAMC Mission Work Plan, this award will further our directional goals of nurturing the faith of young adults and cultivating diverse, transformational leaders for Christ’s mission,” said the Rev. Dr. Marcia Clark Myers, director of the Office of Vocation, which includes the work of Financial Aid for Studies.

“It is our hope that the faculty and campus ministers at our racial ethnic schools and colleges will welcome the John C. Martin Award as part of the Presbyterian Church’s larger commitment to their mission,” said Laura Bryan, associate for Financial Aid for Studies. “We hope that they will embrace this new award program as an opportunity to experiment with new curriculum, methods of teaching, and programs that engage students with the living Word.”

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For a complete list of criteria and to download an application form – due September 30, 2012 – visit the John C. Martin Award site or call Laura Bryan at (800) 728-7228, ext. 5735. Presbyterian-related schools not eligible for the John C. Martin Award are invited to apply for the Teaching of the Bible Grant when the application is made available in December.