PhD Diversity Scholarship Initiative

With this issue of The Seminary Witness, the Seminary is excited to announce its new PhD Diversity Scholarship Initiative. Ethnic/Racial diversity is a wonderful hallmark of our national and worldwide Seventh-day Adventist church and of our Seminary student body. Yet our Seminary and many other Adventist universities and seminaries often struggle to find the needed PhD-level faculty who reflect this diversity. The PhD Diversity Scholarship Initiative seeks to provide financial scholarships to gifted young theological students from under-represented groups, who will provide the church with a greater diversity of PhD-trained scholar-teachers in the biblical, theological, and historical disciplines where such a breadth of background and experience is still lacking.

Diversity is God’s idea, rooted in creation and climaxing biblically in Revelation 7:9, 10 where people of all nations and tribes stand before God’s throne, praising Him. A diversity of scholar-teachers in theological education is critical for fulfilling the church’s mission to “make disciples of all the nations.” It is not optional. Diversity in theological leadership allows us to explore and speak the message of Scripture in ways non-European cultures can understand. It helps us to look at Scripture from fresh perspectives, often from cultures closer to the ancient biblical cultures. It supports and inspires students of other backgrounds and models for them excellence in thinking and scholarship.

Jiri Moskala, Seminary dean, notes, “The PhD Diversity Scholarship will enable emerging scholars and students of the Bible to grow in their knowledge of Christ and strife for excellence. It will enhance education among those who had no such opportunities in the past and will broaden their theological horizon and appreciation for their history, heritage, and culture, and put them into larger context. We are eager to begin offering such scholarships as soon as they are available.”

This Diversity Scholarship Initiative will depend heavily upon the support of donors who believe in the excellence of faithful Adventist theology and are committed to ensuring the breadth of theological scholarship and leadership necessary to pursue our mission with excellence.The North American Division Regional Caucus, in partnership with Oakwood University, have recognized this need and are working together to support two African-American students at a time for the PhD at the Andrews University Seminary. More scholarship opportunities are needed to assist other competent and dedicated young men and women from these and other ethnic/racial groups for leadership in Adventist theological education.

If God is placing this need on your heart and you would like to be part of making such scholarships possible, either through direct donation to scholarships or through helping fund a scholarship endowment, please contact the Seminary Dean, Jiri Moskala (jiri@andrews.edu; 269-471-3536) or the PhD (Religion/ThD Director, John Reeve (phd@andrews.edu; 269-471-6002.).

Dr. Teresa Reeve, Associate Professor of New Testament Contexts
Associate Dean, SDATS