The Laney Program in Moral Leadership promotes the development of leaders who work with integrity for the common good. Coursework focuses on the principles and practices of moral leadership, workshops guide students to develop practical skills for public leadership, and international travel seminars provide opportunities to interact with moral leaders in diverse contexts. The program also sponsors public events featuring distinguished guest speakers who address issues in contemporary life through the lens of moral leadership.

Thanks to your support of 2O36, additional investments in this program will allow for programming that reaches more students and the greater community. An expanded program would broaden the understanding of moral leadership among the general public and challenge more students to embrace and extend the concept in various contexts and cultures in the United States and around the world.

For centuries, the seminary has been the primary place for formal theological education. But if we expand our concept of the purpose of theological education to consider it a component of Christian discipleship, perhaps there should be something between Sunday school and seminary. We know that far more people are interested in deep theological learning than the number who enroll in degree programs, or even the number who consider themselves “religious.” In today’s global, digitally connected world, Candler envisions making theological education accessible to more people in more formats, more places, and in response to more motivations.

With your support for 2O36, we can build our capacity for public theological education, using not only technology, but strong partnerships with churches and community organizations to ensure our offerings address their needs. This new, comprehensive model of theological education for degree and nondegree students will enhance our ability to serve a wide variety of populations, including those who identify as spiritual but not religious.

Pitts Theology Library is among the premier theological libraries in the world. It’s a place of study and reflection for all scholars, regardless of their faith, with special collections shared broadly through several means, most recently through an extensive program to digitize resources.

Pitts relies on philanthropic support to acquire, preserve, interpret, and provide access to original materials. Funding for the library through 2O36 will make Pitts an even more useful resource for scholarship and research by allowing us to increase the digitization of materials and rare books, and expand holdings related to Methodism in England and America, hymnody, and religion in America from the 16th through 19th centuries.

Growing religious diversity in the United States makes interfaith understanding and engagement across religious traditions critical for the well-being of our communities. Candler is at the forefront of curricular innovations in interfaith relations, and faculty specializing in this work guide the school’s largely Christian student body in discovering how their own faith is enriched by learning from other traditions. With the support of 2O36, we can endow and name a professorship in interfaith understanding and engagement to anchor this work, cultivating Christian leaders who know how to form rich relationships and strong communities with those from different faith traditions.

Candler is shaped by the Wesleyan commitment to ecumenical openness and welcomes students from over forty denominations. In recent years, Candler’s Episcopal and Anglican Studies Program has grown significantly, with a five-fold increase in the number of students, the addition of two junior faculty, and the establishment of two intentional living/formation communities. As interest continues to grow, we must ensure that students in the program have access to top scholars from their field. With the help of 2O36, we can continue our leadership in scholarship and teaching by adding a named endowed chair for Episcopal and Anglican studies to guide the work in this growing area.

As new challenges and priorities arise and technology advances, versatile funding is vital for Candler to remain a destination of choice for students and faculty alike. That’s why the Fund for Excellence and budget-relieving annual gifts are important to Candler, forming a broad base of support to enhance the educational experience. Supporting 2O36 with an unrestricted annual gift allows Dean Jan Love and Candler leaders to respond quickly as needs shift, expand financial aid for deserving students, and create opportunities for dynamic engagement and worship.