Moving Forward
PRESS RELEASE | July 20, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bishop Patrick Streiff, President
The Endowment for Theological Education – Africa, Europe, the Philippines
www.endowftecc.org
The Miracle Sunday Initiative has brought new awareness and strengthened support for the endowment for theological education in Africa, Europe and the Philippines. The Endowment Board is encouraged to move forward into a next phase in communication and fundraising with a new part-time staff person.
We have received encouraging reports from many different regions of our world-wide connection where annual conference leadership and local churches have engaged in the Miracle Sunday Initiative. Yet it is too early to announce final results as reports are being prepared and sent to us from annual conferences. We rejoice in a much broader awareness of the huge disparity in support for theological education between the UMC in the U.S. and the UMC in Africa, Europe, and the Philippines. It gives us energy and hope to move forward into a next phase of building up the endowment.
For such a next phase, the Endowment Board is happy to announce a new part-time staff person, Kristin Schol, who will focus on communication with donors and the larger church, and on fundraising. Our experienced Board members, Neil Alexander and Minnis Ridenour, have interviewed her and established an independent contractor agreement, starting July 13, 2026. They will provide ongoing leadership and oversight of Kristin’s work. She will also fill the role of administrative coordinator, at least in these initial months.
Kristin Schol brings more than a decade of nonprofit development and fundraising leadership, including serving as Director of the Annual Fund at Wesley Theological Seminary. She also brings experience in raising major gifts, annual giving, endowment development, capital campaign coordination, and donor stewardship.
She has extensive experience cultivating and managing donor relationships, developing prospect management systems, and implementing strategic fundraising initiatives that strengthen philanthropic support and build sustainable resources. Combined with her background in business management and her lifelong commitment to The United Methodist Church, Kristin brings the experience, strategic vision, and relationship-building skills needed to help us expand donor engagement and achieve long-term fundraising success.
The Endowment Board rejoices having found her for this next phase of the endowment. The Endowment Board, together with Kristin Schol, will also continue discussion and discernment with the fundraising unit of GBHEM for possible collaboration and synergies.
The Endowment Board heartily thanks all Bishops and conference coordinators who have wonderfully supported and implemented the Miracle Sunday Initiative in their annual conferences. The initiative will remain a strong testimony to our solidarity and connection in a world-wide United Methodist Church.
With a grateful heart and hopeful mind,
Bishop Patrick Streiff, chairperson of the Endowment Board
