Grant Will Help Establish the Horace G. Underwood Chair of Global Christianity and the Seminary's Center for Global Christianity

Contact: Glynnis Woolridge, Communications, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, 732-247-5241 ext 131, gwoolridge@nbts.edu

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., March 9, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- New Brunswick Theological Seminary, the first seminary established in the United States, today announced that The Henry Luce Foundation has awarded the Seminary $350,000 toward the establishment of the Horace G. Underwood Chair of Global Christianity.

The Henry Luce Foundation Theology Program grant will be paid out to New Brunswick Theological Seminary during the next three years, with the first installment of $150,000 in 2011. To date, the Seminary has received more than one million dollars in gifts and pledges toward the $1.5 million needed to fully endow the chair.

"This commitment to the Underwood Chair from The Henry Luce Foundation speaks a significant word of support to the Seminary in its commitment to a richly diverse and increasingly global student body," said the Reverend Dr. Gregg Mast, President of New Brunswick Theological Seminary. "This is a clear witness to other potential partners that our goal of a full-time faculty member and a Center for Global Christianity is within our reach."

The Horace G. Underwood Chair endowment will support the Seminary's first Horace G. Underwood Professor of Global Christianity, who will teach the Seminary's courses in world mission history and the theological study of the missionary function of the Christian church. This faculty member will also establish and direct the New Brunswick Theological Seminary Center for Global Christianity, which will strengthen strategic relationships with Christian institutions worldwide, coordinate exchanges of scholars and facilitate the Seminary's program of cross-cultural study abroad.

"Our friends and supporters in Korea are responsible for two-thirds of the total gifts and pledges we have received so far," said Dr. Mast. "The Horace G. Underwood chair and resulting academic programs will honor an ancestor who has had a significant influence on the Christian Church in Korea."

Horace G. Underwood, for whom the new chair is named, graduated from New Brunswick Theological Seminary in 1884, was ordained by the Reformed Church in America and commissioned by the Presbyterian Church to be its first missionary to Korea. Underwood's ministry in Korea focused on sharing the Gospel through evangelism as well as education and acts of social concern. During his time in Korea, Underwood established an orphanage in Seoul, founded the first Presbyterian Church in Korea (currently Saemoonan Church), published the first Korean Hymnbook and English-Korean dictionary, organized the Korean YMCA, and established and served as the first President of Chosun Christian College, now known as Yonsei University.

About New Brunswick Theological Seminary
New Brunswick Theological Seminary is first in theological education. Founded in 1784, the New Brunswick Theological Seminary is the institution of choice for those who demand an exceptional seminary education, a flexible academic schedule and the sustenance of a spiritually rich community. The Seminary offers Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Arts in Theological Studies (M.A.) and Doctor of Ministry in Metro-Urban Ministry (D.Min.) degrees, as well as Certificates in Theological Studies to enhance the work and training of special ministers, church officers and other Christian leaders. For more information about New Brunswick Theological Seminary, please visit www.nbts.edu.