Native American Support

How to Support the Native American Program

Since 1982, UDTS has invested heavily in the Native American Residential Study Program, enabling students to pursue ordained ministry. This commitment has mean concentrating significant educational and financial resources on a select group of Native American students – approximately $24, 000 per year for each student. Since the inception of the program, more than 65 students have enrolled. UDTS has prepared more Native Americans for ordained ministry than all other mainline seminaries combined.

Eskimo leaders tend to be raised up to leadership over a period of time by their communities, resulting in candidates for ministry who tend to be, when they enter seminary, somewhat older than traditional students. These students typically have families and many obligations. Their financial concerns often are greater than that of other seminary students, yet the scholarship resources for these students are quite limited.

The challenge.
Inquiries from qualified applicants for the Native American Residential Study Program continue to be received. The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary finds itself in the difficult position of having to choose among qualified applicants for the limited financial aid available. Such decisions impact the future of pastoral leadership in the Native American communities.

You can help with your financial support.

If you wish to make a contribution, or if you'd like more information, please contact

• Dr. Gene Wilson, Director of Native American Program at (563) 589-3117,
• Dr. Bonnie Sue Lewis, Academic Advisor to Students at (563) 589-3648, or
• Mr. John Puotenin, Sr. Vice President for Advancement at (563) 589-3618.

Leadership today impacts leadership tomorrow.
Graduates of the UDTS Native American Residential Study program have been among the top leaders of Native Americans nationwide. Consider the contributions of just a few of them:

• Danelle and Ron McKinney are both 1996 graduates of UDTS. Danelle, a Dakota, was the first woman ordained by Dakota Presbytery. Also an ordained minister, Ron is a Choctaw from Oklahoma. Together they serve the churches in Dakota Presbytery.
• Irvin Porter, a 2001 graduate of UDTS and a member of the Nez Perce, Pima, Papago from Idaho is now serving the Church of the Indian Fellowship in Tacoma, Washington, a Native American Presbyterian congregation on the Puyallup Indian reservation. He was ordained in October of 2003.
• Norma McCabe, a Navajo and Presbyterian Church (USA) ordained minister, serves a Navajo congregation in Arizona.