The Graduate Theological Union recently received a gift to support a competitive prize for graduates and faculty.
The GTU is pleased to announce the establishment of the The Borsch-Rast Endowed Fund. The Borsch-Rast Prize and Lectureship of the Graduate Theological Union seeks to encourage the writing and publication of theological scholarship by GTU graduates and current faculty. The endowment for the Borsch-Rast Prize and Lectureship comes from the sale of Trinity Press International, a venture dedicated to the publication of scholarly and often interdisciplinary theological studies. The prize and lectureship honor the joint example and collaboration of Frederick Houk Borsch and Harold W. Rast. Hal Rast, after years as a senior editor at Fortress Press, was the founding director and editor of Trinity Press International, where he championed significant theological and religious studies. Fred Borsch was chair of TPI’s Board of Governors and its then Advisory Board. Borsch, former bishop of Los Angeles, was also the Dean and President of the Church Divinity School of the Pacific (1972-1981) and among the founders of the Graduate Theological Union Library.
The Borsch-Rast Prize will be awarded to a graduate (M.A., Ph.D., or Th.D.) or current faculty member of the GTU. In the original spirit of the award, it will be granted to encourage an author whose scholarly work offers new perspectives on biblical, historical, cultural, ethical, theological or religious issues.
The Prize will go to an author who has recently published a scholarly book having applications for a general audience, with some preference for interdisciplinary approaches and topics with relevance beyond a single faith community. Eligible books for consideration will be scholarly works written by GTU graduates or current faculty members published within the previous two years. The GTU will promote the Prize on its website, through its alumni network, at conferences, and via other channels. The Prize of $10,000 will normally be awarded every other year.
Selection shall be made by the Awards Committee of the Core Doctoral Faculty, which shall comprise two members elected annually by the Core Doctoral Faculty from among its membership plus a third, outside member selected by the two elected members. Nominations for the Prize may be submitted by any person, institution, or publishing company with the exception of the members of the Awards Committee. The first award will be in 2014-15 and a call for nominations will be announced in advance.