Supporting Formation for Ministry: 2026 Church Periodical Club Grant Recipients
Bexley Seabury Seminary is pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of the Church Periodical Club (CPC) Seminarian Book Grants. These annual awards support students in building the theological resources they will carry into their ministries—books, commentaries, and digital tools that will continue to shape their preaching, teaching, and pastoral leadership.
The Church Periodical Club, a long-standing ministry of the Episcopal Church, provides annual grants to Episcopal seminaries across the United States. Each seminary receives a portion of the total funds, which are then distributed to students for the purchase of books and other learning resources to support their formation and future ministry.
At Bexley Seabury, the grant is typically awarded to members of the graduating Master of Divinity class, with preference given to those preparing for ordained ministry and demonstrating financial need. This year, five students were selected to receive the award:
Denise Dollinger — Diocese of Chicago
William Kazibwe — Diocese of Massachusetts
Andrew White — Diocese of Arkansas
Samuel Love — Diocese of Chicago
Felicity Thompson — Diocese of Michigan
The Rev. Dr. Tom Ferguson, Academic Dean, reflected on the importance of the grant in the life of the seminary and its students:
“These grants offer very practical support at a pivotal moment—helping students begin to build the personal libraries that will sustain their ministries in the years ahead. It’s a meaningful way the wider Church invests in their ongoing formation.”
For students preparing to step into new contexts of ministry, the impact is both immediate and lasting.
Andrew White shared:
“Because of this grant, my bookshelves and my ministry look different: I can say yes to buying the disability theology, evangelism, and renewal texts that shape how I preach, teach, and organize. At this point in my formation, it feels like a quiet vote of confidence from the wider Church.”
William Kazibwe reflected:
“The Seminarian Book Fund grant to me was more than just financial aid; it was indeed an investment in the tools that I need to serve my future community. I have started my personal book collection that I am willing to share with anyone in my community. I am incredibly grateful for this organization’s belief in our preparation for ministry. May God continue using you in this very important way of supporting future church leaders.”
Denise Dollinger shared:
“I’m so thankful for this grant, as I’m still collecting texts for my church library. I’m especially looking forward to getting more commentaries for sermon construction.”
As The Seminary Beyond Walls, Bexley Seabury forms leaders who are already deeply engaged in ministry contexts across the Church. Resources like the CPC grants strengthen that formation—equipping students not only for graduation, but for a lifetime of learning, reflection, and faithful service.
We give thanks for the Church Periodical Club and its enduring commitment to theological education, and we celebrate these students as they prepare to carry the Church’s tradition forward in new and faithful ways.
