Whosoever Will Program Ends After Years of Supporting New Pastors

Bethel University in McKenzie, Tennessee, has confirmed that the Whosoever Will Ministry Bridge Program—a collaborative initiative between Bethel University and Memphis Theological Seminary that provided financial assistance to new Cumberland Presbyterian pastors—has been discontinued.

According to an October 17, 2025, email from Bethel University’s Chaplain & Director of Community Engagement, Garrett Burns, the program’s sponsors informed the university they could no longer continue the effort due to personal and business circumstances. Existing participants will continue to receive support through their promised 60 monthly payments, but no new applicants will be accepted.

The Whosoever Will program, launched as part of the Ministry Bridge partnership, offered up to $1,000 per month for Bethel and Memphis Theological Seminary graduates who became pastors of Cumberland Presbyterian congregations. The initiative aimed to ease the financial burden of entering ministry and to strengthen leadership within the denomination.

Both Bethel University and Memphis Theological Seminary expressed gratitude for the generosity that made the program possible and affirmed their ongoing commitment to preparing future Cumberland Presbyterian leaders.

Picture of Matthew Gore

Matthew Gore

Matthew H. Gore is a historian and journalist with a deep commitment to preserving and interpreting the past. He holds a BA in History, a BA in Journalism, and an MA in History, all from Western Kentucky University, which honored him with their prestigious James H. Poteet Award. He also pursued doctoral studies at the University of Kentucky. Gore has contributed extensively to both academic and popular publications, specializing in religious history, particularly within the Cumberland Presbyterian tradition. He is best known for his book The History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Kentucky to 1988 (2000), and his work has also ranged widely, covering subjects as diverse as The Origin of Marvelman (a British superhero of the 1950s and 1960s), the relative scarcity of East German philatelics, and the biography of British pulp artist Denis McLoughlin. Gore has spent much of his career in service to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where he holds key roles in communications, historical preservation, and publishing. Since 2018, he has served as editor of the Cumberland Presbyterian magazine for the Ministry Council of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church A past president of the Society of Tennessee Archivists, Gore is widely recognized for his leadership in archival work and his passion for sharing the narratives of faith communities with broader audiences.
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