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Cotner College Educational Ministries
Providing Ongoing Programs of Growth and Education for Clergy and Laity in Nebraska

Location:
1268 South 20th Street
Lincoln, Nebraska 68502
(402) 474-3207
cotnercollege@windstream.net

Mission and Purpose
The focus of the Cotner College Educational Ministries is life-long education/learning for clergy and adult lay persons. All programs, events, services and resources provided by the Cotner College Commission endeavor to enhance the Personal, Spiritual, Biblical, Theological, and Professional Growth of the participants.

Relationships
Cotner College Educational Ministries relate to the Division of Higher Education of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The Cotner office is housed with and its program shared by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Nebraska. In addition, the Nebraska Conference of the United Church of Christ and the Central and Homestead Presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church (USA) share in program planning and participation in events. The work of the Cotner College Commission is supported by Cotner College Endowment Funds, budgeted monies from Disciples Mission Fund through the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and contributions from our friends and alumni.

Scholarships
Scholarships are offered for continuing education to post-high school members of the Nebraska Disciples’ congregations. Cotner provides assistance for undergraduate and graduate work, as well as individual events for clergy and laity. Many scholarship funds have been established in honor of or in memory of Cotner alumni, Disciple family members, pastors and others. Interest income from these gifts provides the funds for scholarship assistance. Most funds are not designated and may be used wherever needed. At this time, there are five designated funds: the Elsie Fisher Fund for University of Nebraska students; the Mackie Sisters’ Fund, for ministry students, and the Rev. W. Howard and Mary Holverson Fund established by Dr. Augustine Okonkwo to be used to support an individual who has demonstrated a genuine love for God and human beings like Rev. and Mrs. Holverson and is willing to work for the Christian Church.” The Donna Doerr Fund and the Robert E. Dana Fund are designated for United Church of Christ applicants.

Program Services
Clergy Enrichment
• The annual Clergy Convocation, the Panhandle Retreat and the Continuing Education Event are designed to give special attention to the needs of Disciple and UCC pastors.
• Cotner Ministers’ Mini-Series are offered several times each each year with various current topics offered for discussion, along with lunch.
• Cotner helps to sponsor ecumenical events and workshops including National and International Symposiums, which bring to Nebraska nationally and internationally known speakers.
• Cotner scholarships are given for clergy continuing education and have helped to scholarship clergy to Phillips Theological Seminary and Brite Divinity School to hear people such as Tex Sample, Tony Campolo, Barbara Brown Taylor, Fred Craddock and others.
• Clergy Enrichment events are open and pastors are encouraged to invite their ecumenical colleagues and their interested parishioners.

Laity Enrichment
In 1998, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Nebraska and the Nebraska Conference United Church of Christ jointly developed the Education for Lay Ministry program (ELM) through the work of Cotner College Educational Ministries, where it continues to be administered.
• In 2004, the Central and Homestead Presbyteries joined us in the ELM program. ELM provides quality education for persons who seek to prepare for ministry within the congregations of the Disciple, UCC, and Presbyterian traditions. The program is a three-year course of study that can lead to licensed/certified ministry. Most of the ELM graduates are now serving as pastors of small congregations in Nebraska.
• Cotner continues its work to develop lay leadership.

Cotner College Lectures
The purpose of the Lectures is to bring the academic and religious communities into dialogue with each other. The lectures are open to the public at no cost. Funds have been given to both Cotner College and the University of Nebraska Foundation by Donald W. and Wenona Mills Gerhard (of First Christian Church, Lincoln) for the underwriting of the Lectures. Wesleyan University also participates as a part of the Swan Lectures Series. Past lecturers include Martin E. Marty, Marcus J. Borg, Craig A. Evans, Amy-Jill Levine, Barbara Newman, and Elaine Pagels.

All that Cotner does is planned and carried out according to Disciple, United Church of Christ and Presbyterian needs, as expressed by pastors and lay people. We are always open to new ideas and suggestions. Events are open to the ecumenical community and Disciple, UCC, and Presbyterian clergy and lay people are encouraged to invite their friends and colleagues of different faith persuasions.

Historical Briefs
Cotner College (Cotner University)
The College received its first students October 1, 1889, after two years of planning and building by members of the Christian Churches of Nebraska. During its forty-four years of life in Bethany (Lincoln), Nebraska, it provided education for pastors, professors, doctors, dentists, teachers, missionaries and lay persons. The last class of the original Cotner College graduated in 1933.

Cotner’s educational dream was broad and included for varying periods of time Academies (high schools), a medical department, dental department, business and elocution departments, a summer program at Sylvandale at Loveland, Colorado, as well as the liberal arts program.

Though small and struggling through its life, the school provided leadership and influence that was out of proportion to its size. At one time, more than half of the overseas missionaries commissioned by the Christian Church were graduates of Cotner. The medical and dental departments were given over to the University of Nebraska and provided the beginning for its medical and dental colleges.

Cotner School of Religion
The closing of Cotner College in 1933 did not end the dream of Christian higher education among Nebraska Christian Churches. In 1946 the Cotner School of Religion opened on Holdrege Street across from the Agricultural Campus (now known as East Campus) of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Here university students could enroll in bible, religion, and preaching courses for elective credit and return to their farms and rural towns to serve their congregations. In 1954, a building was erected across from the downtown campus and the relationship with the University of Nebraska was formalized making it possible for students to earn a minor in religious studies by taking the courses offered by Cotner. Deans P.R. Stevens and Dr. Raleigh J. Peterson (now Dean Emeritus) played leading roles in the organization of this new form of Cotner College.

Cotner College Chair of Religious Studies
The Cotner dream of excellence in biblical studies is being carried on today as a part of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In 1975 Cotner’s gift of $250,000 to endow the Cotner College Chair of Religious Studies provided a center around which a Religious Studies Program was organized. Over 30 courses related to religion taught by professors in nine departments made it possible for UNL students to graduate with a minor in Religious Studies. In February 1998, at an event the University titled “Creating Excellence”, Cotner College and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Nebraska were recognized and a bronze medallion presented as a “thank you” for the endowment. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Nebraska/Cotner College was the only religious entity so recognized.

Cotner College Commission
With the remaining assets of the Cotner School of Religion, the Commission came into being as a distinct and unique part of the ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Nebraska. Its charge is to provide personal, spiritual, biblical, theological and professional growth opportunities for Nebraska Disciples clergy and lay leaders. It continues to do so through the programs named herein. At the time the Commission was formed in 1976, Cotner began its relationship with the Nebraska Conference United Church of Christ, having two UCC Program Associates on staff and UCC representation on the Commission. Cotner’s first administrator was the Rev. Eddie Anderson (who also served as the Disciples Associate Regional Minster), followed by the Rev. Carl A. Burkhardt, Jr., the Rev. Daniel J. Davis, Sr., the Rev. N. Dwain Acker, the Revs. Dawn K. and John W. Stemple, and Dr. Kenneth W. Moore. When the Region could no longer fund the Associate Regional Minister position, the position of Program Administrator was developed in 1994 with the Regional Minister designated as Administrator.