You have heard – and hope to answer – God’s call to ordained or licensed ministry. But how will you pay for seminary?
As with most other graduate education, seminary can be expensive.
The 2012 General Conference authorized a Seminary Indebtedness Task Force charged with developing a denominational plan to reduce or eliminate seminary debt for certified candidates intending to enter ordained ministry. The task force, led by a team from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, will report to the Connectional Table and Council of Bishops in 2015 and to General Conference 2016.
In the meantime, general agencies and other entities within the United Methodist connection, as well as the 13 United Methodist seminaries, stand ready to provide financial aid for those pursuing ordained and licensed ministry within the denomination. Financial aid is also available to laity and clergy pursuing certification in specialized ministry.
The boards of ordained ministry and foundations in many annual conferences also provide scholarships. In the Alabama-West Florida Conference, for example, the Stegall Seminary Scholarship Endowment Foundation provides $10,000 a year in financial assistance for all United Methodist seminary students from the conference.
The United Methodist Student Day offering supports loans and scholarships awarded by the Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Part of the Ministerial Education Fund as well as portions of the special offerings received on World Communion Sunday and Native American Ministries Sunday are earmarked for scholarships.
What’s available?
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry website, www.gbhem.org/loans-and-scholarships, provides general information about loans and scholarships. Loans to undergraduates and to seminarians and other graduate students are granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Students may borrow up to $5,000 per calendar year for a maximum total loan of $20,000, with interest rates lower than federal student Stafford loans.
A number of scholarships are listed by the agency with most designated for specific groups of students. The following are criteria for applicants for every program:
- Be active, full members of The United Methodist Church for at least one year.
- Be pursuing a degree program at any accredited institution within the United States.
- Have a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- Be full-time students.
Students from outside the United States may apply if they have been a member of The United Methodist Church in a central conference or within the United States for at least three years before applying and if they will be enrolled in a United Methodist related institution within the United States
The Young People’s Ministries Scholarship is awarded by the General Board of Discipleship to students attending an institution outside the United States, www.globalyoungpeople.org.
Journey Toward Ordained Ministry Scholarship
Racial/ethnic minority students age 30 or younger may apply for the Journey Toward Ordained Ministry Scholarship. Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students pursuing ordained ministry, be a member of The United Methodist Church for at least two years, attend a United Methodist-related institution and have a GPA of 2.85+ (undergraduate) or 3.0+ (graduate). This program has a mentoring component. The average award is $5,000. Funding for this program comes from local church offerings on World Communion Sunday (Oct. 5).
Native American Seminary Scholarship
Half of the offering on Native American Ministries Sunday (second Sunday after Easter) provides scholarships for Native Americans attending United Methodist schools of theology and other approved seminaries.
Special Seminary Scholarship
The Special Seminary Scholarship is for students younger than age 30 who are pursuing Master of Divinity degrees at United Methodist-related seminaries or schools of theology. The average award is $2,000.