Christian education scholarships exist for people entering full-time ministry.
Scholarships for Christian education are awarded to people planning to enter full-time ministry. The scholarships are usually awarded on the basis of merit, financial need, and in some cases, leadership skills. Although many scholarships for Christian education are available from private foundations through Christian institutions, some scholarships from secular institutions can also be used for Christian education.
Maclellan Brown Ministry
Students living in the Chattanooga, Tenn. area who plan on a full-time career in Christian ministry may apply for the Dora Maclellan Brown Ministry Scholarship program. Scholarships are given for those pursuing a master's degree. Ministry guidelines describe the ideal candidate profile as a student who is theologically conservative. The guidelines also state that the Scholarship Committee's inclination is for applicants who are planning to become church pastors. However, students wanting to serve in other ministries are also considered.
As of 2011, DMB 's application process requires that you provide financial data on what your annual living expenses will be, and a summary of your resources. The scholarships amount vary and are awarded according to the applicant's merit and need. Should you be fortunate enough to obtain a DMB scholarship, depending on the length of your program, you can rest assured that you'll receive it for either two or four years. You must maintain satisfactory grades for subsequent years and you must report your grades to the Foundation each year.
DMB's Scholarship Committee encourages applicants to call the Scholarship Coordinator to discuss goals and objectives before submitting your application.
United Church of Christ
The national ministries of the United Church of Christ is another avenue for a scholarship for a Christian education. As of 2011, the UCC states a number of conditions must be met to qualify for one of its scholarship. The candidate must affirm the Bible as the authoritative witness to God's word, plan to serve with UCC after graduation, and must have been a member of a UCC congregation for at least one year. Scholarship recipients must also maintain no less than a "B" average and demonstrate leadership abilities. In partnership with The Brown Scholarships, UCC awards up to $10,000 to pastoral candidates as of 2011. Additional scholarships range from as low as $500 to assist with books, up to $2,400 towards doctoral studies.
Scholarships for Theological Leaders
The Henry R. Luce Foundation was established in 1936 by Henry Luce to honor his parents, who were missionary educators in China. It supports the development of leaders for religious institutions. The foundation provides scholarships for theological candidates with the hope that they will foster better understanding of the role of religion in a pluralistic society. Candidates in seminaries and divinity institutions are prime recipients for these theology program scholarships. Christian applicants will be awarded the scholarships to help them develop a deeper understanding and to engage with people of other religions in a more meaningful way. Approaches for these awards include seminars for faculty, field experience and internships for students.
Ultimately, the aim is to prepare future generations of policy specialists to assume roles in human rights, development, and international relief.
Fellows in Theology
Through the Association of Theological Schools, the Luce Foundation also provides a Fellows in Theology award for full-time junior and senior scholars. Its purpose is to support research of scholars whose projects demonstrate innovation in theological studies. As of 2011, the scholarship provides up to $75,000 for one year of salary replacement funds.
Tags: Christian education, Brown Ministry, Church Christ, Fellows Theology, full-time ministry, Henry Luce, Luce Foundation