Join us in congratulating these 2025 Seminary Scholarship graduates! Click on each name below to learn more about each graduate’s schooling and plans for the future.
Trey graduated from Saint Paul School of Theology with a Masters of Divinity.
“I will continue in my 3rd year at Neosho United Methodist Church and will be commissioned as a Provisional Elder at the Annual Conference this year.
Neosho United Methodist Church is a congregation that has been growing over the past three years going from averaging 112 on Sunday mornings to 151. Last year, we launched a Modern Worship service at our Westside Campus that is now averaging 69 people. Also, we launched a Discipleship Pathway last year that 91 people are now participating in.
I want to thank you for all the work the foundation does and the way it has supported me and my family. My hope was to pursue my vocational call without negatively impacting my family financially. Because of the foundation, I was able to do that. Words cannot express how helpful it has been to be able to focus on my family, church, and school without having to stress financially. Thank you for your ministry and creating that opportunity for me.”
“I graduated from Eden Theological Seminary located in St. Louis, Missouri with a Master of Divinity degree. Upon graduating, I will be commissioned as a Provisional Elder in the Missouri Conference. While I will remain a member of the Missouri Conference, I will be temporarily on loan to the Mountain Sky Conference for the next few years. In pursuit of my husband’s calling to be a physician, he and I are relocating to Utah for the duration of his residency training. I am so excited to continue my call to becoming an Ordained Elder while we are living out west. I will be serving a full-time two point charge appointment as the pastor for First UMC SLC and Centenary UMC both located in Salt Lake City, UT. I hope to maintain my connections to Missouri, and be ordained as an Elder in this conference.
My husband and I have both been full-time students for our first few years of marriage and have been so grateful for the financial support of the foundation who made paying for my seminary education possible. As two Missouri natives, we look forward to continuing to support this conference and community that has so faithfully supported us!”
Jayne graduated with a Master of Divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary.
“I graduated summa cum laude. I also received The Hoyt Hickman award for excellence in academic and practical skills in worship.
I will be in a two-point charge – LifeSong UMC in Reeds Spring and Open Doors UMC in Blue Eye. I am planning to work toward ordination on the Elder track and hope to begin that process this Fall.
When I discerned my call into ministry, I felt in my heart that a seminary education was one of the ways that God was going equip me for the work that God was sending me into the world to do. However, the cost of that education was scary to think about, especially as a mom to five children. The scholarships I received from the foundation during my seminary education where a blessing to me help alleviate those fears so that I could fully embrace the opportunity for God to grow me and prepare me for pastoral ministry.”
Nina graduated with a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry from Saint Paul School of Theology, with a specialization in United Methodist Studies.
She will continue serving New Florence UMC and Middletown UMC.
“It would not have been possible without the financial assistance from the United Methodist Foundation! Many thank yous!”
Tricia graduated from Saint Paul School of Theology with a Master of Divinity. She will continuing her appointment at Hope UMC in Lone Jack.
Wesley graduated with a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology.
“In July I will start my first appointment in Missouri as an Associate Pastor at First UMC in Kearney.” (NOTE: Wesley will also be serving there as part of the MUMF and MOAC Fellows program)
“For my ministry, I have felt called to help serve those who have felt pushed aside by the church, to help the church become more of a community space and that all people feel that they can come to as they are. That there are no requirements for going to a church.
The scholarship from the foundation was a vital piece of assistance to helping fund seminary. Even though there are a lot of scholarship opportunities the cost of living is very high and that is a major part of the cost of attending seminary. Through the scholarship I was able to help reduce my amount of loans that I now have.”
View seminary scholarship information and online application