Seminary Scholarships & Internships

funding your call

Seminary education requires a serious commitment of time, talent, and treasure from each student. Likewise, the Church is committed to providing significant financial support to ensure that qualified students have adequate resources to answer the call to ministry. 

For United Methodists in Missouri, there are a number of grants and scholarships available from several different sources. The following information offers some descriptions and links to more information. Please make note of the different eligibility requirements, deadlines, and separate applications that are necessary. If you have questions, please call us at 800-332-8238.

scholarship & internship opportunities

Click below to learn more.

To apply for MUMF and MOAC financial assistance, submit the Unified Application by June 1.

The following awards use the Unified Application:

Missouri UM Foundation Seminary Scholars Grants 

  • Must be a Missouri candidate for ministry and plan to seek ordination in Missouri
  • Full-time study = $4,000 per year/ half-time study = $2,000 per year

Missouri Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and Student Aid Grants (Ministerial Education Fund)

  • Full-time study = $2,500 per semester / part-time study = $1,250 per semester
MUMF and MOAC Unified Application

Administered through GBHEM: 

Online applications should be submitted through the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) website. Deadlines may change from year to year, but generally applications are accepted starting in January and running through March. (Please note: the 2026 deadline is March 6!)

  • GBHEM’s ECL application also places the student in consideration for all of the GBHEM scholarships for which they are eligible.
  • Basic ECL eligibility includes full-time study in a Master of Divinity program at one of the 13 UM seminaries in addition to other qualifications.
ECL and other GBHEM Scholarships

UM Higher Education Foundation applications accepted from January 1 to March 20.

  • You must be a member of a local UM church for at least one year

How it works:

  1.  The local UM church supports the student with $1,000 (on a church check)
  2. UMHEF will match that with $1,000
  3. Participating Institutions will match with $1,000
  4. Missouri United Methodist Foundation will match $1,000 for Saint Paul School of Theology students

Therefore, the potential scholarship total is up to $4,000 

UMHEF Scholarship Application

Applicants who apply for seminary scholarships through the MOAC Unified Application will be considered for the following additional scholarships:

Stella Kahrs Memorial Scholarship

  • First consideration will be given to students from Smithton, MO
  • Second consideration will be given all other applicants

Lawrence & Gracia Herbert Scholarship Fund

  • Saint Paul School of Theology students only

Boone and Nadine T. Ingels Memorial Scholarship

  • First consideration will be given to Saint Paul School of Theology students from Cass County
  • Second consideration will be given to Saint Paul School of Theology students from the Northwest District
  • Third consideration will be given to all Saint Paul School of Theology students from Missouri
Both undergraduates and seminary students may be eligible for paid summer internships at Missouri churches funded jointly by the Missouri Conference and the Foundation

(Apply through MOAC Office of Leadership Excellence)

questions?

Contact the Foundation at foundation@mumf.org or 573-875-4168.

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