Seminary Scholarships & Internships
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 description 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.
To apply for MUMF and MOAC financial assistance, submit the Unified Application by June 1. (Note: Students who are eligible and apply for the ECL Scholarship – see below – should not submit the Unified Application. ECL awards include funding from both the MUMF and MOAC. Students who submit both applications will NOT receive additional or redundant funding.) The following awards use the Unified Application:
Missouri UM Foundation Seminary Scholars Grants
• Must be seeking the Master of Divinity degree.
• Must be a Missouri candidate for ministry and plan to seek ordination in Missouri
• Full-time study = $3,000 per year/ half-time study = $1,500 per year
C2FM Seminary Scholarship
• Must meet all eligibility criteria for the MUMF Seminary Scholars Grant and agree to work with a C2FM financial coach and complete 3 coaching sessions within one year of receiving the scholarship
• Must provide your financial coach with household financial information and complete
the Financial Well-Being survey
• This is a one-time award of $2,500. After successful completion of the seminary degree and appointment to a Missouri church, the recipient is eligible to apply for a second C2FM award of $2,500 applicable to either student debt payment or retirement savings.
Missouri Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and Student Aid Grants (Ministerial Education Fund)
• Full-time study = $2,500 per semester / half-time study = $1,250 per semester
• Must be seeking the Master of Divinity degree.
• Must be a Missouri candidate for ministry and plan to seek ordination in Missouri
• Full-time study = $3,000 per year/ half-time study = $1,500 per year
C2FM Seminary Scholarship
• Must meet all eligibility criteria for the MUMF Seminary Scholars Grant and agree to work with a C2FM financial coach and complete 3 coaching sessions within one year of receiving the scholarship
• Must provide your financial coach with household financial information and complete
the Financial Well-Being survey
• This is a one-time award of $2,500. After successful completion of the seminary degree and appointment to a Missouri church, the recipient is eligible to apply for a second C2FM award of $2,500 applicable to either student debt payment or retirement savings.
Missouri Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and Student Aid Grants (Ministerial Education Fund)
• Full-time study = $2,500 per semester / half-time study = $1,250 per semester
Excellence in Clergy Leadership Scholarship (ECL Scholarship)
• New for 2021: The application window is expanded. Online applications accepted by GBHEM from December 15, 2020 to March 24, 2021
• Must be seeking the Master of Divinity degree at one of the participating 13 United Methodist seminaries
• Eligible students will be considered for the ECL Scholarship (up to a maximum of $7,500)
and for all other scholarships administered by the GBHEM
• Eligible Missouri candidates who receive ECL Scholarship funding will also be considered for seminary student scholarships and grants available through the Missouri UM Foundation (no need to complete an additional MOAC Unified Application)
C2FM Seminary Scholarships
• Successful applicants who are awarded the Excellence in Clergy Leadership Scholarship and complete the required financial wellness curriculum offered through EY Financial Planning Services will automatically receive an additional $2,500 from C2FM and be eligible to apply for the second C2FM award upon degree completion and appointment to a Missouri church.Excellence in Clergy Leadership Scholarship
• New for 2021: The application window is expanded. Online applications accepted by GBHEM from December 15, 2020 to March 24, 2021
• Must be seeking the Master of Divinity degree at one of the participating 13 United Methodist seminaries
• Eligible students will be considered for the ECL Scholarship (up to a maximum of $7,500)
and for all other scholarships administered by the GBHEM
• Eligible Missouri candidates who receive ECL Scholarship funding will also be considered for seminary student scholarships and grants available through the Missouri UM Foundation (no need to complete an additional MOAC Unified Application)
C2FM Seminary Scholarships
• Successful applicants who are awarded the Excellence in Clergy Leadership Scholarship and complete the required financial wellness curriculum offered through EY Financial Planning Services will automatically receive an additional $2,500 from C2FM and be eligible to apply for the second C2FM award upon degree completion and appointment to a Missouri church.Excellence in Clergy Leadership Scholarship
Dollars for Scholars Matching Grants – UM Higher Education Foundation (UMHEF)
• UM Higher Education Foundation applications accepted from January 1 to March 1
• 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
Your potential scholarship total is up to $4,000 UMHEF Scholarship Application
• UM Higher Education Foundation applications accepted from January 1 to March 1
• 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
Your potential scholarship total is up to $4,000 UMHEF Scholarship Application
GBHEM Scholarships (Various)
• See website for applications, deadlines and eligibility requirements
• See website for applications, deadlines and eligibility requirements
Applicants who apply for seminary scholarships through the MOAC Unified Application or the Excellence in Clergy Leadership 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 Heartland District
• Third consideration will be given to Saint Paul School of Theology students from
the Northwest or Southwest Districts LaCroix UMC – Ron and Linda Watts Ministry Scholarship • First priority to students from LaCroix UMC pursuing any full-time career in Christian ministry • Second priority to students pursuing the MDiv degree in order to become ordained UM pastors in Missouri
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 Heartland District
• Third consideration will be given to Saint Paul School of Theology students from
the Northwest or Southwest Districts LaCroix UMC – Ron and Linda Watts Ministry Scholarship • First priority to students from LaCroix UMC pursuing any full-time career in Christian ministry • Second priority to students pursuing the MDiv degree in order to become ordained UM pastors in Missouri
MUMF & MOAC Summer Ministry Internships:
Franklin & Louise Cole Summer Ministerial Internships (Missouri seminary students) and Discovery Seminary Internships (Out-of-state seminary students)
(Apply through MOAC Office of Leadership Excellence; deadline February 1, 2021)
Missouri Conference – Crossroads Summer Internships (undergraduates)
(Apply through MOAC Office of Leadership Excellence; deadline February 1, 2021)