The Community of Christ Seminary Scholarship provides funding for educational preparation for church members with a future as church ordained ministers. Applicants seek or anticipate applying for future church employment.

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Grade-point average: Minimum 3.0 on a Bachelors degree
  Maintain 3.5 GPA to retain funding
• Eligibility for admission: Church member who meets or exceeds Graceland University Master’s program admission requirements. More information is available at www.Graceland.edu/seminary.
• Provisional admission: Students who have a GPA under 3.0 must provide a scholarly work (paper) to demonstrate their ability to undertake graduate study. These students may be accepted provisionally and may have specific guidelines, pending official acceptance into the program.
• English proficiency: Students must demonstrate written and oral English-language proficiencies.
• Written statement: Each applicant must submit a written paper about his or her vision for church ministry and service.
• Written recommendations: Three letters from professors and/or mission center officers focusing on: 1) applicant’s potential for ministry and service to and for the church; and 2) potential for successful graduate level studies.
• Commitment to church service: Applicant commits to paid or self-sustaining church ministry for at least five years post-graduation .
• Competencies: Demonstrated ministry and leadership competencies and aptitude measured as articulated by the Ministerial and Leadership Formation Team.
• Consent: Students will consent to a review of GPA and progress during the term by World Church leaders and a critique by seminary faculty upon graduation and prior to church employment.
• Tuition only: Scholarship will go toward tuition. It will not be used toward books, fees, etc.
• Financial repayment: Awardees guarantee repayment of tuition fees for incomplete degree work or choosing a different career path before fulfilling a five-year commitment to church service.

PROGRAM COMPLETION CRITERIA

• Thesis or capstone: Students enrolled in MAR program are required to complete a thesis or capstone focused on church-related topics as approved in advance.
• Specialized ministry: Successful completion of RELG6111 Church Leadership.
• Practicum: Students enrolled in MACM program are required to complete a preapproved ministry or leadership practicum.
• Completion timeframe: Must meet seminary completion requirements of three years for MAR or five years for MACM.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications are reviewed in January and September.

• To be considered for the January focus session and spring online courses, scholarship applications are due August 1.
• To be considered for the May/June focus session and fall online courses, scholarship applications are due December 1.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Applications are available at  www.CofChrist.org/leadership/seminaryscholarship.asp. Please direct questions to the leadership development specialist at 1-816-833-1000 x2358 or 1-800-825-2806 x2358.