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About Us
Services
Clergy Education Debt Refinancing
Consultations & Coaching
Grants & Scholarships
Investment Funds
Michigan Area Loan Fund
Planned Giving
FAQs
News
Newsletters and Blogs
Giving News
Calendar of Events
Resources
Saving Grace
Annual Giving Programs
Church Leaders and Pastors
Estate Planning Guide
Planned Gift Calculators
Podcasts
Weekly Offertory Prayer
Contact
Search
Leadership Scholars Program for Seminary Students Application
✦
Official Rules & Eligibility Requirements
Step
1
of
4
25%
Name
(Required)
Address
(Required)
Street Address
Address Line 2
City
State
Alabama
Alaska
American Samoa
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Guam
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Northern Mariana Islands
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
U.S. Virgin Islands
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Armed Forces Americas
Armed Forces Europe
Armed Forces Pacific
ZIP Code
Phone
(Required)
Email
(Required)
Marital Status
(Required)
Single
Married
Divorced
Number of Dependents
(Required)
During the 2025-2026 academic year, I intend to be enrolled:
(Required)
Full-Time
Part-Time
Credit hours per semester
(Required)
Estimated Annual Expenses:
(Note: Include total household expenses. If married or dependents are living with you, include those related expenses.)
Tuition & Books ($)
(Required)
Housing: ($)
(Required)
Transportation: ($)
(Required)
Child Care: ($)
(Required)
Food: ($)
(Required)
Insurance: ($)
(Required)
Medical: ($)
(Required)
Clothing: ($)
(Required)
Annual Debt Repayment: ($)
(Required)
Going Out/Travel/Fitness/Entertainment: ($)
(Required)
Other Personal: ($)
Other: ($)
if Other, please specify:
Estimated Annual Income:
(Note: Include total household income, less taxes. If married or dependents are living with you, include their income, if any.)
Net Wages/Salary/Work Study: ($)
(Required)
Other Grants/Scholarships: ($)
(Required)
529 Plan Contributions/Financial Gifts: ($)
(Required)
Other: ($)
if Other, please specify:
Household Debt:
(Note: Include total household debt. If married or dependents are living with you, include their debt, if any.)
Undergraduate Student Loans: ($)
(Required)
Graduate School/Seminary Student Loans: ($)
(Required)
Credit Card Debt: ($)
(Required)
Medical Debt: ($)
(Required)
Mortgage: ($)
(Required)
Other: ($)
if Other, please specify:
Please provide your thoughtful response to the following:
(word count limit 500 per question)
1. How is your understanding of God’s call being shaped by the tensions and divisions within the Church and the broader society? How do you envision your leadership helping The United Methodist Church remain missionally engaged in this season?
(Required)
2. In what ways have your life experiences and formation prepared you to lead with both conviction and humility across differences of theology, culture, and generation within The United Methodist connection?
(Required)
3. How will the education and support provided by this scholarship enable you to serve the Michigan Conference of The United Methodist Church with depth, resilience, and faithfulness?
(Required)
Letters of Recommendation: (To be provided directly from the recommender)
Provide a letter of recommendation from your supervising District Superintendent. This letter should specifically address the DS’s perception of 1) your gifts and skills, 2) your capacity to serve as an exceptional leader in the Church, and 3) the opportunities for your continued growth as a leader.
In addition, provide two (2) letters of recommendation from seminary faculty members, administrators, or staff, denominational leaders, or field assignment supervisors. Letters from members of the District Committee on Ministry or the Board of Ordained Ministry or a parishioner are NOT acceptable letters of recommendation. These letters should specifically address their perception of 1) your gifts and skills, 2) your capacity to serve as an exceptional leader in the Church, and 3) the opportunities for your continued growth as a leader.
Official Transcript (to be provided directly from school)
Note: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prohibits an educational institution from releasing confidential, non-directory information about a student without a student’s consent. You may waive this right for faculty and staff when you ask them to write a letter of recommendation for this scholarship application process. It is your responsibility to provide this consent and to follow the appropriate protocol of the seminary.
External Forms to be mailed to UM Foundation of MI, 3347 Eagle Run Dr NE, Suite B, Grand Rapids, MI 49525. You are responsible for verifying receipt of these requirements.
I attest to the following:
(Required)
I am a certified candidate under the supervision of the Michigan Conference Board of Ordained Ministry.
I am enrolled as a part-time or full-time seminary student and currently attend a seminary accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and approved by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church.
I declare an intent to serve for a minimum of five (5) years on a deacon or elder track within the Michigan Conference of The United Methodist Church.
My cumulative GPA is 3.00 or higher.
The information in this application is accurate, truthful, and complete.
I understand that if I have been dishonest with any portion of this application or intentionally misrepresented financial information, the United Methodist Foundation of Michigan may, at its sole discretion, seek legal action for repayment of any scholarship funds provided.
Print Name
(Required)
Date
(Required)
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Signature
(Required)
Typing my name below serves as my electronic signature and confirms that the information provided is truthful and accurate to the best of my knowledge.
