Ministry Fellowships

FTE's Ministry Fellowship is $10,000 award for seminary students in the second year of a Master of Divinity program or eligible Masters student in a program oriented toward ministerial leadership. The Ministry Fellowship seeks to bring together a community of emerging, young pastoral leaders from an array of communities and backgrounds across the Christian spectrum. These remarkable young leaders form a leadership cohort dedicated to a life of service to the church and the world.

What does it take to become a Ministry Fellow?

To apply for the Ministry Fellowship, you must be nominated by the dean or president of your seminary. Each seminary may nominate up to three students.

Eligible candidates must be:

a full-time Master of Divinity or eligible Masters student in a program oriented toward ministerial leadership who has completed one semester at a seminary accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).
- To verify eligibility of Master degree programs, please click here. Eligible programs are grouped under the category "Basic Programs Oriented Toward Ministerial Leadership Programs." Click through each category to see if your degree program is listed as approved by the ATS.
- You are not eligible if you are already in the second or third year of a M.Div. program.
have a seminary GPA of 3.3 or higher
a U.S. or Canadian citizen or permanent resident of either country
age 35 or younger
able to participate in all fellowship activities*

The FTE Ministry Fellowship is an eighteen-month commitment to journey together over time that culminates in a self-designed ministry project. Good candidates for the fellowship possess commitment to the church, ability to work in leadership with others, ability to connect personal faith to larger concerns in church and society, capacity for healthy engagement across cultures and/or lines of difference, emotional maturity, intellectual and theological curiosity, communication and critical thinking skills, self-awareness and healthy boundaries.

What does a Fellowship Include?

Ministry Fellows are awarded a $10,000 stipend for educational and living expenses and for a self-designed ministry project. As part of the mentoring support provided by the fellowship, each Fellow has the opportunity to meet with FTE staff and other advisors to discern how best to allocate the stipend funds.

FTE Ministry Fellows are required to participate in the FTE Leaders in Ministry Conference to be held June 19 - 23, 2012. Prominent theologians, scholars, ministers, and church leaders will participate in the leadership of the conference. Transportation, lodging, food and fees will be provided for Ministry Fellows.

*Students unable to attend the conference should not apply for the fellowship.