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For the outstanding seminary student in the second year of a Master of Divinity program, FTE's Ministry Fellowship provides significant financial and mentoring support to enhance the student's preparation for ministerial leadership. The program encourages initiative, creativity and independent learning opportunities not routinely included in the seminary curriculum. It provides a network of mentors and guides to help recipients use the award in ways that will contribute significantly to the vitality and longevity of their service to the larger church, including the reduction of the financial burden of a seminary education and the implementation of a self-designed ministry project. 
To apply for the Ministry Fellowship program, you must be nominated by the dean or president of your seminary. Each seminary may nominate up to five students. Eligible candidates must be first-year, full-time Master of Divinity students who have completed one semester at a seminary accredited by the Association of Theological Schools. (You are not eligible if you are already in the second or third year of a M.Div. program, or enrolled in an M.T.S., Th.M. or M.A. degree program.) You must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and a seminary GPA of 3.3 or higher. You must be a U.S. or Canadian citizen, 35 years of age or younger, and you must be available to participate in all fellowship activities. If you are a first-year FTE Congregational Fellow, you are eligible for this fellowship program. You must already be demonstrating excellent abilities for ministry and a deep commitment to the life of the spirit and ministry as a career, as well as a record of high academic achievement. You must have a relationship with and dedication to a particular denomination of the Christian church. You must have a drive to understand and act on behalf of others' needs, as well as the potential for empowering others to lives of faithfulness. Finally, you must bring imagination, creativity, compassion, vision, capacity for critical thinking, leadership, personal integrity and good communication skills to your work. 
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 advisers to discern how best to allocate the stipend funds. Each Fellow also participates in the Congregational Leadership Intensive and attends the FTE Conference on Excellence in Ministry, held during the same week, as well as a follow-up gathering upon completion of the ministry project. A stipend is provided for conference travel and expenses. Students unable to attend the conference should not apply for the fellowship. 
Up to 20 Ministry Fellows will be named for the upcoming academic year. The deadline to apply for the 2008-2009 academic year has passed; we are no longer accepting fellowship applications. Contact us to be notified when fellowship applications for the 2009-2010 academic year are posted this fall. Please be sure to include your name and e-mail address in the message. Read more for tips on securing helpful letters of reference. 
Fellows tell us the conference inspires them to keep going. This annual gathering brings together FTE Undergraduate, Congregational, VEV and Ministry Fellows with distinguished theologians, pastors and church leaders for several days of thoughtful exchange, including lectures, worship, forums, workshops, recreational activities and informal time together. The conference fosters mentoring relationships between students, theological leaders and pastors as they explore questions of ministry, service and the nature of Christian vocation. Fellows leave the conference with new tools for understanding their particular gifts in the context of the world's needs. The Congregational Leadership Intensive The Congregational Leadership Intensive inaugurates the Ministry Fellowship year. At this gathering, Fellows meet with FTE staff, pastors, leadership and financial planning consultants to focus on understanding themselves as congregational leaders and to learn key concepts and practices of excellent leadership. The leadership intensive is held just prior to the Summer Conference on Excellence in Ministry. At the end of the fellowship year, Fellows convene again to share what they have learned from their completed ministry projects. The 2008 FTE Congregational Leadership Intensive and Conference on Excellence in Ministry will be held June 8 - 15, 2008 at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, in Atlanta, GA. |
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