NGA UMC Ministerial Education Grant INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICANT

Transcription

1 NGA UMC Ministerial Education Grant INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICANT THE PURPOSE OF THE MINISTERIAL EDUCATION FUND (BOD PAR 816) IS TO ASSIST IN PROVIDING AN ADEQUATELY TRAINED MINISTRY FOR OUR CHURCHES BY: A) Relieving some of the pressure of limited means, where such pressure may well prevent a ministerial candidate from obtaining the necessary education and by B) Reducing the necessity for too much employment while in school thus allowing more time for study. 1. Check the accreditation of your school. An undergraduate institution must be accredited by SACS ( and a seminary must be approved by the University Senate of the United Methodist Church ( Any questions concerning this should be referred to the Office of Ministerial Services. 2. Print the application from the Conference website. Portions are to be filled out by the student; by the District Superintendent; and by the Financial Aid Office of the university or seminary. 3. The District Superintendent is asked to complete his/her portion (item B, page 4) of the application remembering that serving a student appointment in North Georgia is not the same as being a candidate for ministry in the North Georgia Annual Conference. This page is sent to the MEF Chair (below). 4. The Financial Aid Office completes their portion (item C, page 5) of the application and refers it to the appropriate school office for the school recommendation to be completed. This may or may not be the same person as the Financial Aid Officer. Please allow two weeks for this part of the process. The Financial Aid Officer mails the completed application to the MEF Chair (below): 5. All pages must be complete to begin the Student s application file. The completed application suffices for only one semester. Students tend to vary their enrollments from term to term, and the MEF Chair must have current enrollment information to allocate funds appropriately. Deadlines are as follows: Fall Term: August 7 Winter (January) and Spring Terms: December 1 Summer: May Completed pages of the application go to the MEF Chair, who assembles the student file and requests checks from the Conference Treasurer. Checks will be dispersed to the schools. Rev. Larisa Parker (770) MEF@faithumcng.org 4336 King Springs Road 1

2 North Georgia Board of Ordained Ministry Ministerial Education Grant Policy A. Grants are made to students who are preparing for membership in the North Georgia Conference. 1. All applicants must be related to one of the following: a) A Charge Conference in the North Georgia Annual Conference, or b) A UM campus ministry in North Georgia. 2. All applicants must provide one of the following (item B, page 4): a) Copy of Certificate of Candidacy from their N. GA District Committee on Ordained Ministry, or b) Verification of status as a Registered Inquiring Candidate in the NGUMC, or c) Signature of District Superintendent if not yet a candidate B. The Ministerial Education Fund Committee shall consider grants in maximum amounts as follows: 1. Seminary (MDiv Degree only): $3,000 per semester for full time students 2. Undergraduate degrees: $1,000 per semester for full time students 3. The maximum any applicant may receive for college and seminary shall be $26, Part time applications will be prorated based on the number of enrollment hours, $250 per hour. C. Ministerial Education Funds are available for the following: 1. Registered Inquiring Candidates while they earn their seminary degree in preparation for ordination in the North Georgia Conference. 2. New students working on their seminary degree who have not yet begun candidacy. However, they still need a district superintendent signature. This is to make sure that they have at least communicated with the district superintendent and understand about beginning candidacy. 3. Certified Candidates while they earn their seminary degree 4. Ministerial Educational Grants for Seminary studies and undergraduate studies must have the district superintendent approval. Checks are made jointly to the applicant and the School that the student attends. The funds must be used only for tuition, fees, and other school-related expenses and cannot be reimbursed to the student. 5. Course of Study Program Grants are administered through the Office of Ministerial Services and require the candidate to: a) Obtain application from school where you intend to take your Course of Study program. MEF chair and conference website do not have these applications. b) Fill out and sign application, c) District Superintendent approve and sign application, d) Send applications to the Office of Ministerial Services for final approval of grant. 6. At the discretion and recommendation of the MEF Committee of the Board of Ordained Ministry, funds may be used to supplement educational endeavors for recruitment and development of clergy in their early years of ministry. 2

3 D. No Grants shall be made for training beyond the Master of Divinity or equivalent degree. E. Criteria for approving applications for Grants: 1. Conditions described in A above 2. The maximum scale adopted by the N. GA Conference Board of Ordained Ministry (item B above) 3. The recommendation of the school (page 5) 4. The recommendation of the District Superintendent (page 4) 5. The resources available in the MEF 6. Maintaining a C average in college or seminary studies 7. Personal interview if required by the MEF Committee F. Application for Grants for the academic year must be in the hands of the MEF Committee Chair no later than the deadline. The deadline dates are as follows: Fall Term: August 7 Winter (January) and Spring Terms Dec. 1 Summer Term May 24 G. Normally funds are received by the schools within one month of the deadline. If the student has not received funds within one month, the student should inquire of the Financial Aid Office and the MEF Chair. If there has been some mix-up, it may be corrected easily. If too much time elapses, however, it may not be possible to correct the error. We encourage the student to stay in communication with the MEF administrator about the receipt of the complete application and the award of the grant. Please note: during the winter of , Faith UMC will become Covenant UMC through a new church merger. s should be forwarded automatically. The new name, address, and other contact information will be adjusted by the May 24 deadline for summer applications. (Adopted November 2015) 3

4 NORTH GEORGIA CONFERENCE MINISTERIAL EDUCATIONAL FUND GRANT APPLICATION 1. PERSONAL INFORMATION: NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP HOME # WORK # CELL # I am seeking ORDINATION as: Elder Deacon Are you a Certified Candidate? Yes No If yes, give date: If No, are you a Registered Inquiring Candidate? When do you expect to be certified? DISTRICT: AGE SEX MARITAL STATUS: Married Single Divorced Number of Dependent Children Ages of Each 2. EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION SCHOOL YOU ARE ATTENDING YEAR IN SCHOOL 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Other ARE YOU A FULL TIME STUDENT? Yes No ANTICIPATED DATE OF GRADUATION WHICH SEMESTER IS THIS FOR? WORKING TOWARD WHICH DEGREE? Semester Applying for funds Number of Registered Semester Hours CURRENT GPA ON A SCALE OF UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE YOU RECEIVED: NAME OF COLLEGE FROM WHICH YOU RECEIVED YOUR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE? Please submit this page to: Rev. Larisa Parker (770) MEF@faithumcng.org 4

5 APPLICANT NAME DATE SCHOOL PHONE 3. REFERENCE AND RECOMMENDATIONS: A. Give three references: Name Name Name B. DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT MUST COMPLETE THIS SECTION: Do the records in your office verify that this person is a new student working on their seminary degree but has not yet begun candidacy for ministry? Yes No Do the records in your office verify that this person is a Registered Inquiring Candidate for ministry? Yes No Do the records in your office verify that this person is a Certified Candidate for ministry? Yes No Candidate is progressing toward Elder in Full Connection Deacon in Full Connection Neither I do I do not recommend favorable consideration of this applicant for an MEF Grant. Date Signature THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT IS REQUESTED TO REVIEW THIS APPLICATION AND PROVIDE SUCH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS MAY ASSIST IN THIS DECISION Please submit this page to Rev. Larisa Parker (770) MEF@faithumcng.org 5

6 APPLICANT S NAME DATE SCHOOL C. SCHOOL RECOMMENDATION (This section is to be completed by the school and returned to the North Georgia Conference MEF Committee of the Board of Ordained Ministry.) Remarks 1. Name of College or Seminary 2. Name of Student 3. Student Classification as of (date) 1 st Yr 2 nd Yr 3 rd Yr 4 th Yr Other, specify: 4. Is this student s present academic record satisfactory? Yes No 5. Will the student be full time? Yes No 6. How many hours are required for full time? per 7. What was the student s grade average last term? on scale 8. Does the student show promise of usefulness in ministry? Yes No Date Signed Signature of Dean or Registrar PLEASE SUBMIT THIS PAGE TO: Rev. Larisa Parker (770) MEF@faithumcng.org 4. AUTHORIZATION I hereby authorize the (college/seminary) to release the above information to the North Georgia Annual Conference Board of Ordained Ministry (Par ) Date Signed Signature 5. PLEDGES OF THE APPLICANT 6

7 a. If this Grant is awarded, I will use it only toward necessary educational expenses. It is my understanding that I am to serve at least five years in full time service under appointment made by a UMC Bishop (BOD Par 816 1a). b. I understand I am to apply each semester for the Ministerial Educational Grant, and I understand the deadline is clearly printed on the Guidelines which I have already received. I also understand it is my responsibility to have all sections completed before having the application sent to the MEF Committee. I further understand that if my application is not received by the deadline, I will not be considered until the following term. If I am concerned that there is some question, problem, issue, or complication, I will reach out to the MEF administrator. c. I have read and understand the attached Policy (page 2) of the Ministerial Education Fund Committee of the Board of Ordained Ministry of the North Georgia Annual Conference. By signing below I acknowledge that I accept the provisions of these policies and affirm my willingness to comply with the same. Date Signed Signature Applicant s Name SCHOOL PLEASE SUBMIT THIS PAGE TO: Rev. Larisa Parker (770) MEF@faithumcng.org Please note: during the winter of , Faith UMC will become Covenant UMC through a new church merger. s should be forwarded automatically. The new name, address, and other contact information will be adjusted by the May 24 deadline for summer applications. 7