Excellence in Clergy Leadership Scholarship Partner

Invest in Future Leaders

GBHEM is dedicated to continuing this vital initiative. For the 2025 year, we will offer individual awards of $3,500 for each Excellence Scholarship. Additionally, Wespath Benefits and Investments will provide recipients with important financial literacy training through EY Financial Services, including the optional six-part Saving Grace curriculum on earning, saving, spending, and giving from a Wesleyan perspective.

We invite conferences and foundations to partner with us by offering individual awards to students from their regions, to enhance support for Master of Divinity students at United Methodist Theological Schools. Please consider joining fellow annual conferences and conference foundations in this mission.

Become a Partner

Renewed Commitment to Clergy

Thanks to the generosity of the Lilly Endowment and collaborative efforts with United Methodist annual conferences, UM foundations, all 13 United Methodist Theological Schools, Wespath and GBHEM, we have successfully awarded $6.7 million to 850 Excellence Scholars over the past six years.

Become a 2025 Excellence in Clergy Leadership Scholarship Partner

Please review the 2025 Excellence agreement, which outlines the scholarship criteria and partner responsibilities, and let us know how many Excellence Scholars you would like to support for the Fall 2025 term.

Become a Partner

SCHOLARSHIP GUIDELINES

Eligibility

United Methodist pursuing or certified candidate for ministry (elder or deacon)
Demonstrate merit, progress, and commitment in the candidacy process
Full-time MDIV student enrolled at one of the 13 United Methodist seminaries/schools of theology
Demonstrate financial need and how this scholarship will help avoid additional student loans
Approval/recommendation through funding partner’s scholarship committee review

Applicants will receive and must participate in assistance from a financial counselor from the EY Financial Planning Center or participate in a Saving Grace approved cohort curriculum. The curriculum through EY includes assistance with cash flow, personal savings and debt management, retirement savings strategies, investment allocation decisions, understanding tax issues, and estate and insurance planning. Scholarship recipients complete a financial wellness assessment, a comprehensive and customized financial plan, and a personalized guidance consultation with a licensed planner.

Financial Awards

AWARD RANGES $2,500 – $11,000

The individual award amount is based on matching donations and award approval from participating funding partners which could be one or more of the following:

• The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry

• The applicant’s United Methodist Annual Conference (if participating as a funding partner to the program)

• The United Methodist Foundation connected with the applicant’s annual conference (if participating as a funding partner to the program)

• Wespath Benefits and Investments (a few restricted awards funded from Lilly Endowment National Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders)

Application Procedures

Complete applications must be submitted online and include the following:

Most recent copy of transcript
United Methodist Church ministry and candidacy references
Completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Completed applications will be reviewed by a committee who will evaluate applications and award recipients by demonstrated financial need, ministry readiness, academic achievement, and availability of funds. Funds will disburse upon completion of financial literacy requirement, and receipt of verification of enrollment for the fall term. All funds will be made payable to the college and/or university.