bgÕæÈË

The Multicultural Church Scholarship was created to increase access to graduate-level Anabaptist theological and leadership education for students of diverse traditions, ethnicities and racial identities.

• Recipient: Awarded annually to a limited number of students beginning a master’s program who are currently serving in or preparing for ministry assignments in a multicultural context and/or who belong to historically underrepresented racial or ethnic groups within the Mennonite Church
• Amount: Up to 100 percent of tuition for full-time students; up to 75 percent of tuition for part-time students
• Application deadline: Priority will be given to applications received by March 15

Other scholarship information

• Scholarship type: Merit-based
• Duration: For full-time students: up to three years for a Master of Divinity and up to two and a half years for a Master of Arts (provided they meet certain conditions each year);
  For part-time students: up to six years for a Master of Divinity and up to five years for a Master of Arts (provided they meet certain conditions each year)
• Recipient’s program: Master of Divinity Campus; Master of Divinity Connect; MA in Christian Formation; MA: Theology and Global Anabaptism; MA: Theology and Peace Studies
• Recipient’s location of study: On campus or from a distance
• Recipient’s enrollment status: Full time or part time
• Recipient’s permanent residence: U.S. or Canada
• Recipient’s church affiliation: Applicant must be an active participant in a congregation that is affiliated with Mennonite World Conference or a related Anabaptist group 

Criteria for award recipients

1. Recipients will be from the U.S. or Canada and be active participants in a congregation that is affiliated with Mennonite World Conference or a related Anabaptist church group.
2. The decision to award a grant will be based on four factors:
   • Previous academic performance, including a minimum GPA of 2.75 from all undergraduate work, based on information gained from transcripts and references
     (Preference will be given to students with a bachelor’s degree, but all recipients should have, at minimum, an associate’s degree or equivalent.)
   • A history of and/or commitment to enter into an active ministry assignment in a multicultural context, and/or belonging to a historically underrepresented racial or ethnic group affiliated with Mennonite World Conference or a related Anabaptist group
   • Strong leadership potential for serving the church, based on information gained from references and from a required essay on the applicant’s past, present and future service/ministry
   • Personal character, based on information gained from references

Procedures

Applicants must submit the following for the coming academic year: 

1. A completed Admissions Application with all supporting materials, including transcript(s) and references
2. Completed and applications
3. A 1,200–1,800-word essay that includes:
   • their demonstrated leadership potential for ministry in a multicultural context and/or for service with historically underrepresented racial or ethnic groups in a congregation affiliated with Mennonite World Conference or a related Anabaptist group
   • a description of their past, present and future service/ministry
   • a description of the unique gifts they bring to ministry, shaped by their history and culture
   • how an education at bgÕæÈË will enrich their present and future ministry

bgÕæÈË will select the recipient(s) of this award and inform the student(s) via e-mail. The recipients must accept their award in writing to confirm enrollment for Semester One.

Understandings

1. Recipients will be enrolled as full-time or part-time students. (Full-time is defined as taking nine credit hours or more per semester plus one Intensive Term course.)
2. Recipients’ eligibility from year to year will be based on satisfactory progress toward completion of their degree, including:
   • maintaining a minimum 2.75 GPA
   • supporting and adhering to bgÕæÈË community life standards
   • supporting and participating in enrollment and recruitment activities and initiatives, as requested by the bgÕæÈË Admissions Team
3. Recipients will not be eligible to receive other bgÕæÈË scholarships. 
4. Scholarships and financial aid given by bgÕæÈË will not exceed 100 percent of tuition.