Baptist General Convention of Texas Scholarship Application for Baptist Ministerial Students

Dear Student and Church Leader:

In recognition of the special call of God sensed by those who minister, churches affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) provide financial assistance to Baptist students who are preparing for church-related vocational ministry at a Texas Baptist university.

Four participants are involved in the Ministerial Financial Assistance (MFA) program – (1) the student who, responding to God’s call to a vocation in church-related ministry, is set aside by (2) a local Baptist church that pools resources with other cooperating Baptist churches and entrusts these resources to (3) the BGCT and its (4) partner universities.

Each applicant for the MFA program must show evidence of a divine call to church-related vocational ministry, must demonstrate a life-style of commitment to the principles of Christian life, and must be an active member of a Baptist church.

The student is required to provide certification from his or her church in one of the following forms: a certificate of ordination to the gospel ministry, or a certificate of license to the gospel ministry, or a statement of certification recognizing a call to church-related vocational ministry (such as pastor, church staff, missionary, or chaplain).

The student is also required to provide a letter of recommendation from his or her pastor (or other church approved leader if student is the pastor).

In certifying a student, the church joins the Baptist General Convention of Texas and related universities in being faithful stewards of mission funds entrusted to them by Texas Baptist churches to provide tuition assistance for students.

Thank you for joining in this sacred trust.

The Theological Education Council

First Name

Middle Name

Last Name

H#

Email Address

Major

Minor

Hours completed

Is this your first time submitting a BGCT Application?

Yes

No

Birthdate

Mailing Address

Country

Street

City

Region

Postal Code

Other

Are you currently serving on a church staff? If so, where, and in what capacity?

Are you considering attending Seminary/Graduate School after your undergraduate studies? If so, where?

Requirements

Testimony of Personal Call to Ministry
Below, please offer a summary description of your call to vocational ministry as you understand it at this point in time. Include why you desire to participate in the BGCT Scholarship program.

Pastor/Minister Letter of Recommendation
Please include with your application a letter of reference from a pastor or other minister who will affirm your call to ministry. This letter should be on church letterhead and may be submitted with the completed application.

Attestation

Please note that your signature below constitutes your agreement to complete the following in order to continue receiving the BGCT Scholarship:

All students

Register for and complete CHRI 3325 The Christian Vocation by the end of the spring semester of junior year
Register for and complete CHRI 4383 Baptist History by the end of the fall semester of senior year
Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0
Schedule an appointment with the Director of the CEMC at least once every semester
Meet with the endorsing pastor annually before every endorsement
Maintain active church and ministry involvement including: active membership in a Baptist church and in HCU Student Ministries activities
Develop/maintain personal spiritual growth

On campus students

Attend CEMC Forum every semester
Attend at least one School of Christian Thought lecture every semester

Online students

In addition to the requirements for all students, online students must either participate in the on-campus activities set out above or complete the following:

Watch an approved lecture and submit a written report to the director of the CEMC each semester
Meet with a minister to discuss his or her ministry experiences and submit a written report to the director of the CEMC each semester

Contact the director of the CEMC for further details.

Student Signature

Student Information Section

Name of Church

Church Address

Email of Pastor

During the preceding academic year I have been an active member of a Baptist church and have been involved with, supportive of, and committed to the ministries of this church in the following ways:

Paid leadership responsibilities:

Volunteer leadership or service:

Other involvement or means of support:

Sign the following affirmation, and send Part II of this application to your pastor or churched approved leader to complete and submit:

I hereby affirm my covenant with the churches, my sense of calling to a church-related vocation and my desire to receive the Ministerial Financial Assistance provided by the churches of the Baptist General Convention of Texas; and I promise to remain in compliance with the requirements of the BGCT and this partner institution.

Student Signature

Student Covenant

Whereas Texas Baptist churches have committed their cooperative missions funds to providing financial assistance to men and women who are preparing for ministry vocations in the church and,

Whereas Texas Baptist universities have committed to providing theological education that prepares students for vocations in church-related ministries and,

Whereas I have sensed the call of God in my life to prepare for a vocation in a church-related ministry (such as pastor, church staff, missionary, chaplain);

I hereby enter into a covenant relationship with the churches of the Baptist General Convention of Texas to honor the sacred trust they have placed in me through their financial support and,

Should I come to a point in my understanding of God’s will for my life that I no longer sense a call to a church-related vocation, I will immediately inform university officials and no longer accept this financial assistance provided by the churches of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Student Signature