Church Leadership and Next Generation Awards

The AMBS Church Leadership Award and Next Generation Awards are full-tuition scholarships intended to encourage and support outstanding Mennonite students with gifts for ministry as they prepare to serve the church.
Each year, the awards are given to students beginning their first year of study at AMBS in a Masters program. They provide full-tuition grants for up to three years for a Master of Divinity degree and up to two years for a Master of Arts degree, provided the recipients continue in the programs.

The deadline for applying for these awards is March 15.

Criteria for award recipients

Recipients will be Mennonites who are members in good standing of a congregation in Mennonite Church Canada, Mennonite Church USA or a related Mennonite group.

The decision to award a grant will be based on four factors:

  1. Previous academic performance, based on information gained from transcripts and references.
  2. Leadership potential and demonstrated skills, based on information gained from references.
  3. Theological discernment, based on a five- to ten-page paper written on the subject of “The Church.”
  4. Personal character and emotional health, based on information gained from references.

Procedures

By March 15, applicants must submit:

  1. A completed application for admission with all supporting materials, including transcript(s) and references.
  2. A five- to ten-page paper on the subject of “The Church.”
  3. Candidates for the Next Generation Award will be interviewed.

AMBS selects recipients of Church Leadership Awards by April 15 and informs them by mail. Recipients must accept their awards in writing by June 15 to confirm enrollment for the fall semester.

Understandings

  1. Recipients will be enrolled as full-time students (nine hours or more per semester plus one short-term course during Interterm or the summer).
  2. Students in the M.Div. program are eligible for an award for three years. Students in an M.A. program are eligible for an award for two years. No extensions of an award are possible.
  3. Eligibility from year to year will be based on satisfactory progress toward the completion of the degree, including:
    Maintaining a 3.0 GPA
    Continuing as a full-time student
    Supporting and adhering to AMBS community
    life standards
  4. Recipients will not be eligible for need-based financial aid in addition to the full tuition award.

Number of grants available

There are two new Church Leadership Awards and one new Next Generation award available each year. Additional one-year scholarships or stipends may also be awarded to incoming students planning to enter Masters programs.