Ecumenical Student Scholarship

As an institution of theological education in the Anabaptist tradition, AMBS values engagement with other faith traditions. In this spirit, AMBS offers an Ecumenical Student Scholarship for students who belong to other Christian traditions and want to study at AMBS (either on campus or at a distance) — to enter into dialogue with and engage with others from the Anabaptist tradition while sharing the theological perspectives of and growing in their own tradition.

Each year, this award provides a limited number of 100-percent tuition grants to full-time students beginning a master’s program, or a limited number of 75-percent tuition grants to part-time students beginning a master’s program. Recipients may receive this grant for the stated length of their academic program by meeting certain conditions. Applicants must be from the U.S. or Canada and be a member in good standing of a congregation that is not affiliated with Mennonite World Conference or a related Anabaptist group. Application deadline: March 15

Guidelines

1. The award will be given to students beginning their first year of study at AMBS in a master’s program.
   • Full-time students will receive a 100-percent tuition grant for up to three years for a Master of Divinity degree and up to two and a half years for a Master of Arts degree. (Students need to take at least nine credit hours each standard semester to be classified as full time.)
   • Part-time students will receive a 75-percent tuition grant for up to six years for a Master of Divinity degree and up to five years for a Master of Arts degree.
2. The application deadline is March 1. (Note: In the hope of creating space for more applicants during the uncertain times of the pandemic, we are extending this deadline to March 15.)

Criteria for award recipients

1. Recipients will be from the U.S. or Canada and be members in good standing of a congregation that is not affiliated with Mennonite World Conference or a related Anabaptist group.
2. The decision to grant an award will be based on five factors about the applicant:
   • Previous academic performance, including a minimum GPA of at least 3.0 from all undergraduate work, based on information gained from transcripts and references. (Although AMBS is able to admit a limited number of students without a bachelor’s degree, preference will be given to students who have attained one, and all recipients should hold at a minimum an associate’s degree or equivalent.)
   • History of and/or a commitment to enter into an active ministry or service assignment.
   • Strong leadership potential for serving the church or broader community, based on information gained from references and from a required essay on the applicant’s past, present and future service/ministry.
   • Willingness to engage with others from the Anabaptist tradition as part of growing in one's own Christian tradition.
   • Personal character and emotional health, based on information gained from references.

Procedures

By the deadline, applicants must submit:

1. A completed application for admission with all supporting materials, including transcript(s), references and admissions essay.
2. Completed Financial Aid and Scholarship applications.
3. A 1,200–1,800-word essay that includes:
   • demonstrated leadership potential for serving the church or broader community
   • description of the applicant’s past, present and future service/ministry
   • how an education at AMBS will enrich the applicant’s present and future ministry
4. The AMBS Scholarship Selection Committee will select the recipient(s) of this award by March 31 and inform the student(s) via e-mail.
5. Recipients must accept their award in writing to confirm enrollment for Semester One.

Understandings

1. Eligibility from year to year will be based on satisfactory progress toward the completion of the degree, including:
   • maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA
   • supporting and participating in enrollment and recruitment activities and initiatives, as requested by the AMBS Admissions Team
   • supporting and adhering to AMBS community standards
2. Recipients will not be eligible for ministry scholarships or AMBS need-based financial aid, including AMBS matching grants, in addition to the Ecumenical Student Scholarship.