Continuing Education Scholarship Guidelines

I. Areas for Consideration

As we consider scholarship requests, the Empower Ministry Mission Priority Mission Team seeks to ensure that the intended continuing education program…

A. Relates to the applicant’s practice of ministry in the church of Jesus Christ.

B. Leads to the development of ministry skills through education and reflection. While Continuing Education takes many legitimate forms, presbytery scholarships are designated for opportunities where the primary purpose is educational in nature rather than recreational, inspirational or service-oriented.

C. Facilitates better self-understanding as a person and in the person’s role as a leader.

D. Will bring about growth in the congregation or situation in which the person ministers.

 II.  Process for Receiving Funds    

A. Continuing Education Scholarships are approved by the Empower Ministry Mission Priority Mission Team, which meets 6 times a year, approximately 4-6 weeks before Presbytery Assembly. It is the applicant’s responsibility to submit application in time to be considered at the next meeting.

 B. Applications from members of Chicago Presbytery will be accepted from ministers, elders or deacons involved in the work of Presbytery. Forms are available at the Presbytery office or website. Requests may also be made by letter containing all relevant information. Since funds are limited, you are encouraged to submit applications in a timely fashion.

 C. Completed applications including photocopies of continuing education registration forms should be sent to the attention of the Empower Ministry Mission Priority Mission Team at the Presbytery office, 100 South Morgan St, Chicago, IL, 60607 or faxed to (312) 243-8409.

 D. Applicants are encouraged to seek funding through other sources, including their local congregation/ministry setting. Pastors serving small churches (150 members or less) are eligible for grant and loan aid through the PC (USA) Office of Financial Aid. Download applications from www.pcusa.org/financialaid, email Lbryan@ctr.pcusa.org, or send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Presbyterian Church (USA), Office of financial Aid for Studies, 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40202-1396. 

E. The Empower Ministry Mission Priority Mission Team welcomes feedback on your continuing education experience so that we might share it with others. Participants are invited to send a brief summary/evaluation to us as indicated above.