One of the great strengths of our United Methodist connection is the investment that it makes in the preparation of clergy through the Ministerial Education Fund. Twenty-five (25) percent of the funds raised by the MEF apportionment remains in the annual conference for scholarship assistance for seminary and college students, who are certified candidates for ministry in the South Georgia Conference. It remits funds at the rate of $150 per semester/quarter hour for seminary students (annual maximum of $3,600) and $50 per semester hour for college. Please note that funds are sent to you AFTER credit is earned and the academic claim form (enclosed) is completed and returned by the School Registrar’s office. The only exception to this is when there is an arrangement with the seminary for the funds to go directly to the institution and the student’s account, in which case the funds are distributed after the official drop/add day for the semester.
To receive a Ministerial Education Fund Scholarship complete the following documents:
1. Aid Application – The Ministerial Education Fund scholarship can only begin after we have received your application! You cannot receive funds for the semesters you completed before we have received your completed form with both your signed Service Commitment and your District Superintendent’s signature. Click here for the Application.
2. Academic Claim Form – At the end of each semester, please ask the school registrar to complete this form and mail to the Office of Ministerial Services. Make additional copies of this form for use after each semester. Remember it is your responsibility to see that the registrar sends this form after each semester. Click here for the Academic Claim From.
The intention of the South Georgia MEF Scholarship Program is to prepare and educate those who are already certified candidates for ministry and intend to serve in United Methodist ministry in the South Georgia Conference. They must agree to notify the MEF Chair promptly in the event that they decide to:
• withdraw from candidacy or the ministry
• withdraw from membership in the United Methodist Church
• decide to serve in another Annual Conference, or
• drop courses.
In that event, further grants will not be made without resumption of academic progress and intention to pursue a ministry career. In the case of seminary students, students must be enrolled in a seminary approved by the University Senate of the United Methodist Church.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at jharris@sgaumc.com or 478-738-0048.
In 1985 James Leon and Myrtice Peed, as generous members of the South Georgia Annual Conference, established this scholarship to “support the education of ministers and missionaries who are, or are to become, or reside, in the jurisdiction of the South Georgia Annual Conference.”
A Peed Scholarship applicant must be:
a member of the South Georgia Annual Conference
a certified candidate for ministry by a South Georgia District Committee on Ordained Ministry (including a provisional member of the SGA Conference)
a full-time undergraduate student at an accredited college or university, or a full-time or part-time seminary student at a UM-related seminary or a UM University Senate approved seminary, pursuing academic requirements for ordination as a Deacon or Elder
intending to serve at least 5 years after ordination in or through the South Georgia Conference
Peed Scholarship Information and Application
The Georgia United Methodist Foundation partners with donors, the Georgia student’s United Methodist church, participating United Methodist-related schools, and the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation to award United Methodist Dollars for Scholars scholarships valued at up to $4,000 each year. Since 2011, we have awarded 853 scholarships totaling $726,700.
To qualify, students must be an active, full member of a Georgia United Methodist church for at least one year before applying. They must also be enrolled or plan to enroll in a full-time undergraduate or graduate degree program at one of the participating United Methodist higher education institutions. To learn more, please contact UMHEF at 800-811-8110 or visit www.umhef.org.