Financial Assistance Information for Undergraduate Ministerial Students

All undergraduate ministerial students who are majoring or minoring in Logsdon School of Theology are eligible for ministerial scholarships. Logsdon’s Ministry Guidance Office administers two types of scholarships: 1) Hardin-Simmons endowed scholarships designated for ministerial students, and 2) Ministerial Financial Assistance from the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Details concerning eligibility, how to apply for, and how two maintain these two kinds of scholarships are below.

Endowed Scholarships for Ministerial Students

Endowed scholarships for ministerial students vary in the amounts that are awarded. Freshman and sophomores typically receive a base-level award amount for the fall and spring semesters and then are considered for awards of higher amounts based their academic performance for their junior and senior years.

Eligibility

  • Be enrolled full-time as a Hardin-Simmons University undergraduate student majoring in Logsdon’s degree program.
  • Exhibit a personal call to vocational ministry

Application

  • Complete an Undergraduate Ministry Student Profile Form and return it to the Ministry Guidance Office via email or physical mail.
  • Write a statement describing your experience and sense of calling to vocational ministry. Your statement can be submitted via email or physical mail.
  • These items must be returned to Ministry Guidance Office no later than July 15 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring semester.

Requirements to Maintain

  • Continue full-time enrollment majoring in one of Logsdon’s degree programs
  • Maintain a GPA of at least 2.0

Ministerial Financial Assistance from the Baptist General Convention of Texas (Texas Baptists)

The Baptist General Convention of Texas (also known as BGCT or Texas Baptists) provides generous support for theological education through funds given cooperatively by churches and individuals across the state. BGCT Ministerial Financial Assistance is for students who demonstrate a call to ministry and are preparing for ministry through enrollment in a degree program at one of the nine universities which partner with the BGCT.

Students who have completed less than 60 hours and are on block tuition receive $750 per long semester (fall and spring) for BGCT Ministerial Financial Assistance. Students who have completed more than 60 hours receive $1125 per long semester. Additional help is available for students on block tuition who have summer tuition charges. If a student pays an hourly tuition rate instead of block tuition they do not receive the set amounts of $750 or $1125 per semester, but instead receive $50 per hour (less than 60 hours completed) or $75 per hour (more than 60 hours completed) in BGCT Ministerial Financial Assistance.

Eligibility

  • Be enrolled (full-time or part-time) as a Hardin-Simmons University undergraduate student
  • Exhibit a personal call to vocational ministry
  • Be an active member of a Baptist church
    • For your first year you may be an active member of any Baptist church to qualify. After your first year, you must be active in a church affiliated with the BGCT

Application

  • Complete requirements for Endowed Scholarships for Ministerial Students including Undergraduate Ministerial Student Profile Form and a written statement of your sense of calling.
  • Complete the First-Year Certification Form for Ministerial Financial Assistance provided by the BGCT. This form includes the following:
    • Church Certification and Information Section – for your church to affirm that you are an active member and demonstrate a call to ministry. The church can certify this through a variety of methods as is indicated on the form.
    • Student Covenant and Information Section – for you to complete and covenant with the BGCT to honor the intended use of offerings given to the Cooperative Program of the BGCT
  • Ask your pastor to provide a letter of recommendation on your behalf to the Ministry Guidance Office. If you or an immediate family member is the pastor of the church of which you are a member, another church official may write the letter.
  • Sign the agreement from Logsdon’s Ministry Guidance Office indicating that you have read all of the eligibility and requirements to maintain BGCT Ministerial Financial Assistance and will meet those requirements.
  • These items must be returned to Ministry Guidance Office no later than July 15 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring semester.

Requirements to Maintain

  • Submit the Certification Renewal Form provided by the BGCT every year. The first-year certification provides you with funding for one calendar year. To continue receiving funding you must submit your renewal form BEFORE the next semester begins. For example, if you submit your first-year form for fall 2015 you will receive Ministerial Financial Assistance for the fall 2015, spring 2016, May term 2016, and summer 2016 semesters, but funding will not continue in fall 2016 unless you have submitted a renewal form. This form includes the following:
    • Church Certification Section – for your church to affirm your active involvement and evidence of a continued call to ministry, and for your pastor to affirm your renewal application. You must be an active member of a church affiliated with the BGCT willing to submit this certification in order to renew.
    • Student Covenant and Information Section – for you to complete and affirm your covenant with the BGCT to honor the intended use of offerings given to the Cooperative Program of the BGCT
  • Maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.0
  • Complete the requirements of Logsdon School of Theology’s Ministry Guidance Program which includes:
    • Taking the following courses as a part of your degree requirements:
      • MNST 3311 Ministry Formations
      • MNST 3322 Ministry Internship
    • Attending “Connection” meetings of the Ministry guidance program

      • Attending two ministry guidance meetings per semester. Information about dates, speakers, and opportunities to fulfill these meeting requirements will be sent via email at the beginning of each semester.

    • Meeting with the Director of Ministry Guidance at least once per academic year, including an exit interview during your final semester.

For questions and to submit application materials:

Logsdon Ministry Services Office
2200 Hickory Box 16235
Abilene, TX 79698
325.670.1268