MEF & Scholarship Info

Since 1968 the Ministerial Education Fund apportionment has helped thousands of men and women become pastoral leaders in The United Methodist Church.

It is nurtured and funded by United Methodists to provide:

	Vitally needed seminary scholarships through annual conferences;
	Essential funds for the support of our 13 United Methodist seminaries in the United States;
	Programs that encourage men and women to respond to the call to ordained ministry;
	Continuing-education opportunities for pastors across the connection; and
	Course-of-study education for local pastors. MEF funds is a grant from the Kentucky Annual Conference for Certified Candidates in seminary.  Beginning July 1, 2012, funding for seminary students will be provided on a descending basis based upon age and the possible return on years of service in the following manner:   ·         Candidates 35 years of age and younger will receive $220 per credit hour (100% of current rate) ·         Candidates 36-45 years of age would receive $165 per credit hour (75%) ·         Candidates 46-55 years of age would receive $110 per credit hour (50%) ·         Candidates 56 years of age and older would receive $55 per credit hour (25%) The student's age as of January 1 or July 1 will serve as the determining factor in the awarding of the funds for the coming semester.  Effective  at the conclusion of the Fall 2012 Semester, MEF recipients are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5. Failure to do so will result in suspension of assistance until such time as the GPA is raised to that level. If a course is failed by a seminary student, the following semester the student's award will be reduced by the amount invested in the previously failed course.  MEF Application  This application must be submitted no later than Sept. 15 for the Fall semester and Feb. 15 for the Spring semester of the academic year for which funding is desired. MEF money is not available for Summer Terms and J-Terms. MEF funds are available for Local Pastors who attend the Course of Study Program. Funding for Course of Study students would be utilized on a descending basis based on age and the possible return in years of service as follows: a.       Age 55 and under - $200 per course b.      Age 56 and over - $125 per course An exception shall be granted to those students, age 56 and over, who have completed 75% of the Course of Study (15 classes) as of July 1, 2012.  They shall continue to receive the full level of assistance. Because of the variety of times during the course of a year that Course of Study classes can be taken, the age of the student prior to the class will be the determining factor in the amount awarded. MEF funds are used to pay the tuition and expenses for License to preach school. MEF funds also supplement Continuing Education events providing for low cost opportunity for quaility events here in Kentucky.

Ramseyer Scholarship Application This application must be submitted no later than October 1 of the academic year for which funding is desired.

Josephine Rudy Smith Scholarship Application This application must be submitted by September 1 preceding the Fall semester and February 1 preceding the Spring semester. Applications for the Fall may request funds for both the Fall Semester and Winter Term. Applications for the Spring may request funds for both the Spring Semester and Summer Term.

Pikeville Hospital Fund  This money is to be used to assist in education of pastors who are serving in the area south of I 64 and east of I 75.  This money is provided by the KAC Trustees through oversight of the Pikeville Hospital settlement. It is administered by the Board of Ordained Ministry.

MEF Matching Scholarship Fund  This fund is a need based fund which assists pastors in continuing education endeavors.

Click here to get more information about the Ministerial Education Fund

Click here The United Methodist Loan and Scholarship Programs The United Methodist Scholarship and Loan Programs are a churchwide educational service providing scholarships and loans to help supplement the financial needs of today's students. Funding for these scholarships and loans are provided through offerings, wills, annuities, and other designated gifts.