To everyone of the AME faith, I am a graduating senior at Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama. By the grace of God I will be entering the annual conference in September of this year for my ministry. Also I will be attending graduate school at the University of Alabama in the Fall of this year. Futhermore my question is does the AME church offer any scholarships. Any feedback would be grateful. Thanks for the attention and support. Spiritually,

Bro. Freeman Culver III

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2004

Answers

I also have the same problem, Im in South Africa contact me!

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2004

My Brothers:

Stop begging someone else to pay for your education. If God called you, He will provide. Pick the seminary or school that God wants you to attend. Go there and tell them that God sent you and you are there to enroll. Enroll and get a fulltime job if necessary to support yourself and your education. You work and attend classes and trust in the Lord. The God that I serve will provide for you. God in his own way will see to it that you get what you need. You may end up working your way through school, if so, accept it. You've got to believe God and move!

Be Blessed

Al Paris

-- Anonymous, November 10, 2004

To my brothers who inquired about scholarships, there are outside scholarships available and I will have some posted in this week's ame herald www.ameherald.com it will be out on Monday. For those of us who have attended seminary we know how expensive it is. I attended Princeton seminary which has a large endowment, even with academic scholarships, I went full time, worked and was a single mom.

My daughter is now in seminary and she works and carry a full load. Seminary can average about $26,000 to $30,000.00 a year so you will need scholarships. God has called you and he will help, that includes locating scholarships.

I commend you for going to seminary. Rev. John Fisher the person who started this board delighted in the fact that we would reach out and help one another. I hope we can continue that tradition. If you would like to email me privately to ask questions about seminary please do.

Don't give up there are many on this board who care about you. Seminary is graduate school so the academic load is heavy, which makes it difficult to work a lot of hours and pass ones classes.

God has his hand on you and he will help.

-- Anonymous, November 10, 2004

Al--

Your remarks were totally out of line. Bro. Culver asked if their were scholarships available. There is nothing wrong with that? Why shouldn't he seek scholarship support. That is not begging, it is using all the resources available to him. My only question is if he is seeking the ministry why is he enrolling in the University of Alabama rather than a seminary. But I was very appalled at your response. Your remarks in my opinion, were unnecessarily cruel and hurtful.

-- Anonymous, November 11, 2004

Bro Gibson,

I don't consider my remarks cruel or hurtful. Think about this: If you or I or anyone else can use a computer to access this board, they can use the same search engines that we use, Google comes to mind, and find scholarships aplenty. When I see someone on a board such as this asking that kind of question, I consider they are looking for some to hand it to them on a platter.

How many other professions do you know where your employer will subsidize your education to enter the field. Engineering for example, the medical professions. Most professions require that you get your entry education.

Furthermore, any graduate of Tuskegee University has the ability to search for scholarship, perhaps better than you or I. I recruited Tuskegee University Engineering graduates for 9 years and I know the kind of graduates that school produces. They are among the best in the world.

Be Blessed

al paris

-- Anonymous, November 11, 2004

To paraphrase the words of President Kennedy: Ask not what your church can do for you; but what can you do for your church. Or something like that.

Be blessed

al paris

-- Anonymous, November 11, 2004

Paul the apostle says they will know us by our love. When people came to Jesus for help, he did not assume someone was asking for a hand out, he did not judge them he responded with love.

To assume someone is asking for a hand out because they ask for scholarship help is ridiculous.

Most main line denominations offer scholarships to their students and they also provide a list of other scholarship resources. Getting a scholarship is not a hand out. One is judged on their grades and references. Seminaries set aside scholarship money to attract the best student.

If one has never attended seminary they do not know the process. As pastors we are called to encourage and mentor future leaders and respond as Christ did.

It is scary enough making the decision to go to seminary without someone judging you because you ask a valid question.

To ask about scholarships shows these men are resourceful for they asked the board. They are thinking about their future and the church's future. Instead of taking out student loans and being in debt, they are seeking alternatives. Bravo!!

-- Anonymous, November 11, 2004

I also personally find some of the answers to this brother's question and the line of reasoning given for them offensive to say the least. But since we are quoting others let me quote what Jesus said of it.

"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.   For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

Let me further add that those of us who are Lay applaud those who seek in any way to improve and prepare themselves for the vital work of ministry in the church. You will find that a number of Lay Organizations and Missionary Societies will do all that they can to help.

So, Brother Culver, thank you for asking and please continue to ask, seek and knock till you receive what you have asked as our Lord, Jesus assured us that you would.

-- Anonymous, November 11, 2004

I'm not sure if Bro Culver's initial question was answered (availability of AME scholarships). In my District (11th) the answer to that question is "yes" contingent on the person pursuing seminary studies at ITC. I don't know if this covers for "everything" but if it doesn't grad students should not avoid taking out loans to cover the remaining expenses. Taking out a loan for college should be viewed as an investment in human capital. We don't eschew taking out a loan to buy a house, boat or a car. An investment in human capital is of equal if not greater value. I share Harold's observation about the Univ. of Alabama. An excellent school in Alabama to consider for seminary is Samford University in Birmingham, AL. The point is we must be creative in developing our financial aid package. QED

-- Anonymous, November 11, 2004

Bill one of the things that we are seeing, is seminary students are coming out of seminary with large student loan debt. Because it is both undergrad and graduate school. If one can take out 7 to 8 thousand dollars a year for 3 years that is minimally 24,000.00 worth of debt on top of undergrad student loans. And even if someone only receives a small church to pastor they still have to pay that debt. In addition, many seminarian also take out loans from the seminary that must be paid.

When one is applying for financial aid, you do not get to be creative. It is the financial aid officer that is in control of the package.

To those applying to seminary talk to financial aid officers about monies available, as you are doing research on schools pay attention to see, if the school mentions "large endownments" if so that usually means more scholarships to offer.

Again I will have scholarship info in the Herald on monday. Lastly when seeking advice from others ask if they have been to seminary? Ask for their input on scholarships. And if they have not been to seminary it may be hard for them to understand the process.

I am hearing in some conferences that in order to be on the board of examiners clergy must have a seminary degree. This makes sense, since the new rules require seminary degrees to be ordained elder.

Bottom line do not give up. Seminary is hard! But you can do it.

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2004

Denise -

I don't differentiate student loan debt between a seminary student, medical school student, law student or a matriculating Ph.D. student in particle physics at MIT. I believe the debt load for med and law students is actually higher than that of seminary students. Debt is a fact of economic life. It's nice to circumvent school debt but the loan option should not be seen as a deterrent to pursue human capital. Investing in one's self is personally and professionally rewarding. It can also serve as a catalyst for building sound credit history. My experience is that financial aid packages will include student loans. If available graduate fellowships in seminary cover for all expenses then the candidate should vigorously pursue such options. If not, other alternatives should be used. I would also encourage prospective divinity students to look at the opportunities that exist in two prominent HBCUs - Howard University and Virgina Union University. QED

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2004