the free methodist church in canada

Leadership Development

LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 2024. 

Please be sure that you use your legal name on all scholarship applications.


THE PROGRAM
The Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) was initiated to provide financial assistance to ministerial students pursuing post-secondary educational studies in approved schools. The LSP program is funded jointly by Lorne Park Foundation, the Free Methodist Foundation and the Leadership giving stream, and administered by the Leadership Development office.


Approved Colleges and Universities

  • Acadia Divinity College (Acadia University), Montreal, QC
  • Ambrose University, Calgary, AB
  • Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA
  • Briercrest College – Caronport, SK
  • Christian Central College, McPherson, KS
  • Emmanuel Bible College, Kitchener, ON
  • Greenville University, Greenville, IL
  • Kingswood University, Sussex, NB
  • Regent University, Vancouver, BC
  • Roberts Wesleyan University, Rochester, NY
  • Rocky Mountain College, Calgary, AB
  • Tyndale University, Toronto, ON
  • Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA
  • Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor, MI
  • Trinity Western University, Langley, BC

Approved Canadian Seminaries

  • Associated Canadian Theological Schools (ACTS), Langley, BC
  • Briercrest Biblical Seminary, Caronport, SK
  • Ecole de Theologie Evangelique de Quebec (partnered with Universite Laval), Montreal, QC
  • Tyndale Seminary, Toronto, ON

Approved John Wesleyan Seminary Foundation (JWSF) Institutions

  • Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, KY
  • Azusa Pacific University, Graduate School of Theology, Azusa, CA
  • George Fox Seminary, Portland, OR
  • Northeastern Seminary, Rochester, NY
  • Seattle Pacific Seminary, Seattle, WA
  • Wesley Biblical Seminary, Jackson, MS
  • Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN24

OTHER SCHOOLS
The FMCiC preference for LSP is for students to attend one of the approved schools listed above. However, if you decide to apply at a non-approved school, you must first send a request to the Credentialing Coordinator to determine whether the committee will approve funding for you to study at a non-approved school. Along with your request, please include a written explanation as to why you are choosing to study at a non-approved school. It is strongly recommended that you do this before paying tuition, and well in advance of the LSP deadline. The Credentialing Coordinator, along with the LSP committee, will consider each request individually and according to LSP policy.  

 DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS
The Director of Leadership Development and in consultation with the LSP Committee will make a recommendation for approval of the applicant’s studies and will consult with the Regional Ministerial Education Guidance and Placement committee where it deems necessary.  The applicants will receive scholarship amounts based on a funding formula which can cause the amounts available to students to fluctuate semester to semester and year to year.  This calculation is based each semester upon the number of applicants, the level of education, the number of credits taken by each applicant, and the amount of funding available.  Funding is not provided for any student above the actual amount of the tuition paid.


SOURCE OF LSP FUNDING
The LSP grant program is a continuation of the ministry of Lorne Park Foundation. LPF continues to provide approximately one-half of the funds required for LSP each year from the capital asset income of Lorne Park Foundation. The balance of the funding comes from Free Methodist churches across Canada through the Leadership Development Giving Stream and through the Free Methodist Foundation.


SERVICE / PAYBACK ARRANGEMENT
The following policy applies to all applicants who receive LSP funding.

LSP grants are given with the expectation that all students receiving financial assistance will serve the Church in a meaningful way for a minimum of three years after their studies are complete. Service includes ministerial service with The Free Methodist Church in Canada, service as an approved missionary or VISA worker or Chaplain, involvement in denominational ministry or active involvement in a leadership capacity as a member of a local congregation of The Free Methodist Church in Canada.

Whenever scholarship recipients cannot fulfill part or all of the three-year minimum service obligation, the funds received will be considered to be a loan to be repaid.  The amount of the grant to be repaid will be reduced by thirty-three percent for each year of service after the completion of studies, with service as defined above. The grant amount is repayable to The Free Methodist Church in Canada over a five year period and begins six months after the completion of studies.  A deferment of repayment may be requested if studies continue at a non-approved institution or if other circumstances warrant. 

OTHER AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIPS

Special Scholarship Funds – The Free Methodist Church in Canada and Lorne Park Foundation administer several special scholarships. Click here to apply.  For more information email Susan DePlanché in the Leadership Development Office or call 905-848-2600 ext 405.


How can applications be made?
LSP application packages can be downloaded by clicking the forms below, either in Word format or in .PDF format.  All undergraduate (college/university) applicants need to be recommended by their local church Official Board with their pastor’s signature on the application.  Graduate and Post-Graduate (Masters/Seminary/D.Min, PhD, etc.) applicants need to be approved by the Director of Leadership Development in consultation with their Regional MEGaP committees.

FIRST TIME APPLICANTS – THE COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGE MUST BE SUBMITTED (Forms #1a, 1b, 2, 3 & 4) BY THE DEADLINE DATE (SEE BELOW).  ANY INCOMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGES WILL NOT QUALIFY FOR SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS.  

SUBSEQUENT APPLICANTS: SUBMIT ONLY A NEW SCHOOL CONFIRMATION (Form #4) TWICE A YEAR BY THE DEADLINE DATES BELOW.

Application deadlines:

  • February 15, 2024 for courses taken during the Winter Semester
  • October 15, 2024 for courses taken during the Summer and/or Fall Semester

APPLICATION PACKAGES/SCHOOL CONFIRMATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE DATES FOR EACH SEMESTER CAN NOT BE CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE.  NO RETROACTIVE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS WILL BE DISBURSED.

2024 Grant Program Application Package Documents (WORD and PDF available)

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If you have any questions about the LSP program, please CONTACT

Susan DePlanché
Credentialing Coordinator

Leadership Development Office

Click here to send an email

Phone: 905-848-2600 ext 405
Fax: 905-848-2603