About the Charlotte Partnership Program
How does it work?
- Apply: Interested individuals* should apply for the scholarship with the Gordon-Conwell Partnership Director. All application forms can be found on our forms page.
- Gordon-Conwell provides the student* with a Full-Tuition Scholarship (effective Fall 2012)
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During their time at Gordon-Conwell, the student receives focused Biblical, Theological and Historical training in stewardship.
- Through seminars and discussions, learn principles of stewardship, the Biblical foundations of ministry support, and principles of fundraising and support maintenance.
- Topics include personal budgeting and finances, discussions with pastors about church-related stewardship issues, and workplace related forums.
- Identify, through your network of family and friends, approximately 10 donors who will each give $45/month to the Partnership Program Scholarship Fund and support you in prayer. Contributions are tax-deductible.
- Make a good faith effort to come to seminary with a sending church that has confirmed your call to ministry, has agreed to pray for you regularly, and give $500 per year to the Partnership Program Scholarship Fund.
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Raising support is unique to each student. Several sample scenarios include:
- 10 supporters at $45/month with a $500 commitment from a sending church.
- 9 supporters at $50/month with a $500 commitment from a sending church
- 5 supporters at $500/year, 4 at $45/month and a $1,000 commitment from a sending church.
- Possibilities abound. Please contact Octavia Baker at charpartnership@gcts.edu or (704) 527-9909 with questions.
What are the criteria for selection?
Primary criteria for selection are:
- Commitment to the local church
- Academic excellence
- Strong sense of calling
- Proven leadership in ministry
- U.S. citizen or green card holder
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All Partnership Program applicants should be prepared to demonstrate the full intent of using their degree in a ministry-based, not-for-profit sector of a local or global environment. Applicants must complete the following:
- Write a statement indicating your full intentions for ministry and telling how you will use the fundraising skills you learn in your future ministry.
- Submit this statement to your pastor for review. Your pastor must then attach your statement to the pastoral letter of recommendation and endorse your stated goals.
- You must fulfill the Partnership Program educational components and commitments.
What are the benefits of the program?
- An emphasis on learning biblical principles of stewardship. These are lessons which will continue to bear fruit long after you've left seminary.
- Continuing opportunities to strengthen ties with sending church, family and friends
- A full-tuition, renewable scholarship
- Focused Mentored Ministry training in stewardship
- Practical ministry skills and experience
- Practical fundraising training
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Participating in spiritual and discipleship mentoring and training events
- The Partnership Program assists the student in learning critical fundraising skills that will be used throughout ministry. All degree program applicants should be prepared to demonstrate the full intent of using their degree in a ministry-based, not-for-profit sector of a local or global environment.
Application and Deadlines
Candidates may submit an application to the Partnership Program after they have been accepted into a degree program* and have paid the $75, non-refundable matriculation fee. Applications must arrive prior to the published deadline and may not be made retroactive for any semester. Therefore, early application is strongly recommended. Deadlines for each semester are:
| Entry Point for Scholarship: | Deadline: | Fundraising Training Due: | Fundraising Deadline: |
| Fall Semester | April 30 | May 31 | August 31 |
| Spring Semester | September 30 | October 31 | January 31 |
| Summer Semester | January 31 | February 15 | May 1 |
For more information, please contact the Charlotte Partnership Program office at (704) 940-5840 or charpartnership@gcts.edu for more information.
* Certificate program students and special/non-degree seeking students are not eligible.
* The full-tuition program is open to all newly matriculated students and current students who began classes in the Fall 2012 or later. Matriculation is based on the date of your first residential on-campus courses. Semlink courses taken prior to your first on-campus course will not be covered under the scholarship.
