The Ministerial Excellence Fund Makes Grant to Support Diocesan Seminarians

The Ministerial Excellence Fund (MEF) Grant Committee has awarded $30,000 to the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis for seminary scholarships to be used in the next 18 months, according to Program Director, Melissa Hickman.

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“The purpose of this grant is to financially support the priestly formation and education of diocesan seminarians while providing Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows with flexibility to award the scholarships to those in the most need,” said Hickman.
 
In making this grant to the Diocese, the Ministerial Excellence Fund Grant Committee provided the following guidelines for the scholarships.

• MEF scholarship recipients will be seeking Masters Degree in Divinity or engaged in other Episcopal course work required by the Bishop prior to ordination to the priesthood.
• Scholarships may be used for seminary tuition, books and/or living expenses based upon the seminarian’s unique financial situation.
• Recipients receiving MEF scholarships will be asked to complete a Financial Inventory and Household Budget prior to seminary graduation.
• Working with the Commission on Ministry, the MEF grant committee will host a facilitated workshop for seminarians to assist them in preparing their Financial Inventories and Household Budgets.

 
“In making this grant, the MEF Grant Committee strongly encourages the addition of a line item in the 2019 diocesan operating budget to further support diocesan seminarians,” added Hickman.
 
The MEF grant of $30,000 over the next 18 months doubles the current funds available for seminary scholarships from the Diocese.
 
Seminary scholarships are made possible through a generous grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.