This article contains details and application links of the top paying scholarships for pastors all over the world. If you meet the requirements of any of these scholarships, you can apply directly.
To become a pastor or priest in any religion, people need to go to a special school called a theological institute to learn how to do their job. Sometimes, the pastor might train the person to work in a church instead of them going to a school.
Lots of people feel like they want to become pastors or priests and serve God, but they might not have enough money to go to school to learn how to do it. Going to a school for religious education costs money for things like tuition, books, and housing. It’s not free.
We made a list of scholarships for pastors. These scholarships are for people who want to become pastors and study at theological school for no cost. It’s available to anyone all over the world.
Listed below are the top-paying scholarships for pastors all over the world:
- Ida V. Holland Missionary Scholarship
- Educating Africans For Christ Scholarships
- ELCA International Scholarships
- Randall University Christian Ministry Full Education Scholarship
- The Christian International Scholarship Foundation Grants
- Theological Education Fund for Women Scholarships
- Student scholarship at Barclay College
- Weston Jesuit School of Theology Defreitas Scholarship
- Catholic Theological Union Scholarships
- Wesley Biblical Seminary Scholarships
- B. .J. Dean Scholarship Fund
- Pan African School of Theology Scholarship
Ida V. Holland Missionary Scholarship
Every year, the San Antonio Area Foundation gives out a scholarship called the Ida V Scholarship. The Holland Missionary Scholarship is for people from Bexar County, Texas who want to become ministers or missionaries and serve God.
The scholarship pays for a student’s school expenses during their whole time in school. Also, the scholarship can be different in terms of how many and how much.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be between 18 to 24 years of age.
- Candidates will have to attend Moody School or one of equal standing.
- Applicants should be studying missionary work (ministry or Christian education).
- Candidates must be residents of Bexar County, Texas, U.S.A.
To apply for this financial aid, send your application in writing to First Presbyterian Church; Lindsay Blackmon; 404 N. Alamo; San Antonio, TX 78205.
Winners of the award will be determined by a selection committee.
Educating Africans For Christ Scholarships
The foundation was created to help people who feel like God wants them to do His work.
EAFC helps students studying religion by giving money to churches in Africa. This scholarship pays pastors a lot of money and is famous worldwide.
The scholarship money only pays for tuition.
Also, the money for the scholarship goes straight to the school the person is attending and the amount they get depends on the type of degree they are studying for.
ELCA International Scholarships
The ELCA helps church leaders learn more about important things the church does, like taking care of people’s health, studying religion, and making the world a better place.
After finishing the training, people will go back to their home country and work in a job given by the church they partnered with. The financial award is a scholarship that pays a lot of money to pastors all over the world.
Eligibility Requirements
- Candidates will have to be active members of a church or institution that has a partnership with the ELCA.
- Applicants must be willing to pursue advanced graduate-level programs in theology or other church-related fields not available in their home country.
- Candidates should not be citizens or permanent residents in the U.S.
- Applicants must be willing to return to their home country after graduation to work in a position designated by the companion church.
NOTE: Applicants are required to submit their applications through their home churches and not directly to the ELCA Global Mission.
Randall University Christian Ministry Full Education Scholarship
Randall University gives free money to students who want to study Christian Ministry and covers the full cost of their tuition. Different programs of study are available for people interested in working in the church. These include pastoral ministry, ministry for families and young people, mixing ministry with business, learning about different cultures (for mission work), theology, and music and worship.
This scholarship will pay for the recipient’s tuition, housing, books, and more while
they study at Randall University.
The Christian International Scholarship Foundation Grants
The CISF gives money to Christian leaders who want to do their doctorate studies. People from all over the world can get help with money through this program.
After finishing their advanced studies, some special leaders become the heads of important Bible schools or seminaries. They might also become top teachers at these schools or leaders of organizations that help people in need.
They could even become leaders of their religious group on a national level.
Most people who get CISF go to Fuller Theological Seminary or Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Some other people who benefit go to schools like Trinity Theological Seminary in Singapore, China Graduate School of Theology in Hong Kong, or Oxford Center for Mission Studies in England.
The worth of the scholarship is $10,000 per year and it is renewable for four years.
Theological Education Fund for Women Scholarships (WARC)
This scholarship is called Theological Education Fund for Women and it helps women who want to become priests.
The award wants to get more women involved in ordained ministry and to support them in working with many Reformed churches in the Southern region. This will help them become better partners in doing God’s work.
People who benefit from the WARC program get to study for their first degree or diploma at a school in their own country or nearby area. WARC is one of the top-paying scholarships for pastors worldwide.
This scholarship helps people who have financial need. It can pay for some or all of the costs of school.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be women who are willing to pursue a first degree/diploma in theology (Certificate, Diploma, and Bachelor of Divinity) towards ordained ministry.
- Candidates will have to provide a detailed statement of need, other funding sources, and information on the institution of study.
- Applicants will have to provide a budget including tuition fee, food, accommodation, travel, books, etc.
- Candidates must state the duration of their studies.
Student scholarship at Barclay College
Barclay College helps students pay for their education so that they can become better Christians and leaders.
Barclay College offers free education to international students with full scholarships. This helps students to study without paying tuition fees.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be enrolled for full-time studies at Barclay College prior to application
- Candidates should possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.3 or higher and an SAT score of 430 (writing) or higher or an ACT score of 18 or higher.
Weston Jesuit School of Theology Defreitas Scholarship
The Weston Jesuit School of Theology gives money to students from other countries to help them pay for school. This happens every year.
This scholarship helps students study for degrees like M. Div, ThM, STL, or STD Computer I programs made to perform specific tasks or solve problems. After finishing the program, people will go back to their own countries to do religious work.
Students may receive money to pay for some or all of their tuition fees. People who get all their tuition paid for will have to make sure they have at least $6,000 each year for other costs.
Catholic Theological Union Scholarships
The Catholic Theological Union has many scholarships to help people become Christian ministers.
This group has money to help students pay for school and has different programs to help specific types of students.
The General Scholarship Fund is for people who want to help God and the church, but who are not professional religious workers.
Money help is given to 40% regular people and 20% religious women.
Scholarships for pastors that are available within the General Scholarship Fund include:
- McAuley Scholarship Fund (for women studying for the ministry)
- Stuhlmueller Scholarship Fund (for biblical spirituality students)
- Geaney Scholarship Fund (for ay students of ministry)
- International Women’s Scholarship Fund (for women from Third World countries seeking credentials for Catholic ministry in their countries).
Wesley Biblical Seminary Scholarships
Wesley Biblical Seminary gives students two scholarships for their studies. The scholarships are called the Martin Case for United Methodist Ministers and are for people doing their DMin or Ph. D This text is already quite simple, but if we were to simplify it further: This is about students getting a scholarship from Shepherd Project International.
The Shepherd Project International Scholarship helps pastors become better leaders in their own countries.
People who are chosen will get free tuition to do an international Master of Arts program about Christianity online. The people who benefit will need to pay for their books, a fee of $100 to confirm, and a fee of $200 to graduate when they finish the program.
Eligibility Requirements
- Candidates should maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0. However, applicants who do not maintain a CGPA of 3.0 will be given the grace of 12 credit hours to recover the minimum CGPA.
- Applicants must take a minimum of 12 credit hours in the programs enrolled, for each academic year.
B. J. Dean Scholarship Fund
The B. J. Dean Scholarship Fund is available to women who are preparing for full-time Christian ministry and persons who wish to be ordained as priests to serve in any denomination.
Applicants must be females who are residents of Tennessee or Texas and must be pursuing post-graduate degrees at a university in the state.
The scholarship is based on need and the amount varies. Candidates should note that the application deadline is March 15 annually.
Pan African School of Theology Scholarship
The Pan African School of Theology in Kenya is a college that teaches subjects related to Christian religion. This place gives money to people who want to become preachers, Bible experts, or lead the Christian community.
These people will love and have the skills to guide the group of people in God’s church.
Scholarship provide great assistance