Scholarship Details

The Grace Community Church Internship Program exists to prepare men for ministry through a partnership with TMS. The participant’s preparation for ministry at TMS is buttressed by his active participation in the ministry of GCC. There are multiple opportunities across various departments at GCC that are available to the participant in this program with the end goal of discipleship and exposure to pastoral ministry. The elders have determined to invest into the next generation of pastors and church leaders by offering financial assistance to qualified participants in the program. 

This has been established to aid student/employees who are experiencing hardship and are in need.

The stipulations are explained below. 

• Must be enrolled in the B. Th, M. Div., Th. M, D. Min., or Ph. D. program.  

• Must be an active employee of GCC by 9/1 for Fall eligibility and by 2/1 for Spring eligibility.

• Must work for GCC a minimum of 20 hours per week on average.
• Must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

• Participle in an annual evaluation by immediate superior (pastor, ministry leader, etc.)

• Must exemplify Christ-like character in every aspect of life and ministry. 

• Must be an active member of GCC evidenced by involvement in ministries at GCC and beyond.

·       Financial Information from GCC

• GCC only assists with tuition and is subject to budgetary constraints. Fees, such as student fee, library fee, Shepherds’ Conference fee, late fees and any other fees are not covered. Tuition loans will not be advanced. Summer and winter courses are not covered by this scholarship

• GCC will not reimburse repeated classes. It is the responsibility of the participant to inform the Program Coordinator and your immediate supervisor when you must repeat a class to avoid a double payment by GCC.

• When tuition assistance comes through GCC (as opposed to a TMS Scholarship), GCC will pay the tuition on behalf of the student directly to TMS for fall and spring semesters by the first due date of the payment. If permitted, summer semester will be processed via the GCC reimbursement procedure, supported by TMS tuition statement and proof of payment. If an employee begins his employment after the seminary bill is due (7/10; 12/10), then he will follow the reimbursement procedure for fall and spring semesters.

·         Note: a student receiving any other scholarships or assistance for tuition (from the Seminary, the GI Bill, or other sources) must inform GCC of this before receiving funds, to ensure proper handling and disbursal of funds in compliance with IRS, church, and TMS policies. This does not mean that the GCC financial assistance scholarship is a tuition only scholarship but that funds from GCC can only be used for tuition.

Scholarship Agreement

• ·     The release of specific academic, financial and billing records maintained by The Master’s University and Seminary under the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA, as amended) to Grace Community Church as part of the Ministerial Internship Program.

•        If I earn a grade below a “C” or if I fall below an overall GPA of 3.0, I will inform my immediate supervisor and the Program Coordinator (i.e., Kelly Hazelrigg). I understand that failing to inform the appropriate parties of my academic status may jeopardize my participation in the Ministerial Internship Program. I authorize the release of my grades directly from TMUS to GCC

•        At the end of each academic semester, I grant GCC the right to request the final number of units I have completed at TMS. I understand that any overpayment by GCC due to dropped classes will be carried over into the next academic semester on my TMS student account. At the end of the academic year, I authorize TMS to refund GCC for any overpayment according to the institution’s financial policies and I will assist in the process of obtaining the reimbursement from my TMS student account back to GCC. If there is a deficit account balance, it is my responsibility to refund GCC directly for overpayment on my account

•       If I am employed as a pastoral/ministry assistant, I agree to serve in the Membership department 2 hours per month. Contact the Membership Department to schedule these hours