The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas Seminary Scholarships aim to strengthen United Methodist churches in Arkansas by ensuring strong leadership in our local communities. These seminary scholarships enable some of our best and brightest students to answer God's call and become local church leaders as elders and deacons. Assisting these persons in pursuing their callings is important and satisfying work, and the Foundation's donors have responded generously in making these scholarships possible.
To date, more than 40 MFA Seminary Scholars have served through congregations, campus ministries, military chaplaincy, and at the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas. A limited number of full-tuition scholarships are available to Arkansas students enrolling in/attending a United Methodist seminary with intention to return to the state upon graduation.
Applications for the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas' 2026 Seminary Scholars program will be open January 2 - March 13, 2026. The application form is available below for those who wish to review it.
Scholarships are available for persons seeking ordination as a Deacon or Elder in the Arkansas Annual Conference and pursuing their theological education at any of the following approved United Methodist seminaries:
- Boston University School of Theology (Boston, MA)
- Candler School of Theology at Emory University (Atlanta, GA)
- Claremont School of Theology (Claremont, CA)
- Drew University Theological School (Madison, NJ)
- Duke University Divinity School (Durham, NC)
- Gammon Theological Seminary (Atlanta, GA)
- Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (Evanston, IL)
- Iliff School of Theology (Denver, CO)
- Methodist Theological School (Delaware, OH)
- Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX and Houston-Galveston, TX)
- Saint Paul School of Theology (Leawood, KS and Oklahoma City, OK)
- United Theological Seminary (Dayton, OH)
- Wesley Theological Seminary (Washington, DC)
