The deadline for applications to the fall 2015 Urban Fellows and Missional Fellows programs at Wesley Theological Seminary is February 1. In addition to eligibility for financial aid, Urban and Missional Fellows receive a $10,000 stipend for educational and living expenses. Other masters-level applicants wanting to be considered for competitive merit scholarship should also apply by February 1.
The Urban Fellows program offers a select cohort of individuals’ in-depth contextual learning by engaging in field practices, developing partnerships, initiating transforming ministries through research projects, and participating in a weekly seminar. Urban Fellows are outstanding fulltime Master of Divinity and Master of Theological Studies students at Wesley who sense a calling to become leaders in urban ministry. They are given exceptional opportunities to grow through internships with urban congregations, social service advocacy groups and non-profit organizations, as well as mentorships with experienced urban pastors and leaders. Urban Fellows have the opportunity to provide pastoral care and leadership in congregations and other settings; engage in community organizing and research projects; and advocate and mobilize for justice issues. Applicants for this program should have a heart for the city and be willing to deeply engage in theological conversations.
Wesley’s Missional Fellows are seeking faithful solutions to the challenges of service and social justice leadership within the growing number of missional churches, nonprofit organizations, and other emerging ministries. Missional Fellows are typically young adults with experience in service-corps organizations—such as AmeriCorps, City Year, Teach for America, Jesuit Volunteer Corps, United Methodist US-2 or Young Adult Missionaries. Wesley’s Missional Fellows are equipped for leadership in churches or nonprofit organizations committed to social justice, service, community development, organizing, and advocacy work with those in need.  Missional Fellows may enter either the Master of Divinity or Master of Theological Studies programs. During their first year, Missional Fellows engage in Wesley’s Center for the Missional Church’s Heal the Sick program, designed to support congregations’ health-ministry development. During their second and third years, Missional Fellows may continue to work on the Heal the Sick program or they may develop their own missional engagement project in collaboration with ministry or community partners.
Anyone interested in applying to the Urban Fellows or Missional Fellows programs can do so as part of the admissions process to Wesley. In addition to completing the standard application to Wesley, which is found at www.WesleySeminary.edu/apply, fellowship applicants must submit essays of 1,500 or fewer words by February 1. Essays may be submitted by email to admissions@wesleyseminary.edu, by fax at (202) 885-8585 or by mail to Admissions Office, Wesley Theological Seminary, 4500 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20016. Finalists for the fellows programs will be invited to Wesley for personal interviews and an in-depth exploration of the seminary.
Urban Fellows applicants’ essays must address the following questions:
- How have you experienced a call to Urban Ministry?
- What qualifications or experiences support your Urban Ministry calling?
- In what type of ministry setting do you see yourself serving in the future?
Missional Fellows applicants’ essays must address the following questions:
- How have you experienced a call to mission and service?
- What qualifications or experiences support your calling (include service hours, social justice/mercy ministry experiences, etc)?
- In what type of ministry setting do you see yourself serving in the future?
Seated in the nation’s capital and centered in Christian faith, Wesley Theological Seminary prepares students, representing more than 30 denominations, to become exemplary teachers, preachers, and leaders in the world today. Wesley graduates are in ministry in all 50 states and in 20 countries as leaders of churches and service organizations. The mission of Wesley Theological Seminary is to prepare Christians for leadership in the church and the world, to advance theological scholarship, and to model a prophetic voice in the public square. For more information, visit WesleySeminary.edu.
