Mission Agency Approves $1.25 Million in Scholarship Aid for Students from 46 Countries

New York, NY, May 2, 2007—The United Methodist mission agency will grant $1.25 million in leadership development scholarship aid to 250 students from 46 countries in the 2007-08 academic year.

The appropriations were approved by directors of the General Board of Global Ministries meeting in Stamford, CT, on April 23-26.

Four groups of scholarships help to prepare leaders for religious and social responsibility around the world. In most cases, the recipients, including ethnic and racial persons in the United States, would not be able to pursue higher education without the grants.

“Our scholarships are of great value to the whole church and to the Christian ecumenical community,” said the Rev. R. Randy Day, chief executive of the mission agency. “Over many decades we have educated persons who became bishops, doctors, diplomats, scientists, and educators. We strive to make allocations that are of substantial help in professional achievement.”

The four categories of scholarships are Crusade International, Crusade National, International Leadership Development, and National Leadership Development. The level of study supported ranges from undergraduate to graduate-level programs.

Some of the funds come from the annual World Communion Sunday Offering in October and are earmarked for the Crusade Scholarship program. The sum realized by Global Ministries for Crusade Scholars in 2006 was $472,298 for use in the 2007-08 academic year. Money for the Leadership Development programs comes from board endowments and supplemental allocations. Relatively small sums come through the Advance for Christ and His Church, the designated mission giving program of the denomination.

A total of 217 scholarships were approved in April, and another 35 will come before directors at their October meeting.

Church members and friends do not need to wait until World Communion Day to make gifts to the scholarship programs. Gifts can be made to either Crusade Scholarships or the Leadership Development programs through the Advance. The Crusade number is Advance 982161; Leadership Development, Advance 982468.

Contributions can be made online at http://secure.gbgm-umc.org by inserting the project number in the appropriate blank; or by credit card via the telephone at (888) 252-6174, or by check made out to the Advance and bearing the project number, mailed to Advance GCFA, P.O. Box 9068, GPO, New York, NY 10087-9068.

Designated gifts can also be placed in the offering plate of any United Methodist Church. One hundred percent of each Advance donation goes to the ministry indicated.