Volunteers Exploring Vocation Fellowships

For young adults participating in the national faith-based volunteer programs connected to FTE's Volunteers Exploring Vocation (VEV) initiative, the VEV Fellowship offers financial help toward the cost of the first year of a Master of Divinity program.

What does it take to become a VEV Fellow?

Candidates for the Volunteers Exploring Vocation Fellowship must be current participants in one of the faith-based volunteer programs listed below, or have completed a year of volunteer service within the previous three years.

To apply for the VEV Fellowship, you must:

be preparing to enter the first year of a Master of Divinity program at a seminary accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (persons already enrolled in or planning to enroll in an M.T.S., Th.M., or M.A. degree program are not eligible for this award).
be a U.S. or Canadian citizen
be 35 years of age or younger
be able to participate in all required fellowship activities

What does a fellowship include?

VEV Fellows are awarded a stipend to apply toward educational costs and living expenses during their first year of seminary.

Each Fellow also attends the FTE Leaders in Ministry Conference during the summer before the fellowship year. A stipend is provided for conference travel and expenses.

(Please note that conference attendance is a requirement of the fellowship; however, volunteers serving overseas may still be eligible to apply. Contact the Director of Ministry Fellowships, Kim Hearn, for questions about conference attendance).

How and when to apply?

Up to 12 VEV Fellows will be named for the upcoming academic year.

Application forms for the 2011-2012 fellowship year will be available in October, 2010. The application deadline is April 1, 2011.

The FTE Leaders in Ministry Conference

FTE Fellows tell us that connecting with others inspires them to keep going as they explore their call to ministry. This gathering brings together new FTE Undergraduate, Congregational and Volunteers Exploring Vocation Fellows with distinguished theologians, pastors and church leaders for several days of thoughtful exchange, including lectures, worship, forums, workshops, recreational activities and informal time together. The conference fosters mentoring relationships as students explore questions of ministry, service and the nature of Christian vocation. Fellows leave the conference with new tools for understanding their particular gifts in the context of the world's needs.

Click on the banner below to view pictures, read blog posts, and listen to audio recorded at the 2010 Leaders in Ministry Conference, held at Boston University School of Theology