Bethany Announces New Scholarship for Church of the Brethren Students

Bethany Theological Seminary has announced generous new financial aid for students who are members of the Church of the Brethren.

Beginning Fall 2026, Bethany will offer full-tuition scholarships to members of the Church of the Brethren who are enrolled in a graduate degree or graduate certificate program. 

The new Church of the Brethren scholarship was made possible by Flourish: A Campaign for Bethany Theological Seminary. That fundraising effort has raised more than $12.6 million in gifts and commitments over the last three years. Student financial aid was a key focus of the campaign, and alumni and donors have responded with remarkable generosity.

“We are grateful to all the donors who have chosen to invest in Bethany’s educational mission,” notes President Jeff Carter. “At the center of that mission is our relationship to the Church of the Brethren. Bethany prepares students for pastoral ministry in the denomination, but we also ensure that the history and witness of the Church of Brethren provides a foundation for the education we provide to an increasingly ecumenical student body.”

Bethany is the only Seminary of the Church of the Brethren, and its partnership with the denomination remains strong. The Seminary maintains a strong presence at the Annual Conference, which was held June 28-July 2, 2026 in Fort Wayne. The new scholarship was formally announced during that gathering. Bethany also partners with the denomination to support the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership, which provides non-graduate and continuing education opportunities.

“We are committed to removing all the obstacles that keep qualified students from pursuing graduate-level theological education, and this scholarship is an essential part of that effort,” notes Carter. “Financial concerns should never keep an individual from answering a call to ministry and service.”

Academic Dean Steve Schweitzer believes that the new scholarship will be especially helpful to those who plan to pursue the Master of Divinity — the degree designed for those who enter ordained ministry in the Church. 

“The Master of Divinity requires a significant commitment of time and effort from our students, and we want to do everything possible to prepare them to succeed,” says Schweitzer. “Many of our students are already ministering to congregations when they begin their Bethany degrees. They often are balancing their studies with jobs and family responsibilities. These students bring tremendous intellectual and spiritual gifts, and they enrich our classrooms. We are very excited to be able to provide additional financial support to Church of the Brethren students, and we know that the entire Bethany community will benefit from their presence among us.”

Participants in the UP@ Bethany program — exceptional students who attend the six Brethren-related colleges and universities and take Bethany courses as part of their undergraduate education  —  will continue to pay tuition to, and receive financial aid from, their home institutions.

For more information about the new Church of the Brethren scholarship, contact Maya Armstrong at 765-983-1844.

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