FTE Ministry Fellowship

A one-year fellowship for sophomore and junior college students interested in deepening their vocational discernment and implementing discernment practices with their peers

APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN

Imagine a Future in Service to the Church and the World

The Forum for Theological Exploration’s new Ministry Fellowship offers college students the opportunity to envision a future in service to the Church. Fellows will join a peer cohort and discern their calling from God and their community. The program begins with an opening retreat and continues with an online course: "Discerning Pathways to Ministry." This course ends with a proposal to pursue a call to ministry or to facilitate discernment among peers. After submitting a successful proposal, participants will receive a $4,000 grant to implement their projects over the next year. The fellowship ends with a closing retreat and a session to share project outcomes and insights.

The Application for the National Cohort of FTE’s Ministry Fellowship is due January 15, 2026.

Apply for the National Cohort
Nominate a Ministry Fellow

Were you already nominated and need to submit your application? Check your email for a unique link, or email Heather B.P. Wallace.

Ministry Fellowship Nominations

FTE invites nominations for college students who are sophomores or juniors during the 2025-2026 academic year. Nominators are encouraged to consider the following criteria:

We are seeking nominees who:

  • Demonstrate leadership and influence in their church, campus ministry, or school community
  • Express an interest in exploring pastoral ministry as a vocation
  • Are capable of critical thinking and deep reflection, showing thoughtfulness, curiosity, and a willingness to learn
  • Can follow through on their commitments and are available for all required activities, including in-person Opening and Closing Retreats, a six-week online course, and ongoing virtual check-ins with mentors and peer groups.
  • Will submit a proposal for a grant to explore a call to ministry or to implement discernment practices with peers

Ministry Fellowship Candidate Requirements

An ideal candidate for the Ministry Fellowship is…

  • A citizen or permanent resident of the United States or Canada
  • A sophomore or junior during the 2025-2026 academic year
  • Maintaining and will maintain a 3.5 GPA
  • Willing to submit a nomination or letter of recommendation from a campus minister, university chaplain, pastor, or professor


This fellowship is not suitable for postgraduate students, those already enrolled in a seminary, young adults only seeking to grow and mature in their faith, individuals who believe they have it all figured out, or students with conflicting commitments, particularly those studying abroad.

FTE's Ministry Fellowships

FTE offers financial support to college-age students and opportunities to deepen their vocational discernment and implement discernment practices with peers through a Ministry Fellowship. You can apply to join the National Cohort in Spring 2026 or the Atlanta Cohort in Fall 2026. This experience includes dedicated retreats, cohorts, courses, and a stipend to further explore your call to ministry.

National Cohort

The National Cohort of FTE’s Ministry Fellowship applications open on October 1, 2025. The cohort will run from March 2026 to August 2027. 

Applications for the National Cohort are due January 15, 2026.

Atlanta Cohort

The Atlanta Cohort of FTE’s Ministry Fellowship applications open on May 1, 2026. Sign up to receive notifications when applications become available. 

Virtual Information Sessions

Interested in learning more?

Join us for one of our virtual information sessions.

Register Now: NOVEMBER 6, 2025 AT 12PM EST

Register Now: DECEMBER 9, 2025 AT 3PM

Register Now: JANUARY 7, 2026 AT 7PM

Refer to the FAQ below for a list of additional dates specific to the cohorts.

Frequently Asked Questions
  • Citizen or permanent resident of the United States or Canada
  • Sophomore or junior during the 2025-2026 academic year
  • A student who maintains a 3.5 GPA
  • A student who demonstrates leadership and influence in their church, campus ministry, or school community
  • A student who expresses interest in exploring pastoral ministry as a vocation
  • A student who is capable of critical thinking and deep reflection – showing thoughtfulness, curiosity, and a willingness to learn
  • A student who can follow through on their commitments and is available for all required activities

Follow this link and complete the application, paying attention to the depth of your reflection on the questions posed. You will need to have either a nominator or someone willing to write a reference letter.

Application Requirements:

  • Nomination letter or recommendation from a campus minister, university chaplain, pastor, or professor.
  • Application form and responses (at least 150 words per response)
  • Be prepared to answer the following questions on your application: 
    1. How does your Christian faith shape your engagement with the world?
    2. Tell us about a community of faith to which you belong. What is the value of that community to your life and leadership? If you don’t currently participate in the life of a community of faith, why not?
    3. How would you currently describe your chosen major or career aspirations? How does it align or not align with your current understanding of your vocation, purpose or calling?
  • Brief phone or Zoom interview with FTE staff

National Ministry Fellowship Cohort

  • January 15: Applications Due
  • January 15–March 1: Interviews and Adjudication
  • Week of March 6: Selection Notifications
  • May 14–17: Opening Retreats for selected Ministry Fellows

Atlanta Ministry Fellowship

  • Stay tuned for updates!

Please contact Heather Wallace or Allison Arsenault. You can also send us a message on our contact page.