Biannual Application Deadlines:
July 31st of current year and December 31 of current calendar year of classes completed.
Basic Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible, an applicant must meet all of the following requirements:
- Be working toward ordination as a deacon or elder in the Global Methodist Church.
- Be a Certified Candidate through the Western Pacific Conference Board of Ministry.
- Reside within the boundaries of the Western Pacific Conference (this includes the nine western states in the United States, Fiji, and Australia.)
- Be actively involved in a Western Pacific Conference Global Methodist Church.
- Be actively completing coursework at an approved GMC seminary or school that supports the educational requirements for ordination.
- Be in good standing with the Western Pacific Conference Board of Ministry.
- Submit a complete application by the required deadline.
- Agree to the terms of the forgivable loan agreement.
- Serve a 5-year term in related ministry to qualify for loan forgiveness.
Loan Selection Process
- Applicant submits a completed application including grades and proof of expense.
- Selection committee confirms basic eligibility.
- Committee may request additional information if needed.
- Committee determines what amount (if any) is awarded.
- Applicant is notified in writing.
- Approved applicants sign the forgivable loan agreement.
- Funds are paid to recipient.
Approval may be for a specific course, semester, academic term, or dollar amount. Approval does not guarantee future funding.
Loan Selection Guidelines and Priorities May Include
- Financial need.
- Church, personal or community available financial support or resources.
- Proximity to completion, to ordination or to ministry service.
- Other concerns as designated by committee.
- Exceptions may be considered by the selection committee when the expense is clearly connected to the applicant’s preparation for ordained ministry.
Loan Forgiveness Process
- Is ordained as a deacon or elder in the Global Methodist Church.
- Remains in good standing with the Global Methodist Church.
- For each full year of qualifying ministry within the Global Methodist Church after ordination, 20% of the loan shall be forgiven.
- Serves faithfully in appointed or approved ministry for five years following ordination.
- Provides any required annual reporting during the forgiveness period.
Other Important Information
- If repayment is required, only the unforgiven balance of the loan shall be subject to repayment, which will begin within 90 days of written notice.
- The recipient may repay the balance in full or request a written payment plan. Payment plans, once approved, should not normally exceed 36 months.
- The Western Pacific Conference may waive, reduce, or extend repayment terms due to extraordinary circumstances, including serious illness, disability, family crisis, military deployment, death, or other circumstances deemed appropriate by the Conference.
- Withdrawal or removal from the ordination process will trigger required repayment by the recipient.
- Withdrawal from the GMC or failing to serve the required 5-year period will trigger repayment, by the recipient.
- Falsifying application information or failing to meet the reporting requirements will trigger repayment by the recipient and possible disciplinary action.
- Following ordination, failure to provide an annual ministry status report during the forgiveness period may delay forgiveness of loan or trigger repayment.
