Leadership Development

OTHER SCHOOLS
The FMCiC preference for LSP is for students to attend one of the approved schools listed above. However, if you decide to apply at a non-approved school, you must first send a request to the Credentialing Coordinator to determine whether the committee will approve funding for you to study at a non-approved school. Along with your request, please include a written explanation as to why you are choosing to study at a non-approved school. It is strongly recommended that you do this before paying tuition, and well in advance of the LSP deadline. The Credentialing Coordinator, along with the LSP committee, will consider each request individually and according to LSP policy.  

 DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS
The Director of Leadership Development and in consultation with the LSP Committee will make a recommendation for approval of the applicant’s studies and will consult with the Regional Ministerial Education Guidance and Placement committee where it deems necessary.  The applicants will receive scholarship amounts based on a funding formula which can cause the amounts available to students to fluctuate semester to semester and year to year.  This calculation is based each semester upon the number of applicants, the level of education, the number of credits taken by each applicant, and the amount of funding available.  Funding is not provided for any student above the actual amount of the tuition paid.

SOURCE OF LSP FUNDING
The LSP grant program is a continuation of the ministry of Lorne Park Foundation. LPF continues to provide approximately one-half of the funds required for LSP each year from the capital asset income of Lorne Park Foundation. The balance of the funding comes from Free Methodist churches across Canada through the Leadership Development Giving Stream and through the Free Methodist Foundation.

SERVICE / PAYBACK ARRANGEMENT
The following policy applies to all applicants who receive LSP funding.

LSP grants are given with the expectation that all students receiving financial assistance will serve the Church in a meaningful way for a minimum of three years after their studies are complete. Service includes ministerial service with The Free Methodist Church in Canada, service as an approved missionary or VISA worker or Chaplain, involvement in denominational ministry or active involvement in a leadership capacity as a member of a local congregation of The Free Methodist Church in Canada.

Whenever scholarship recipients cannot fulfill part or all of the three-year minimum service obligation, the funds received will be considered to be a loan to be repaid.  The amount of the grant to be repaid will be reduced by thirty-three percent for each year of service after the completion of studies, with service as defined above. The grant amount is repayable to The Free Methodist Church in Canada over a five year period and begins six months after the completion of studies.  A deferment of repayment may be requested if studies continue at a non-approved institution or if other circumstances warrant.