Thank you for your interest in HELM’s William Gilbert And Florence Leonard Jones Scholarship and Ann E. Dickerson Scholarship. Here, you will find instructions and steps to successfully complete your application.

Our mission is to work with the wider church and higher education partners to develop and nurture Christian leaders who are transforming church, society, and world. Our goal is to nurture those who will lead the next generation of Christian community and witness, and who will engage in both the creation of new communities and the renewal of existing ones.

Two different PhD Scholarships available, each with different requirements. However, only one application is required, even if applying for both.

WILLIAM GILBERT AND FLORENCE LEONARD JONES SCHOLARSHIP is intended for members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) working towards a Ph.D. in religion, who are also currently ordained or preparing for ordination in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and who intend to provide leadership to a congregation or other agency of the church.

ANN E. DICKERSON SCHOLARSHIP honors Ann E. Dickerson, who was elected Vice-Moderator of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in August 1975. A member of the faculty of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, she died in October 1975, shortly after receiving her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. The Dickerson scholarship is awarded to female members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) pursuing a Ph.D. in religion.

There are three (3) sections to the application. Please, familiarize yourself with the Application Instructions and proceed to complete each section. Note that you do not have to complete all three (3) sections at once; however, each individual section must be completed in a single session. All materials - including an online application, statements and essays, all reference letters, and transcripts - must be received by the deadline for your application to be considered complete.

All materials are due electronically or postmarked by April 15, 2023 for mail submissions, where applicable.

First, download and read the instructions carefully. Then, click on each button to access and complete the appropriate section of the application. At any point, contact us at PhDScholarships@helmdisciples.org with questions or help requests.

Section I asks for your general profile, including information such as your date of birth, church info, and ordination info (if applicable). Refer to the Application Instructions liked above for a complete checklist of the information you will need to complete this section. This sections should take no more than 20 to 25 minutes to complete.

Section II gives you instructions to submit your personal statements. The first is a list of leadership roles you've held in the church, school, and the community. The second is a 500-word essay describing your academic goals, vocational goals, and how you envision being of service to the Church. Refer to the Application Instructions liked above for full details.

Section III asks for the name and contact information for each of your 2 references: One Pastoral and one Academic References. Do not forget to furnish each reference with the instructions, which you can download here.