FAQ

• ►   What is the PCA Unity Fund?

  The 43rd General Assembly considered a personal resolution on racial reconciliation and referred the matter to the 44th General Assembly, so that lower courts could perfect and propose a resolution encouraging heartfelt repentance. Presbyteries responded to this appeal “to prayerfully consider any and all sins of racial prejudice” by submitting overtures on racial reconciliation that called us to individual and corporate repentance.

  Repentance is an essential first step of racial reconciliation, but not the only one; and the 43rd General Assembly also encouraged sessions and presbyteries to “pursue a proper course of action humbly, sincerely and expeditiously”; and a proper course of action would include actively welcoming ethnic minority brothers called to pastoral ministry and encouraging their representation as Ruling and Teaching Elders in the PCA. So, the 44th General Assembly created The PCA Unity Fund.

  One of the objectives of The PCA Unity Fund is to provide seminary tuition subsidies to ethnic minority men called to gospel ministry in the PCA; and to ethnic minority men and women who are pursuing other ministry roles in a PCA church.

  
   
• ►   What is the PCA Unity fund seminary tuition subsidy?

  The PCA Unity Fund Seminary Tuition Subsidy is an intentional and proactive attempt to see generations of reformed ethnic minority Teaching Elders, Ruling Elders, church staff and missionaries raised up in the Presbyterian Church in America.

  The PCA Unity Fund Seminary Tuition Subsidy will help underwrite the cost of the training, mentoring and development of ethnic minority leadership in the PCA through partnership with churches and presbyteries. There are two application tracks available for candidate nominees; The PCA Unity Fund Seminary Tuition Subsidy Ordination Track and The PCA Unity Fund Seminary Tuition Subsidy Non-Ordination Track.

  For the ordination track, the subsidy is specifically for approved programs that meet Uniformed Curriculum Guidelines for ordination in the PCA. For the non-ordained track, this subsidy is specifically for approved theological and biblical training programs.

  
   
• ►   Who should apply for the PCA Unity fund seminary tuition subsidy?

  Ethnic minority men who are called to gospel ministry in the PCA; as well as both ethnic minority men and women pursuing non-ordained ministry roles in a PCA church. Please see below for detailed information regarding the different tracks available.

  
   
• ►   What is difference between the pca unity fund seminary tuition subsidy ordination track application and the pca unity fund seminary tuition subsidy non-ordination track application? Who is eligible for nomination?

  Ethnic minority men who are called to be candidates for the gospel ministry are eligible for nomination for The PCA Unity Fund Seminary Tuition Subsidy Ordination Track. The candidate nominee for the Seminary Tuition Subsidy Ordination Track will be a member of the Church in full communion who, believing himself to be called to preach the Gospel, submitting himself to and under the care and guidance of the Presbytery in his course of study and of practical training to prepare himself for this office. The candidate nominee must be pursuing ordination in the PCA.

  Both ethnic minority men and ethnic minority women, who are pursuing a non-ordained ministry position in a PCA church are eligible for nomination for The PCA Unity Fund Seminary Tuition Subsidy Non-Ordination Track. Although the candidate nominee does not need to be under the care of a presbytery, they must be under the supervision of a Church Session or oversight body of a church plant. The candidate nominee must be pursuing a non-ordained ministry position in the PCA.

  
   
• ►   What Is The Time Frame For Submitting Applications For The Pca Unity Fund Seminary Tuition Subsidy?

  Next Application Period will open: September 30, 2020 – June 30, 2021. This will be for the school year 2021 – 2022. Watch this page for updates.

  
   
• ►   Who completes the pca unity fund board seminary tuition subsidy application for the candidate nominee?

  The PCA Unity Fund Seminary Tuition Subsidy Ordination Track
  The application for a candidate nominee for The PCA Unity Fund Board Seminary Tuition Subsidy Ordination Track must be completed by the organization nominating the candidate. Organizations eligible to nominate a candidate are: a PCA church, a PCA mission church or PCA Presbytery.

  A rpresentative of one of the organizations must complete the application. The representative may be the supervising PCA church’s pastor or Session member; the supervising PCA Mission Church’s church planter or member of the oversight Session or; a member of the Presbytery providing care and guidance.

  The PCA Unity Fund Board Seminary Tuition Subsidy Ordination Track candidate nominee may not submit their own application. The PCA Unity Fund Board Seminary Tuition Subsidy Ordination Trackcandidate nominee must be under the care of a church and presbytery, who is willing to nominate them and complete the application.
  
  The PCA Unity Fund Seminary Tuition Subsidy Non-Ordination Track
  The application for a candidate nominee for The PCA Unity Fund Board Seminary Tuition Subsidy Non-Ordination Track must be completed by the organization nominating the candidate. Organizations eligible to nominate a candidate are: a PCA church, a PCA mission church or PCA Presbytery.

  A representative of one of the organizations must complete the application. The representative may be the supervising PCA church’s pastor or Session member; the supervising PCA Mission Church’s church planter or member of the oversight Session or; a member of the Presbytery providing guidance.

  The PCA Unity Fund Seminary Tuition Subsidy Non-Ordination Track candidate nominee may not submit their own application. The candidate nominee must have a PCA church, PCA mission church or PCA presbytery who is willing to supervise, nominate and complete the application for them.

  
   
• ►   How may funds from the pca unity fund board seminary tuition subsidy be used?

  The funds may be used for tuition and fees. The funds may also be used for other approved expenses at the discretion of The PCA Unity Fund Board.

  
   
• ►   What study programs are eligible for funding from the pca unity fund seminary tuition subsidy?

  The PCA Unity Fund Tuition Subsidy Ordination Track is specifically for approved programs that meet the Uniform Curriculum Guidelines for ordination in the PCA.

  The PCA Unity Fund Tuition Subsidy Non-Ordination Track is specifically for approved theological and biblical training programs.

  
   
• ►   When will the nominating church receive the decision on the application for the candidate nominee?

  The representative church or presbytery will be notified by email of the decision by July 15.

  
   
• ►   How will the funds be disbursed from the pca unity fund seminary tuition subsidy for approved candidate nominees?

  The funds will be disbursed to the nominating church or presbytery for distribution to the approved seminary. The funds will not be payable directly to the candidate nominee.