The ThM William B Dean, MD, Pastor Formation Fellowship

Pages In This Section

Applicants must be accepted into the ThM program by April 15, 2024, to be considered for this fellowship.

Description of Program

The ThM William B Dean, MD, Pastor Formation Fellowship will be offered to ten entering ThM students who have demonstrated excellent scholastic achievement, a calling to pastoral ministry, and potential for a lifetime of expository preaching and pastoral leadership in the local church as determined by the DTS Admissions Committee and the Pastoral Ministries Department.  

Forming future pastors for a lifetime of ministry service in expository preaching and pastoral leadership.

Program Values

  • A Christ-centered cohort community journeying together through 
    • Life-on-life relationships 
    • Centrality of the Word, prayer, and worship 
    • Equipping in essential pastoral ministry skills 
    • A core focus on spiritual formation, expository preaching, and pastoral leadership 

Program Details

  • The Pastor Formation Fellowship will consist of two stages: Stage 1 for "Foundational Fellows," laying the foundation for a lifetime of ministry service; and Stage 2 for "Senior Fellows," pursuing advanced pastoral formation for a lifetime of ministry service.
    • Stage 1 will consist of 12 credit hours in cohort community, forming fellows in the foundations of spiritual formation, expository preaching, and pastoral leadership, within the first two years of the ThM program.
    • Entrance into stage 2 is not guaranteed upon completion of stage 1 and will be dependent on the assessment of the Department of Pastoral Ministries.
    • Stage 2 will consist of 30 credit hours in cohort community, forming fellows through advanced training in spiritual formation, expository preaching, and pastoral leadership, within the middle and later stages of the ThM program.

Program Benefits

  • 50% tuition discount for the first 96 credit hours and 100% tuition for the final 24 hours through "Last Year Free" (as long as the student remains an active participant in the Pastor Formation Fellowship)
  • A $500/month stipend for the four years of ThM (can be applied to housing or enable reduction in outside work)—as long as the student remains an active participant in the Pastor Formation Fellowship
  • Prioritized on-campus housing (at the student’s expense) if desired
  • Immersive/Formational Experiences: LEAD mentoring intensive, mission trip and ministry intensive, and an opportunity for a study trip to Israel 
  • Strategic residency partnerships in Dallas-Fort Worth area churches 

Eligibility Requirements

  • Applicants must be newly accepted male ThM students at the Dallas campus (entering Fall 2024). 
  • Applicants must be present on the Dallas campus for all courses and classes in the Pastor Formation Fellowship. Fellows cannot participate online or at extension sites. 

Application Process

  • Step 1: Interested students should apply to the Dallas campus ThM program at https://www.dts.edu/apply/  
  • Step 2: Interested students must also fill out a separate form for the ThM William B Dean, MD, Pastor Formation Fellowship (within the main application) demonstrating 
    • Calling to pastoral ministry 
    • Character for pastoral ministry 
    • Desire for equipping in pastoral ministry 
    • Past experience in a pastoral ministry settings 
    • Two character and ministry references 
    • Submission of a recent sermon  
  • Step 3: Applicants will participate in an interview (can be in person or via Microsoft Teams) with two members of the Pastoral Ministries Department 
APPLY

Additional Provisions and Requirements

  1. Applicants who want to be considered for this scholarship must have submitted an admissions application and have been accepted by April 15. It is recommended applications be submitted and all necessary references and other documents (transcripts, test scores, etc.) be submitted and complete before April. 
  2. Recipients must be full-time students, completing at least 30 credit hours per academic year, and finishing the ThM program in no more than four academic years. 
  3. Recipients will maintain a minimum 3.00 GPA, remain in good standing with the seminary, exhibit strong Christian character, and demonstrate spiritual maturity through service to others. 
  4. Language courses must be taken in sequence each semester, starting the first fall semester. 
  5. If a recipient receives a failing grade in any course, he will be disqualified from the Pastor Formation Fellowship after the end of that semester. If his GPA falls below a 3.00 average in any one semester, he will be on probation the following semester. He must bring his grades back up to a 3.0 average or lose the scholarship. 
  6. Recipients of the scholarship award will prepare a personal and scholastic update each semester to be sent to the donor. Student updates should be delivered to the Advancement Office by November 15 and May 15 each year. 
  7. If a recipient fails to meet the requirements listed above, he may forfeit the scholarship. 
  8. A background check will be performed on the award recipient. 
Scholarships & Discounts