Funding your PC(USA) seminaries

Give to the Theological Education Fund

Individuals can help fund your seminaries, too!

eleven seminaries are funded through two giving programs: the Theological Education Fund (1% Plan) and the Theological Schools Endowment Fund.

Voluntary contributions from congregations to the Theological Education Fund (1% Plan) and contributions and/or bequests made by individuals to the Theological Schools Endowment Fund are the only sources of denomination-wide funding for theological seminaries related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Our seminaries need your help

The top 12 things you should know about our seminaries

1. We have 10 Presbyterian seminaries nationwide, plus two that are closely affiliated. As Presbyterians, we place a high value on an educated clergy. It is a hallmark of our denomination — indeed, a source of pride. To continue this tradition of excellence, we have entrusted 10 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) seminaries and two theological institutions related to the denomination by covenant agreement with the responsibility of educating and equipping persons of faith for pastoral leadership.
2. Seminary students come in all shapes and sizes. The 3,100 students who attend our PC(USA) seminaries are black and white, Asian and Hispanic, Native American and Middle Eastern. While some are fresh out of college, ministry is a second or subsequent career for others. These women and men of faith come from varying socio-economic backgrounds and from urban, rural, small town and suburban settings. In short, they reflect the diverse nature of the Presbyterian church.
3. Our seminaries are graduate schools serving the church. Seminary is designed to provide tomorrow’s pastors with a solid biblical foundation, historical perspective and understanding of Reformed theology. In the classroom, on site in local congregations and in courses conducted over the Internet, students learn how to lead worship, preach, teach, pray and provide pastoral care. Earning the Master of Divinity, or M.Div. degree, is a prerequisite to becoming an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian church.
4. A seminary education is as much about spiritual formation as it is book learning. Time and time again, students say that living and worshiping together in Christian community is what seminary is all about. They grow as leaders by discussing their beliefs and questions with other students and faculty. Books, lectures, online discussions, paper-writing and classroom presentations are certainly important, but mentoring, chapel services and friendships made at seminary are essential to pastoral formation.
5. Resourcing the church of the 21st century requires wide-ranging seminary programs. To meet the needs of an increasingly diverse people of God, our seminaries partner with business and law schools, universities and other theological institutions at home and abroad to deepen and broaden seminary learning. Our seminaries also host centers that address the needs of racial/ethnic groups, and they offer media training, urban ministry programs, church conferences, online journals and other special curricula.
6. Seminaries prepare students to serve congregations. Our seminaries report that 85 percent of graduates go into parish ministry. Others feel called to serve the church as missionaries, Christian educators, chaplains, spiritual directors, youth leaders, academics and other kinds of religious professionals. To help ensure talented, faith-filled leaders are well educated, our seminaries grant masters degrees in such disciplines as theology, Christian education, church music and marriage and family therapy.
7. Seminaries care about the church. Presbyterian seminaries are renowned as centers of research and theological discourse. They work with congregations, presbyteries and other educational institutions on issues and concerns of the church. They offer continuing education and other opportunities for lifelong learning along with doctoral coursework leading to the Ph.D. and D.Min. degrees. And they assist in educating commissioned lay pastors to serve congregations that do not have the resources but need regular pastoral leadership.
8. It takes seminaries and churches together to “equip the saints for the work of ministry.” Seminaries can’t grow leaders by themselves. Leadership development requires a congregation-seminary partnership that begins in the parish with meaningful worship, mission trips, small groups, youth programs — and more. It continues as the congregation nurtures one of its own who identifies a call to ministry. While students are in seminary, congregations offer prayer, encouragement and on-site opportunities for service and experiential learning. As seminary graduates become pastors, they count on their congregations for greater understanding of faith, hope, peace, justice and love.
9. Your congregation has a stake in our seminaries. You may be getting along just fine right now … but where will your next pastor come from? Who will lead the church in 10 years? 20 years? Tomorrow’s leaders need our prayers and support today, along with our encouragement to attend the PC(USA) seminary that will provide the educational foundation they need to develop Christian disciples among our children, grandchildren and future generations.
10. Seminary students cannot be expected to pay the full cost of a seminary education. It costs our Presbyterian seminaries an average of $78,600 to educate a Master of Divinity student for three years. To pay their way, students rely on financial gifts from their congregation and presbytery. Many also depend on seminary scholarships or work/study programs, and some draw on personal savings. Others take out loans. Recent studies show that the average Master of Divinity borrower graduates with more than $25,000 in debt.
11. Our seminaries count on YOU for financial support. Tuition covers only a small portion of what it takes for a seminary to offer a quality education. Most of the funding needed to operate our schools comes from endowments, individual contributions, grants and an annual contribution from the Theological Education Fund (TEF), which is comprised solely of monies contributed each year by PC(USA) congregations.
12. The only denominational support our seminaries receive is from the TEF. Churchwide funding of PC(USA) seminaries is possible as congregations like yours commit a portion of their annual budget to the TEF. A 1 percent-per-year gift to the TEF is considered a congregation’s proportionate share of educating church leaders. Once TEF monies are collected each year, the Committee on Theological Education (COTE) – with 13 members elected by the General Assembly from across the denomination, plus a representative from each seminary – proportionately allocates the TEF funds to ensure each school receives a fair share.

Invest in the future of our denomination

One of the continuing strengths of the Presbyterian Church is a competent ministry, well-educated in the Reformed Tradition. Your seminaries provide pastors, educators, missionaries and chaplains for the work of Christ's church. They also offer continuing education programs for those seeking on-going renewal of spirit and competence for ministry. By sharing together in financial support of our theological schools, we affirm our church's historic roots and assure leadership for our church in the years to come.

Your denomination's seminaries are funded through a two-part system consisting of the Theological Education Fund (1% Plan) and the Theological Schools Endowment Fund.

Give to the Theological Education Fund (TEF) 1% Plan

Each congregation makes a voluntary contribution of 1% of their local operating budget (all monies expended for current operation of congregations as reported in the General Assembly Minutes, Statistical Reports, Part II, Line 25). Some churches are not able to begin at a full 1% and adopt more modest goals, such as one-fourth or one-half of 1%, and set a goal to increase that percentage each year until full 1% participation is achieved. This gift to the Theological Education Fund is the congregation's proportionate share for the education of present and future ministers and church educators. The Theological Education Fund is the only source of denomination-wide financial support received by your seminaries.

Support the Theological Schools Endowment Fund (TSEF)

Individuals may support the entire theological education enterprise through gifts and bequests. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Foundation manages this fund with income to be used in support of our seminaries. [Read more about the TSEF]

Your congregation can participate in the TEF 1% Plan

We know budgets are already tight when your session makes its proposal based on priorities set for your congregation's work and witness to the gospel. Your congregation can begin with a commitment of less than 1%. Even a small contribution to the TEF is an important investment in the development of future leaders for your congregation and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

No need to redirect other mission funds

The 1% Plan is not intended to redirect funds currently given for mission. Your congregation's additional commitment to the 1% Plan is based on your understanding of the urgent need for preparing future church leaders. A commitment to fund theological education is essential to the future of our church.

The 1% Plan supports theological education across the PC(USA)

The only way to provide financial support for all of your PC(USA) seminaries and students is by contributing to the 1% Plan. The plan is intended to support all of our schools, therefore, you are asked not to designate your commitment. However, this plan does give your congregation the opportunity to support particular schools and seminary students over and above your budget commitment to the Theological Education Fund (1% Plan).

Begin budgeting your congregation's contribution today

Start today! Include the Theological Education Fund in your congregation's annual budget planning process. But don't wait until next year to give. Make a symbolic gift now and join the thousands of congregations already committed to preparing future leaders for the church of Jesus Christ through the Theological Education Fund (1% Plan).

Give today!

Send your contribution with checks and accompanying paperwork clearly marked: Theological Education Fund, account #TE999999 through the regular channel used by your church when sending funds for General Assembly causes.

Alternately, you may also send your contribution directly to:

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Theological Education Fund
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700

COTE implements a funding formula for 11 seminaries

The Committee on Theological Education (COTE), with thirteen members elected by the General Assembly plus a representative from each seminary, oversees the distribution of the TEF (1% Plan) money and makes the allocations annually. Eleven seminaries receive funding according to a formula agreed upon by COTE. The formula provides each school with a fair share of the funds, taking into consideration such factors as numbers of degrees granted, the number of Presbyterian students and other special needs.

The Office of Theological Education, an office of the General Assembly Mission Council, manages the promotion and fair distribution of the Theological Education Fund monies.