The mission of the BGCA is “To help establish and empower disciple-making, missional leaders and churches in Alberta.” A value and strategy to help fulfill this mission is to encourage and support leadership development and theological training in the BGCA district. The BGCA is one of three partners with the ACTS Seminary consortium who have formed The Journey Center for Christian Leadership—a graduate theological training center located in Edmonton, Alberta.

The BGCA will offer bursaries of up to $250.00 per student from a total pool of $1,000.00 per year to qualified BGCA men and women leaders who enroll in courses. The following guidelines will be used in the decision process:

1. Each pastoral leader who applies for a bursary must be committed to the mission, values, and expectations of the BGCA and whose church contributes to and cooperates in BGCA ministry. Each pastoral leader who applies must be credentialed with the BGCC.

2. Each non-pastoral leader who applies for a bursary must be an active and serving member of a BGCA church and whose church contributes to and cooperates in BGCA ministry.

3. Each non-pastoral leader must have a written commendation of their local church pastor and must secure a local church or denominational context for ongoing mentorship and immediate application of the principles and skills learned in the course.

4. Each bursary should ideally be matched with a grant from the mother church and the student with each contributing a third to the tuition. For example, a three-credit course would expect each party to contribute $250.00. A two-unit course would expect each to contribute $166.00.

5. Priority will be given to those leaders who choose to enroll in the entire two-year program and who can demonstrate financial need.

6. Normally no one church will be awarded more than two bursaries in any one semester and no student will be awarded any more than two bursaries in any one year.

7. Application for a bursary should be made by the application due date already assigned by the Journey: for example, by July 1 for September courses. The application will include a 500-word essay that describes why the student wants to take a given course and what he\she expects to learn from it and how it will be put into practice. The application will also include a written email commendation that must be sent to the BGCA office from the local church pastor: info@bgcalberta.ca

Click here to apply online for the BGCA bursary

8. The bursary, if granted, will be sent directly to The Journey Centre after the student has been accepted.


Roger Helland
District Executive Coach
Baptist General Conference Alberta