Duke Divinity School is committed to supporting a new generation of transformative leadership in support of healthy congregations and thriving communities. The Thriving Communities Fellowship is a distinctive program that immerses residential Master of Divinity Students within the rich academic environment of the Divinity School and embeds them within the work of the Ormond Center, inviting them to become agents of thriving.

This fellowship is designed for individuals who exhibit not only academic excellence but are also passionately committed to exploring and cultivating their skills at the intersection of congregations and communities.

Thriving Communities Fellows pose near Duke Chapel

About the Fellowship

In addition to full-tuition scholarships that cover three years of study in the residential M.Div., Thriving Communities Fellows participate in signature programming tailored to their vocational aims.

Cultivating Innovative Leaders for the Church

Find out how the Thriving Communities Fellowship helps cultivate leaders at the intersection of congregations and communities.

Fellowship Details

Thriving Communities Fellows receive scholarship funding to cover the full cost of tuition for three years of study in the residential M.Div. program and will participate in signature programming tailored to their vocational aims, including mentoring, immersion experiences, and cohort-based professional formation and events in the Ormond Center. Students are also eligible for funded field education placements through the Office of Field Education that provide financial support up to $40,000. Fellows will also have the opportunity to work in the Ormond Center as Student Agents.

Thriving Communities Fellows are selected on the basis of:

  • Creative capacity for transformational, pastoral leadership in and through congregations.
  • A commitment to exploring vocation as an ordained pastor.
  • A desire to catalyze a life of faith through Christian formation.
  • An ability to curate cross-sector partnerships.
  • A strong commitment to making the love of Christ visible through renewed imagination, community economic development, and community revitalization.

Meet Our Thriving Communities Fellows

Our fellows bring unique backgrounds and a focus on building strong communities to their work and studies at Duke Divinity School.

Read More about our fellows
Donghyung Lee headshot wearing suit near Duke Chapel
Four Bri(ddd)ge students post outside of Open Table

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply for the M.Div. through the regular Duke Divinity School admission process. The fellowship can be listed as an "Area of Interest" or folded into the narrative of the "Statement of Purpose."

Apply to Duke Divinity School

Eligibility

Residential Master of Divinity applicants who are actively exploring ordained ministry, looking to cultivate cross-sector partnerships in communities, and pursuing a vision for the ways congregations can be a catalyst for renewed imagination, community economic development, and community revitalization will be considered.

Requirements

Thriving Communities Fellows will need to enroll full-time as a residential student and maintain a GPA of at least 3.0. After graduating, fellows are expected to engage in creative and life-giving forms of ministry connecting congregations to communities. Graduates of the fellowship will not have any official obligations.