The Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies is seeking applicants for the 2005-06 class of Heritage Fellows.
The Heritage Fellows program provides an opportunity for Baptist sophomores and juniors attending Virginia colleges and universities to learn about some aspect of Baptist life, meet current Baptist leaders and research and work on a project that will be published at the end of the academic year. The topic for the upcoming year will be on how Baptists deliver missions in the current culture.
Previous classes of Heritage Fellows studied Baptists and social ministry. The Fellows interviewed community missionaries of the Richmond Baptist Association in the mission setting and wrote about the work of the missionaries while working alongside them in ministry. The Fellows also were able to meet a nationally known historian to learn how to write oral histories and conduct an interview.
The Fellows' papers were published in a book on Baptists and social ministry.
The current class of Fellows is studing Baptist polity, or how Baptists govern themselves. They are conducting research on over 12 Baptist churches and how they have chosen to govern themselves. Each congregation is unique and functions with a particular polity that helps them carry out their mission. The work of the Heritage Fellows will be coupled with talks given by leaders in Baptist life and put in a form for use in the local church.
Heritage Fellows must be sophomores or juniors in the fall term of their academic year of appointment. They also must be Baptist students enrolled at Virginia colleges or universities with a recognized Baptist Student Union aligned with the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. Fellows also will be actively engaged in religious activities on campus or in their local church. The applicant also must have an overall grade of B or above or grade point average of 3.0 or above at the time of application. The deadline for application to the program is March 15. Heritage Fellows receive a stipend of $1,500 per semester for a total of $3,000 for the year.
For more information or to apply contact the Center online at www. fellows.baptistheritage.org or call (804) 289-8434.
Special to the Herald