October 30, 2025

The Diocesan Executive Committee is pleased to announce the launch of the Diocesan Clergy Educational Bursary Program. Applications will open in Spring 2026 and will be accepted until May 15, 2026 for courses or programs in Spring or Fall of the 2026-2027 academic year.

Bishop Alexander Pryor says, “We recognize that there are numerous barriers for those living in the North to access places to where they can study, work, and pray through God’s Word side-by-side other faithful leaders at an advanced, graduate-degree level. I am very proud of all that is accomplished through the Arthur Turner Training School’s programs, and this bursary program is intended to assist ATTS graduates and other Arctic clergy to “upgrade” their ATTS diploma or certificate by chipping away at an approved seminary degree by part-time study.”

The program is designed with two purposes: first, it will encourage lifelong learning among clergy who so often serve in places with very few colleagues or peers with which to study scripture and discuss ideas at a deep level, and; second, it is part of an overall plan to see Indigenous and Northern clergy earn accredited degrees so that, in the next generation, there can be well-qualified Arctic candidates to serve as the Principal and Biblical Studies and Systematic Theology faculty members at ATTS.

For background, the Arthur Turner Training School, founded in the early ’70s, has trained the vast majority of Inuit clergy and catechists, most through it’s full-time 2-year Diploma in Arctic Ministry program, and more recently through it’s new competency-based Certificate in Diaconal Ministry program, which can be completed while maintaining family and community commitments through online study alongside 3 in-person week-long intensive courses.

A forward-looking plan

“Many will be familiar with the faithful Bible translation work accomplished by faithful Inuit clergy like Bishop Andrew Atagotaaluk and Canon Jonas Allooloo, and many others of their generation”, says Bishop Alexander. “For a number of reasons – mainly due to the closure of ATTS for nearly 15 years in the early 2000s – we find ourselves with a ‘missing generation’ of clergy well-qualified to do that sort of work. There are many hard-working, faithful, semi-retired, very well-educated ministers who are in their 80s or even 90s. Then, the bulk of our clergy are in their 40s or 30s, myself included. Of that younger generation, all are faithful, well-trained clergy, but only a few hold a recognized academic credential such as a graduate-level seminary degree that would allow them to serve as a full faculty member at ATTS, or to feel comfortable taking on a major project of scripture or prayer-book translation.”

All of this aligns with a hope that was shared at Synod 2025, that this is a season of strengthening the church in the North to be self-sustaining, not just financially, but in producing Northern clergy and leaders for the future.

“We are currently searching for the next Principal of ATTS. Part of my hope for this forward-looking bursary is that, in 15 years time, we won’t be looking for a qallunaat (the Inuktitut term for southerners) to fill that role, but will be able to prayerfully and thankfully look at the faithful, qualified, credentialed theologians and Bible scholars from among those who know the North, who know the people and the communities, and whom God is calling and equipping to be leaders in the spread of the Good News of Jesus Christ.”

The Details

The bursary program gives structure to determine how the interest will be spent from several endowments or restricted funds that are designated for the training of Northern clergy. These are not new funds, but the framework and application process will help clergy discern whether they should seek out higher education, and better plan for how it will be funded. It will also help the diocese by providing a framework and process to ensure the interest of the endowments is spent to accomplish the stated purpose each year.

The Bursary is provided to active diocesan clergy, but may also be given to a member of diocesan lay staff (for instance, a lay catechist who does not feel called to ordained ministry) if they have already completed an ATTS program.

The total amount for the bursary program is approximately $30,000 per year (depending on interest earned), though it must be noted that some of the endowment or restricted funds are restricted only to Indigenous students or students living or serving in particular regions.

Criteria for Assessment by the Bursary Committee:

1. Indigenous Clergy Preference. If two candidates are of equal standing, preference will be given to the candidate who is Indigenous to the diocese. If multiple Indigenous students are of equal standing, preference will be given to the Candidate from a region or ethnicity with few seminary-trained clergy.

2. Preference is given to those clergy already teaching through ATTS.

3. Preference is given to those already working through a program at a steady pace toward graduation, so as to not “cut someone off” in preference of a new applicant.

4. Among new applicants, preference is given for a Candidate who is eligible for a Sabbatical and who wants to take a full academic year off of work to attend full-time courses at an approved seminary in the South.

5. Preference is given for Masters level programs, then Bachelor, Licentiate, or graduate-level Certificate programs. Doctoral programs or courses not leading to a certificate or diploma are ranked last.

6. Preference is given based on length of service to the Diocese and willingness to sign a covenant for continued service after graduation

7. Preference is given for those who have the support of the wider church. Preference will be given to those who have applied for and received other scholarships and bursaries. Clergy are strongly encouraged to use this Bursary along with their Continuing Education Plan amounts and other scholarships and bursaries, so that the cost of books, travel, accommodations, and tuition can be fully covered along with enough for meals, taxis, and the incidental costs of travelling to a city in the South.

Applications

Applications will be available to qualified Candidates through the ATTS Administrator (Rev. Rebecca Osborn – atts.admin@arcticnet.org) in the Spring of 2026.

Find more information about the Bursary Program here!

Feel Called to Help?

The Bursary Program is funded by interest from Endowment and Restricted Funds.
One way to leave a lasting legacy is to make a donation of cash or securities or leave a bequest in your will for the ATTS Bursary Fund. For more information, contact finance@arcticnet.org