Leadership Development with the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry
The Bishop Kemper School for Ministry (BKSM), located in Topeka, Kansas, is a unique collaborative venture of the Episcopal Dioceses of Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, West Missouri and Western Kansas. BKSM was founded in order to pool financial and human resources to best support leadership formation within our dioceses and to strengthen bonds of community and mutual mission. Whether you’re interested in classes for personal enrichment or for education that may lead to ordained or licensed lay ministry, BSKM offers a supportive and team ministry-focused learning environment that values everyone’s gifts and callings.
EXCITING NEWS! Laity Books and Partial Tuition Reimbursement Available
If you are a lay person, we are excited to be able to subsidize your costs for classes and books at Bishop Kemper School for Ministry (BKSM) through a recently awarded 2025 GILEAD grant. You can take courses for personal enrichment on a wide variety of topics, enroll in a lay certificate program, or take classes to explore a possible call to ordained ministry.
When taken for credit, BKSM courses last about two months: a month to do the reading, a weekend of instruction, and a month to complete course assignments. For those who choose to audit, classes last a month (since you do not need to write the final papers). While students are encouraged to attend the focus weekend in Topeka for in-person instruction, you can also attend by Zoom. You may choose to attend the praxis session on Zoom on Tuesday after the focus weekend.
How to Participate & receive Reimbursement:
If interested, we’ve made it as easy as possible for you to participate.
Obtain one-time approval from your congregation (via senior warden, clergy, or the regional missioner) to participate in the program. You should get this in writing (could be an email, copy of vestry minutes, or a letter) saying that they’ve approved you as a lay person to attend BKSM for tuition/books reimbursement from the GILEAD Grant.
Enroll at BKSM, pay for the course and purchase the books.
Complete the application for reimbursement that is on this page. You’ll need to upload:
Receipts - to demonstrate proof of payment(s). (if you are unable to complete the application and upload the receipts online, you may instead download and fill out the application, and mail it to the diocesan office)
A copy of your one-time approval
Once the application is approved, the diocese will mail you a reimbursement check.
Reimbursement amounts:
The amount of reimbursement you receive depends on how many classes you take. The Diocese will pay for your books ($50-75 a class) and a substantial portion of your BKSM tuition
80% of the first course ($192/$240 in person; $132/$165 online)
70% of the second course ($168/$240), $115.50/$165 online)
60% of future courses ($144/$240), $99/$165 online)
You also have the option of auditing a course for $100 in person or online, reimbursed at the same percentage, plus full costs of books. BKSM tuition includes all meals and overnight accommodations at Upton Hall if you choose to attend in person.
Questions?
Contact the Rev. Greta Mueller Levis