Smethurst Trust Fund

The Smethurst Trust Fund, administered by the New Zealand Methodist Women's Fellowship, offers financial assistance to women from Methodist Parishes and Uniting Congregations with a Methodist component within the Methodist Connexion of Te Haahi Weteriana O Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as indigenous church workers in the South Pacific. The fund supports various educational and training opportunities including attendance at conferences, courses, seminars, lay leadership training, and ongoing education. Assistance may be given for tertiary academic courses provided the application includes proof of satisfactory progress, though this is not considered for the first year of study when commencing straight from school. For indigenous church workers of the South Pacific, the fund provides support for women to study in Pacific Island colleges or in New Zealand if required courses are not available nearer to their home. The fund also covers fare for home leave or spouse visits for those studying in New Zealand on longer courses, and may provide support for secondary education for children of Presbyters or Church workers. A small provision may also be made for emergency grants. Applicants are expected to be actively involved in the life of the Church where they regularly attend, and courses of study do not need to be specifically theological, though grants will not be given for study contrary to Methodist Church beliefs and principles.