CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Fund for Leaders in Mission awarded 16 new full-tuition scholarships, totaling $230,000, to two students entering each of the eight ELCA seminaries to prepare for ordained or rostered ministry.
The scholarship recipients will take part in a formal award presentation Oct. 9 with the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop.
The Fund for Leaders in Mission is a churchwide initiative to identify and prepare leaders for the ELCA. The goal of the Fund, when fully endowed, is to increase tuition support for the projected 1,200-plus students annually enrolled in ELCA seminaries. Full-time students are eligible for the scholarship if they are pursuing a master of divinity degree or a master's degree.
Established in 1999, the Fund awarded its first eight scholarships in 2000 and then 16 scholarships in 2001. With the 16 scholarships awarded in 2002, 40 students are receiving full-tuition awards during their years in seminary -- awards now total more than $444,000.
Students receiving scholarships this year, their home ELCA synod and the seminary they are attending: + Charleen Adams, Grand Canyon Synod, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio + Wade Evan Apel, Southern Ohio Synod, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, S.C. + Jennifer Baker-Trinity, Upper Susquehanna Synod, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia + Gracie Bates, Southwestern Texas Synod, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago + Erin L. Bovendam, Northwestern Minnesota Synod, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. + Rebekah E. Davis, Nebraska Synod, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, Calif. + Thomas Jacobson, Southwestern Minnesota Synod, Luther Seminary + Maren Loken, Minneapolis Area Synod, Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago + Meredith D. Lovell, Delaware-Maryland Synod, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pa. + Thomas M. Maatta, Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg + Joshua N. McGuffie, Southwest California Synod, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary + Jared M. Parker, Southeastern Iowa Synod, Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa + Giovanny Sanchez, Metropolitan New York Synod, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia + Robert G. Schmidt, North/West Lower Michigan Synod, Trinity Lutheran Seminary + Mackenzie Thedens, Northeast Iowa Synod, Wartburg Theological Seminary + Christine Van O'Linda, Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary -- -- -- *Amy Wineinger is a junior at Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa. This summer she is an intern with ELCA News and Media Production.
*Cynthia Anderson is communication coordinator for the ELCA
Foundation.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
