|
Supporting leaders for the
future
The Fund for Leaders is an endowed scholarship resource
created to insure that faithful and promising men and women can
accept the call to ministry and provide leadership for the ELCA in
the 21st Century.
The Challenge
There is a great need in the church and the world for leaders
who are thoroughly equipped for mission and ministry. And, it is the
responsibility of the whole church to identify, train, and support
those whom God calls to this important work.
This preparation for leadership and service is the mission and
responsibility of the eight seminaries of the ELCA throughout the
United States. A continuing challenge in theological education is
to provide qualified students with the financial resources needed to
meet the costs associated with their educations.
Seminary
Enrollment
Lutheran M.Div Enrollment at ELCA Seminaries Fall
1994 – Fall 2004
By the year 2012, many
current ELCA clergy will have retired. Although there is an
increasing number of students attending seminary, we need more women
and men to serve in existing and new congregations. To prepare for rostered
ministry, students spend three years in academic preparation and one
year on internship.
Seminary Tuition
As the cost of running our seminaries climbs, so do the debt-loads
of new pastors. The average annual tuition at an ELCA seminary is $11,000 and the typical
student also incurs living expenses ranging from $15,000 to $26,000
depending on his or her family situation. That brings the cumulative
cost of attending seminary (three academic years) to a range of
$70,000 to $102,000.
Average Debt for ELCA M.
Div. Seminary
Graduates with Debt
Students
make tremendous sacrifices to answer God’s call. Seventy percent of
ELCA seminary students take out loans to fund their education and
may anticipate a typical monthly loan payment of $300 to $600. Many
pastors who feel called to serve smaller or struggling congregations
simply cannot accept such calls because the salaries will not allow
them to meet these loan commitments.
The Opportunity
Today is a pivotal time to be involved in the
church. The spiritual hunger in our world offers Lutherans a
special opportunity to speak and act boldly in witness to God's
steadfast love and presence in these times of great change.
Domestically and globally, the ELCA reaches out to millions of
people who hunger for the life-giving message of salvation. Whether
at home or abroad, in cities or rural communities, among the wealthy
or the poor, the ELCA needs faithful leaders who can share the
Gospel with seekers and lead communities of faith.
Leadership RISING
The ELCA created the Fund for Leaders to provide
financial assistance to seminarians and encourage excellence in
ministry. In partnership with seminaries, synods, and congregations,
the Fund’s mission is to insure full-tuition support for the
projected 1,400 ELCA students annually enrolled in the ELCA
seminaries. We are grateful for the generous gifts that have made it
possible to provide scholarships to over 135 seminary students. The
next target goal is to double the balance of the Fund endowment to $30 million by
2010.
And, thanks to several
generous friends, the Fund for Leaders is pleased to announce a
three-year, million-dollar matching gift challenge. For every $2
gift, $1 will be matched, increasing your total gift to $3.
> read more about the matching gift
challenge
Who benefits from the
Fund?
Future leaders of the ELCA
Pastors, teaching theologians, and lay ministers (associates in
ministry, deaconesses, and diaconal ministers)
Members and future members of ELCA
congregations
whose lives will be impacted by leaders who have
been prepared by this church's seminaries.
ELCA seminaries
which will be
strengthened by new resources and increasing enrollments.
> find out how you can get involved
|
