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Apply Now for 2025-2026 ELCA Fund for Leaders Scholarships!

The logo for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, made up of a globe in four colors with a cross in the middle.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Fund for Leaders is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2025–2026 academic year. While several scholarship opportunities are now open, the FFL Direct Full-Tuition Scholarship is a unique opportunity for future church leaders to receive a full-tuition scholarship to support their seminary education. The application window runs from December 2, 2024, to February 21, 2025. If you know someone discerning a call to rostered ministry, or current students with no more than one semester of coursework completed, now is the time to encourage them to apply. The FFL also supports students in the TEEM program and students preparing for careers in chaplaincy or mission development. More information is below.

Apply now

Expanding Access to Seminary Education

The Fund for Leaders scholarships are designed to make seminary education more accessible. Part-time students are now eligible to apply, ensuring that candidates with diverse needs and schedules can pursue their calling. Eligible applicants must plan to enroll in seminary in fall 2025 and seek candidacy for rostered ministry in the ELCA. Candidates can begin the scholarship application process even before receiving seminary admission, uploading their acceptance letters later.

Many Opportunities

The ELCA supports students through many different scholarship opportunities. A highlight of the scholarship programs now open for application are below:

  • The ELCA Fund for Leaders Direct Full-Tuition Scholarship is for students who are beginning a degree program at an ELCA seminary and have begun the ELCA candidacy process in order to become a rostered pastor or deacon in the ELCA. Fund for Leaders Direct Full-Tuition scholarships are awarded to students in their first year of seminary and, as long as students remain eligible, funding is guaranteed for the duration of required seminary coursework. Application period: Dec. 2, 2024, to Feb. 21, 2025
  • The ELCA Fund for Leaders Federal Chaplaincy Ministries Scholarship is for students who are attending an ELCA seminary and are preparing for ministry as a military, Veterans Administration or federal prison chaplain. These scholarships are awarded through ELCA Federal Chaplaincy Ministries. Application period: Feb. 10, 2025, to Mar. 14, 2025
  • The ELCA Fund for Leaders Mission Developer Scholarship is for students who are rising middlers or seniors or TEEM (Theological Education for Emerging Ministries) candidates at an ELCA seminary, who are identified and nominated by their seminary and by ELCA Christian Community and Leadership (CCL) as mission developer candidates. Application period: Dec. 2, 2024, to Feb. 3, 2025
  • The ELCA Fund for Leaders Synod, Congregation or TEEM Scholarships are offered to ELCA seminary students by synods and congregations that have established a scholarship fund through Fund for Leaders. The TEEM Scholarship is for all current TEEM ELCA seminary students and those who will begin the TEEM program this current fall semester, who are taking coursework. The TEEM scholarship lives within the Synod or Congregation Scholarship. Application period: May 16, 2025, to Jun. 6, 2025

A Pathway for New and Current Students

FFL scholarships are open to both incoming students and current seminary students who have completed no more than one semester of coursework before the 2025–2026 academic year. Recipients will enjoy full tuition coverage for the duration of their required seminary coursework, provided they remain in good standing academically and in their candidacy process.

Encourage Future Leaders to Apply

We invite you to share this opportunity with gifted individuals discerning their call to ministry. Direct them to ELCA.org/FundForLeaders to learn more, check their eligibility criteria, and apply. Together, we can help raise up the next generation of church leaders equipped to serve in diverse and dynamic contexts. Applications are open now—don’t let this chance pass by!

Visit the ELCA Our Scholarships page for more information about these and other scholarships.

Apply here for admission to LSTC. 

Please contact admissions for any questions at admissions@lstc.edu or call 773-256-0694

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