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Who Can Apply for a
1. Indiana-Kentucky Synod endorsed seminary candidates.
2. Pastors and lay rostered leaders who are rostered in the Indiana-Kentucky Synod ELCA, are currently under call serving in active ministry and intend to serve a minimum of three years in this synod.
For what purposes can grants be used? There are two categories of grants that can be applied for.
1. Scholarships Grants to support endorsed candidates currently in seminary.
2. Leadership Grants to assist rostered leaders currently serving in active ministry.
Within the category of Leadership Grants, there are three areas of approved use for Freed to Lead Fund grants:
a. Theological education debt - This grant will assist with retirement of debt related to education in preparing to be a rostered leader. It includes both seminary and college debt. All grants are paid directly to institutions, not to individuals. |
SCHOLARSHIPS: LEADERSHIP GRANTS: ANNUAL REPORT FORMS: |
b. Pension
equity - This grant is an additional annual pension contribution in
the amount of 10% of the difference between the rostered leader's
defined compensation and the
ELCA average compensation
if the rostered leader is
indeed under that average. This
grant is renewable annually and is sent directly to the ELCA Board
of Pensions on behalf of the rostered leader.
c. Special circumstances - This grant is available for particular occasions of financial burden that are not covered by other categories of grants or by the rostered leader's compensation or health coverage. These grants are reviewed and decided on a case-by-case basis.
What Are Deadline Dates for Applications? Leadership Grant Applications (including Congregational Pledge Forms and Financial Counselor Forms) may be submitted to the Grant Board on Feb. 1, May 1, Sept. 1, Dec. 1. Scholarships for tuitions are automatically awarded upon endorsement by the Candidacy Committee. Special Assistance Scholarship applications must be submitted by May 1 and Sept. 1.
Leadership Grant Application Requirements
The Freed to Lead Fund is dedicated not only to assisting rostered leaders with particular financial burden for the sake of ministry, but also to assist the rostered leader in further developing good money management skills and sound financial planning for the future. The Fund is also dedicated to fostering partnerships between rostered leaders and their congregation or sponsoring organization to raise awareness within the church about the costs and burdens associated with theological education, compensation and pension support for rostered ministry.
Therefore, all Freed to Lead Fund applicants for Leadership Grants will be required to do the following:
1. Complete the online Money Leadership Survey (see link in the box above) and review the print outs with an FTL Fund-approved Financial Counselor (see counselor list in the box above).
2. Obtain a personal credit report to share with the FTL Fund-approved Financial Counselor.
3. Meet with an FTL Fund-approved Financial Counselor for:
a. Money Leadership Survey review
b. Money management skills & credit report assessment
c. Development of a Financial Plan for your future financial well-being
4. Submit a Congregation/Sponsoring Agency Pledge Form (see link in the box above) (Note: congregations should not send money on behalf of the applicant until the application is approved by the FTL Grant Board. Send only the Pledge Form).
5. Lastly, complete and submit an Application (see link in the box above), checking the final boxes that all the above has been accomplished.
An annual report and annual visit to the financial counseling may be required for grants awarded over multiple years.
FOR QUESTIONS
For questions about the Freed to Lead Fund grant application process, contact the Director of the Freed to Lead Fund, Pastor Thomas Weitzel, at tweitzel@iksynod.org.
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