Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary // Congregations Making a Difference

Congregations Making a Difference

Giving and partnering with the seminary is not just for individuals. Congregations and church groups can truly make a difference, too. Consider one of the following ways for your congregation to become involved in seminary education.

Ongoing Operational Support. Many congregations choose to include Southern Seminary's New Life Fund in the congregation's annual ministry plan as a budgeted line item. The New Life Fund touches every area of providing a high-quality theological education from library books and classrooms to faculty salaries, utilities, and campus maintenance. If money is required to make it happen, the New Life Fund is there to provide funds. Back to top

Gifts for Student Assistance and Congregational Scholarships. Scholarships and student assistance grants are the foundation of student aid. The average amount of aid per student is $3,484 against average annual costs of around $33,000 to $34,000. Gifts for student assistance are based on financial need and scholarship awards can be based on need as well as other criteria. Contact Ron Walrath about establishing a congregational student gift fund or scholarship today. Back to top

Gifts for Directed Student Aid. When a son or daughter of a congregation attends seminary, it is fitting that the sending congregation provide ongoing support for tuition and other expenses associated with a seminary education. Gifts of directed student aid can be sent directly to Southern Seminary and applied against the recipient students account at the seminary. For more information, please contact Ron Walrath. Back to top

Accelerated mortgage retirement. Congregations can make donations that will be applied directly against outstanding principal on the Hillcrest Student Housing Complex. Every $1,000 given for principal mortgage reduction saves Southern Seminary about $880 in future mortgage interest costs over the 23 year term of the loan, making the real impact of a $1,000 mortgage reduction gift about $1,880. For more information, please contact Ron Walrath. Back to top

Seminarian Partnership Program. The Seminarian Partnership program is designed to better connect congregations with a current seminary students. Partner congregations provide a $300 or $500 student assistance gift and Southern Seminary assigns a current student to receive the congregation's gift, and to communicate with the congregation by letter, email, and, if the congregation is willing to fund travel expenses, by a personal visit to the congregation on a mutually agreed upon Sunday. Through the Seminarian Partnership program, congregations can get a first hand glimpse of theological education in action. Contact Linda Anderson for more information about how your congregation can participate. Back to top

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Congregations Making a Difference

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