Scholarships

Creating opportunities for the next generation

Scholarships are awarded by Bethesda Auxiliary in partnership with AbleLight. The Auxiliary is a nationwide organization that reaches forward in faith, Word and Deed by sharing the love of Jesus with people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Bethesda Auxiliary wants to support and encourage the younger generation to commit to careers that serve people who are so often overlooked and underserved, knowing that the Lord will bless their lives with joy in the relationships they will build.

Applications for 2022 must be postmarked on or before May 13, 2022. The Bethesda Auxiliary’s Scholarship Committee will review all applications and awards will be announced by July 1, 2022

Seminarian and Post-graduate Students

Criteria for seminarian and post-graduate students committing to ministry, such as pastor, deaconess, director of Christian education, or special-needs teacher with people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

• Be an active, communicant member of a Lutheran congregation.
• Be a current college senior, accepted to begin seminary or post-graduate studies in the fall, or currently be classified as a first-year or second-year student at any Lutheran seminary. Students going on to their internship/vicarage year do not qualify.
• Have a commitment to inclusion of people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities within the local parish, giving them the opportunities for study of God’s Word and serving with which all members are blessed.

College and University Students

Criteria for college and university students pursuing undergraduate degrees in an academic area such as special-needs Lutheran school teacher, director of Christian education, pre-seminary and deaconess preparation studies, that will prepare them for ministry with people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, so opportunity to share God’s Word and the love of Jesus is present.

• Be an active, communicant member of a Lutheran congregation.
• Be classified as a junior or senior at an accredited college or university.
• Have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Have a career objective in the field of ministry with people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, so opportunities to share the Gospel and Jesus’ love with them, as wonderful relationships of shared faith are established.