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In 1999, the predecessor body to Local Church Ministries, The Board for Homeland Ministries, created a scholarship for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender UCC seminarians in honor of William R. Johnson, the first openly gay man ordained in the United Church of Christ. The scholarship was established as a concrete way of affirming the church's long-standing conviction that sexual orientation should not be a barrier to ordination.

Recipients must be open about their sexual orientation and be Members in Discernment. The scholarship is available to students who have completed their first year of seminary or regional theological program.

To qualify for this scholarship, students must be open about their sexual orientation (lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender).

Enrolled in an Association of Theological Schools (ATS) accredited seminary or theological school in the United States toward a Master of Divinity degree.

A second and third year student.

Member of a local United Church of Christ church for at least one year prior to application.

Member in Discernment (MID). MID status is designated by the Committee on Ministry (COM) of a local church's UCC Association (or UCC Conference acting as an Association).

Preparing to serve the UCC or partner settings as an Authorized Minister (ordained, licensed or commissioned).

If in an academic setting, cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale from most recently completed academic work.

Specific written recommendations are also required.

Pat Lyden
Associate Director, Grant and Scholarship Administration
700 Prospect Ave
Cleveland, OH 44115
216-736-2166
scholarships@ucc.org