Sabbatical Scholarship Program
LCEF is excited to open the third year of the Grace Place Wellness Sabbatical Scholarship Program, offering six grants of $7,500 each to help LCMS church workers plan and take their first sabbatical.
Apply before October 31, 2026 to be considered for this year’s program!
Sabbaticals are good for everyone
A healthy sabbatical isn’t just a break; it’s a shared blessing. When a ministry leader takes time to rest and recharge, the whole congregation benefits. That’s why the Grace Place Wellness Sabbatical Scholarship supports first-time sabbaticals focused on physical, emotional and spiritual wellness.
How can scholarship funds be used?
Whether you’re planning to travel, attend a spiritual retreat or simply step away to recharge, this scholarship is designed to support the sabbatical experience in meaningful and practical ways:
- Offset salary or benefit costs
- Support interim staff
- Cover travel, retreat or education expenses
Who qualifies?
This scholarship is open to ordained and commissioned LCMS church workers, including:
- Pastors
- Directors of Christian Education (DCEs)
- Teachers at LCMS schools
- Deaconesses
- Other Rostered Church Workers (RCWs)
If you’re an ordained or commissioned worker serving in an LCMS congregation, school or ministry, we encourage you to apply.
How to Apply
To be considered for a sabbatical scholarship, submit the following with your application packet:
- Application cover sheet (included in packet)
- Budget form (included in packet)
- Letters of support from your district president and a congregational leader
- Your church’s sabbatical policy (or plan to create one)
- A typed sabbatical proposal (maximum 5 pages, 12-point font)
Need help planning your sabbatical?
Not sure where to start? Our free guide outlines the personal, spiritual and ministry-wide benefits of a well-planned sabbatical.
Questions?
Contact Rev. Dr. Gregory S. Walton
Vice President, Ministry Solutions | Grace Place Wellness
Meet the 2025 recipients
Rev. Dr. Aaron Hutton
Pastor
Christ Lutheran Church
Lincoln, Nebraska
Rev. Aaron Meyer
Senior Pastor
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Rev. Adam Burke
Pastor
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
Prescott, Arizona
Rev. Dan Weber
Lead Pastor
St. Luke’s Lutheran Church
Federal Way, Washington
Mrs. KerriAnn Schmid
Director of Christian Education
Zion Lutheran Church and School
Belleville, Illinois
Dr. Corwin Baden
Assistant Principal/Teacher
Zion Lutheran Church and School
San Francisco, California
We are learning that in some cases there can be tax implications connected to the money received to enable a ministry sabbatical. Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) does not give tax advice and finds that implications can vary by situation and even location. We advise that in the planning process for a sabbatical, the pastor and congregation consult with a trusted tax expert or CPA. Neither LCEF nor its representatives give legal, accounting or tax advice. Consult your tax advisor as to the applicability of this information to your own situation. It is best to consult a tax professional in the early stages of sabbatical planning and will be helpful if that expert helps prepare your taxes. It is also possible to have money set aside by the congregation to help cover any tax implications. Expert advice will help both pastor and congregation navigate tax questions. If a large grant is received for the sabbatical, it is important to consider any tax implications.