Sabbatical Scholarship Program
The Grace Place Sabbatical Scholarship application submission period is now closed. Sabbatical Scholarship recipients will be announced in the coming months.
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.
Meet the 2026 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, Virginia
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
About the Scholarship
Lutheran Church Extension Fund will award six scholarships of up to $7,500 to ordained and commissioned LCMS church workers preparing for their first sabbatical. These funds can help cover:
- Interim staffing costs
- Salary and benefit support
- Travel or education expenses related to the sabbatical
Tax Implications
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.
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
