Rostered Church Worker Debt Retirement

Rostered Church Worker Debt Retirement Grants

Student Loan repayment grants are available for rostered church workers each year. The application period opens February 1 of each year, and applications are due by May 31st at 11:59 PM of each year.

Church workers are eligible to apply if they are: rostered Nebraska District LCMS church workers who are members in good standing of a Nebraska District LCMS congregation; full-time workers who have incurred higher education debt while in pursuit of their professional church work degree enabling roster status; are currently full-time church workers who have completed at least one year of full-time church work as a member of the Nebraska District.

 

To Apply:

1. Download the Debt Retirement Policy for more information: Debt Retirement Policy

2. All applications must be received no later than May 31st at 11:59 PM of each year.

3. Fill out the Debt Retirement Application Form on our secure Breeze portal. Please have all necessary supporting documents ready to upload before you fill out the form. *This portal will open on February 1.

 

Email Joyce Bruha with questions at joyceb@ndlcms.org. 

Notification of chosen applications can be expected in early August. Awards are made directly to the recipient’s student loan company and will be applied to principal. This award is not intended to replace your regular payments.

To make a donation to this fund in support of church worker debt retirement:

Send a check with a note that it is for the “Church Worker Debt Retirement Fund” to:
Nebraska District LCMS
PO Box 407
Seward, NE 68434

Or donate online through our secure Vanco payment portal at this link. Choose the option “Restricted Gifts,” then fill in the amount of your gift, choose a one time or recurring donation, and type “Church Worker Debt Retirement Fund” in the designation space.

Resources to assist with church worker education debt & finances

Concordia Plans has a tool available for church workers who are paying off student loans. The Fidelity Student Tool is available to the LCMS family. For more information see this flyer or visit the tool.

Concordia Plans offers resources to help church workers better understand personal finance and plan for retirement, including webinars through their Financial Education Series. Past sessions are available to watch on-demand and can be found on their website. Members who would like to take a deeper dive into their personal finances can meet one-on-one with a  Financial Educator. Learn more and set up an appointment here.

In addition, church workers are encouraged to learn more about MinistryFocus, an RSO of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod that believes that the realities of educational debt negatively and irreparably harm ministries and congregations. MinistryFocus has provided grants totaling nearly $500,000 to pastors, Lutheran school teachers, directors of Christian outreach, and missionaries. Learn more at their website.