Scholarships, Grants, Loans, and Awards

All applications are available at the links listed below. If you don't have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader and wish to download the paper application, click here to download.

Higher Education Scholarships and Grants

As an expression of Christian concern for the nurture of students, the Synod of the Trinity of the Presbyterian Church (USA) offers five types of scholarships, and awards more than $150,000 annually (2008 awards story) to individuals pursuing a higher education, and whose permanent residence is within the boundaries of the Synod of the Trinity.  The Synod encompasses all of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, except for the counties of Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan, and Pendleton, and in Ohio, only the counties of Belmont, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe, and the southern sector of Columbiana.

Deadline:  April 30, 2010.

This scholarship assists full-time undergraduate students who are members of or actively involved in a Presbyterian Church (USA) and attending any college. The student must reside within the bounds of the Synod.  Deadline for all materials:   April 30, 2010 postmarked date.

This scholarship assists full-time undergraduate students of any denomination who are attending any college and who are African American, Asian, Hispanic, Latino, Middle Eastern, or Native American. The student must reside within the bounds of the Synod. Deadline for all materials: April 30, 2010 postmarked date.

This scholarship is for full-time undergraduate students who are the children of minimally-salaried Presbyterian Church (USA) pastors serving in the Synod of the Trinity. It is named in memory of former Synod Executive William G. Rusch and is made available through the generous support of his family and friends. Combined in this scholarship is the Shepard Memorial Fund, which is an endowment fund in memory of Thomas and Lula M. Shepard. Other support comes from the Synod's General Mission Budget through the generous support of our congregations. The student must reside within the bounds of the Synod. Deadline for all materials:   April 30, 2010 postmarked date.

This grant is for graduate studies, and it is available as the result of a generous gift given by the estate of Mary L. Clark. It is a restricted fund that provides financial assistance to persons who are residents of Pennsylvania and who are engaged in studying for service in the Presbyterian Church (USA) ministry.  Deadline for all materials:   April 30, 2010 postmarked date..

This scholarship is for graduate studies, and the funds are available as a result of a generous gift given by the estate of Mary Meade Maxwell, a life-long Presbyterian. It is a restricted fund and is to be used to provide financial assistance to persons who reside within the bounds of the Synod of the Trinity and who are preparing for full-time church-related vocations in the Presbyterian Church (USA).  Deadline for all materials:   April 30, 2010 postmarked date.

Presbyterian undergraduate and graduate students should also explore the various financial aid programs of the denomination by contacting the Office of Financial Aid for Studies, Presbyterian Church (USA.), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202 (888-728-5776).  Another funding source for those who are pursuing their theological educational goals is the Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation, 2120 S. 72nd Street, Suite 630, Omaha, NE 68124 or at their website.

Grants, Loans, and Awards

Building Grant and Loan

The Synod is available to advise churches in the planning of new construction or specific remodeling projects. The Synod provides guidance for demographics and strategic planning for presbyteries and congregations.  For additional information, contact the Synod office at (800) 242-0534.

Handicap Accessibility low interest loans of up to $30,000 from the General Assembly are available to assist churches in making their buildings handicap accessible.  For information on these loans, please contact Judy Walton, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Investment and Loan Program, Inc., at (800) 903-7457 ext. 5231.

Disaster Relief Funds

The Synod of the Trinity provides funding for Disaster Relief for use by its presbyteries.  In the event of a disaster within the bounds of the Synod of the Trinity, information will be available on this site.  Get more information on disaster relief efforts within the church at General Assembly's website.

Network Grants

A network is a group of people responding to Jesus’ call who are passionate about a common interest or concern and connect with one another in a variety of ways.

A network:

  can exist within any of our 16 presbyteries, in cooperation between presbyteries,   or between the Synod of the Trinity and other synods

  willl address new ideas and inspirations

  may have a page (or pages) on the Synod website

  may or may not continue from year-to-year

  may apply for a grant

Grants are available twice a year with preference given to first-time applicants.  Click the link for the 2010 application and Frequently Asked Questions.   For details and to read more on Mission Networks working within the Synod, click on this webpage.   Contact Marcia R. Humer, Adm. Asst at 800-242-0534 with questions.

Peacemaking Grants

Grants are available for peacemaking efforts for travel, projects and programs developed by congregations or presbyteries of the Synod of the Trinity. The Synod's Peacemaking Application is available by clicking here.

For information on the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, watch this video and click on the PC(U.S.A.) website

	Travel:	For individuals or groups residing within the bounds of the Synod with travel related to peacemaking either locally or globally.  It requires a deeper commitment to peacemaking as we live out our faithfulness to God.  Established in 1992, the Andrew Murray Scholarship Fund provides travel grants to countries of the former Soviet Union and honors the memory offormer peacemaking moderator, Andrew E. Murray.
	Activities:	For individuals or groups residing within the bounds of the Synod whose program, project or activity extends the peace of Jesus Christ.
The Peacemaking Offering is used for these grants.  The theme for 2009 is taken from Psalm 85:10, “Justice and peace shall kiss each other.” Click here for the application.  Contact Marcia Humer at 800-242-0534 ext. 233 with questions.

Presbyterian Hunger Program Grants

The Synod of the Trinity reviews national Presbyterian Hunger Program proposals that come from within the bounds of the Synod.  These proposals are funded by the One Great Hour of Sharing offering.  For more information, contact Marcia Humer at (800) 242-0534 ext. 233.  For in-depth information about this ministry, visit their website at General Assembly Council of the Presbyterian Church (USA).  Grant information is available here.

Self-Development of People (SDOP) Grants

This is a partnership initiative with groups within the bounds of the Synod of the Trinity, oppressed by poverty or social systems, who want to take charge of their own lives, and who have organized to affect their own conditions.  SDOP grants are for projects that will produce direct long-term benefits for the group through the projects they control. The partnerships are initiated by proposals to the Synod's SDOP Committee and are evaluated by its funding criteria.  Annually, the Synod funds approximately $60,000 for SDOP proposals.  Print the criteria & application today.  If you have been awarded funds previously from the Synod's SDOP Committee, this application is available for your use.

Funding for SDOP projects comes from the One Great Hour of Sharing offering.  For more information,contact Marcia Humer at 800-242-0534 ext. 233.   Application deadline is May 1, 2010.

Information on SDOP at the National Level is available online or by contacting the Director, Cynthia White, at the PCUSA Center in Louisville, KY, phone 888-728-7228 ext. 5780.

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