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 it.

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.  The 2009-2010 application will be available in November.  Deadline is April 30, 2009 postmarked date.

This scholarship assists full-time undergraduate students who are members of a Presbyterian Church (USA) and attending any college. The student must reside within the bounds of the Synod.  Deadline is April 30, 2009 postmarked date. The 2009-2010 application will be available in November.

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.  The deadline is April 30, 2009 postmarked date.  The 2009-2010 application will be available in November.

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 is April 30, 2009 postmarked date. The 2009-2010 application will be available in November.

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 is April 30, 2009 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 is April 30, 200 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

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 and application today.  The 2009 application must be used.  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, 2009.

For information on SDOP at the national level, contact the Director, Cynthia White, at the PCUSA Center in Louisville, KY, phone 888-728-7228 ext. 5780.

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Mission Travel Grants (will be discontinued at the end of 2008):

The Synod of the Trinity, in partnership with its sixteen presbyteries, provides travel grants to encourage members of Presbyterian Church (USA) congregations and presbyteries within the bounds of the Synod to participate in mission trips.  These grants are made to assist with the cost of travel, in cooperation with their own sessions and presbyteries, and to expand personal interpretation of mission within the congregations and presbyteries of the Synod of the Trinity.  Pictures and reports from our 2008 grant recipients can be viewed here. 

Our 2008 applications for individuals, groups, and presbyteries are available by clicking on the correct link.  Please note:  the 2008 application must be used. It is to the applicant's advantage to apply early.  For additional information on mission travel grants, contact Marcia Humer at 800-242-0534 ext. 233.  Funding is still available for 2008 as of October 20, 2008.

If you are traveling to countries of the former Soviet Union and Soviet Bloc, you may qualify for the Andrew Murray Travel Scholarship.  In addition, some funds are available for travel expenses to the PC(USA) Peacemaking Conference and to other approved peacemaking conferences.  Click here for the conference travel application.  For information on Peacemaking travel, contact Zoe Bordes at the Peacemaking Ministries Network Office at 717-873-3038.

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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).

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Building Grant and Loan

The Synod 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.

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Andrew Murray Synod Peacemaking Awards

The Peacemaking Ministries Network annually acknowledges one peacemaking endeavor from each Presbytery within the bounds of The Synod of the Trinity.  The award recipients are recognized at the presbytery's meeting where the group receives a framed certificate and $500.  For information and the necessay guidelines for 2008 nominations, contact Zoe Bordes at the Peacemaking Ministries Network Office at 717-873-3038.  To read about our 2005 recipients, please click here.

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Andrew Murray Travel Scholarship Fund

The Andrew Murray Scholarship Fund was established in 1992 to honor the memory of a former peacemaking moderator, Andrew E. Murray.  The fund's purpose is to provide travel grants to individuals and groups from Presbyterian churches within the Synod who are planning to travel to countries of the former Soviet Union as part of peacemaking missions or projects.  This fund is administered by the Peacemaking Ministries Network.  Click here for the application.

The Peacemaking Ministries Network exists to partner with peacemaking efforts across the Synod.  The network has funds available to help finance peacemaking projects and programs developed by congregations or presbyteries.  Normally projects will be funded only once.  Each project will be expected to complete a project proposal form and budget prior to funding and report back to the network following the event with an evaluation of the project and an accounting of income and expenditures.  Click here for the application for peacemaking travel (to countries other than the former Soviet Union) or to PC(USA) peacemaking conference.

Questions?  Contact Zoe Bordes at the Peacemaking Ministries Network Office, at peacesoon@mail.com or at phone: 717-873-3038.

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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.

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