The following is the July 23, 2024, Trinity Education Foundation email newsletter. If you want to join TEF's newsletter, please subscribe at the bottom of the page.
A Note from Ryan
Summer is here! While I am not excited about the extra warm temperatures we've been experiencing in the PNW recently, I have enjoyed the light summer breeze that arrives as the sun departs. Something magical about the rustling oak tree leaves opens my curiosity as I ponder what the Spirit might be up to. In those moments, I reflect on the LBIS/TLC/TEF community of people partaking in beautiful and vital work across the globe--being present and intentionally living out their callings.
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Reflecting on TEF's work over the past few months, I am excited about the unique way we are living out our mission and the opportunities ahead. As one who has worked in the educational world, I know that summer is a time of new beginnings and transitions. A year ago, I came across Lucille Clifton's "blessing the boats"Â poem. As we exist in the transitional summer months, I return to her powerful words:
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may the tide
that is entering even now
the lip of our understanding
carry you out
beyond the face of fear
may you kiss
the wind then turn from it
certain that it will
love your back may you
open your eyes to water
water waving forever
and may you in your innocence
sail through this to that
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Today, I celebrate our recent graduates as they embark on the next adventure, welcome our incoming recently awarded scholars (including 12 children of LBIS/TLC alum!), and the grants we awarded to support candidacy work in area synods.Â
With good courage, may you "sail through" from wherever you find yourself to where you are going,
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Ryan Ingersoll
Executive Director
Candidacy Grants: $60k to Region 1 of the ELCA
We are excited to announce that TEF awarded $60,000 in grants to support the work of candidacy committees in Region 1 of the ELCA (NW WA, SW WA, Oregon, Alaska, Montana, and Northwest Intermountain). Each synod's candidacy committee received $10,000 to support its work to recruit candidates, develop and sustain the candidate community, and increase opportunities for candidates to succeed by removing financial barriers that may have limited their ability to enter the candidacy process or move forward. TEF is grateful for the opportunity to partner with each of the six synods and empower the committees to do their work of cultivating candidates in their region to support churches contextually.
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"This generous gift enables us to accompany rising, gifted leaders from all corners and communities of the Oregon Synod, and to continue our calling to walk together into Christ’s courageous love."
-Bishop Laurie Larson Caesar (Oregon Synod)
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"This grant means the possibility of helping our candidates navigate the candidacy process in healthier, more connected ways. It will provide opportunities to gather candidates together in cohorts during their process, help us to support them financially to ease their debt, and assist them in fulfilling the candidacy expectations that currently exist and as they may change into the future."
-Bishop Laurie Jungling (Montana Synod)
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"This grant means a real way to help candidates overcome financial barriers, barriers that could have hindered the path to ordained ministry."
-Bishop Meggan Manlove (Northwest Intermountain Synod)
Congratulations to our Incoming Scholars!
For the 2024-2025 academic year, TEF awarded 16 scholarships. We are grateful for our team of reviewers (including LBIS/TLC alum, educators, ministry partners, and pastors) who read applications and provided vital feedback.
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One of the best parts of my role is the opportunity to read all of the applications and letters of recommendation. Our incoming scholars are already making a difference in their communities and have a profound grasp of who they are and their innate belovedness.
I welcome you to learn more about the scholars by visiting the photo gallery on our website: https://www.trinityeducationfoundation.org/2024-scholars