Dec00Wolff

"When we need a minister, we go to our Conference or Association and expect that they will have plenty of candidates to choose from. We assume that the supply will be plentiful, but the facts are not so," says Richard Wolff. In an effort to increase the supply of ‘pastors-in-training,’ Wolff, a retired UCC minister, and his wife Rachael established an endowment several years ago to fund a scholarship program for ministerial students attending one of the 15 UCC-related seminaries.

Grant recipients must be members of an Ohio Conference congregation and be preparing for a career as an ordained or commissioned minister, a Christian educator, or a foreign missionary within the UCC. Recipients agree that they will serve at least five years of ministry within the UCC, or they will repay the grant with interest on a schedule agreed upon when the grant is awarded.

This year, five seminary students received grants of $2,000 each. Mary Beth Hartenstein, Karen Farthing, Susan Parker, Janet Matthews, and Francis Helland Chester received the awards.

Rev. Wolff is passionate about motivating every congregation to take responsibility for supplying future ministers for the United Church of Christ. "Too long we have been indifferent to the urgent call of each congregation to engage in the serious business of developing future ministers," he wrote in a letter sent to all Ohio Conference churches. "Each church is in need of ministry," he added. "Therefore, it is the responsibility of the churches to supply ministers."

To help counteract the shortage of clergy, Wolff urges people to create an attitude of respect and esteem for the ministry of the church, to encourage young people to consider the ministry as a career, and to financially support seminary students.

The Richard and Rachael Wolff Scholarship Fund is one of the ways that students can be supported during their seminary education. The newly-organized Wolff Scholarship Fund Committee will help promote the Fund and its mission. The importance of their task is made clear by the fact that many new clergy start their careers burdened with a debt of $20,000 or more.

Grant applications are made through each Association’s Department of Church and Ministry. Contact your Association Minister for details.

Ohio Conference United Church of Christ
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