In 1999, as members of Our Father Lutheran Church celebrated their 25th year of ministry, they recognized their pastor’s 25th year of service to them as well. Rev. Donald F. Hinchey, Our Father’s founding pastor, was honored with a gift of $68,000, the beginning of the Donald F. Hinchey Scholarship Fund. The Fund’s purpose is to aid in defraying the financial burdens to those pursuing careers as full-time church workers.
Since its inception, the Fund balance has grown substantially to offer financial aid to those who have heard the Lord’s call to ministry and have responded by offering their lives to His service. Though Rev. Hinchey retired from ministry at Our Father in 2010, his years of service will live in legacy through these scholarships and future pastors and church professionals will be able to respond to God’s call through the generosity of so many members and friends of Our Father Lutheran Church.
ELIGIBILITY
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Young men and women who are pursuing training to serve the Lutheran church as pastors, Directors of Christian Education, educators, deaconesses or other church ministries may apply.
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Candidates may apply during their second or subsequent years of undergraduate school. Graduate students can apply during their first and subsequent years of school work.
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Candidates must be enrolled as full-time students in declared majors of full-time church work. (Graduate students need not be full-time students.)
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Scholarship awards are for one year, but may be renewed annually.
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The deadline for applying is March 15, 2026.
HOW CAN YOU APPLY?
The Scholarship application link is only accessible from January 1 through March 15 of each year. During that time frame, please click on the link below to start your application process, which includes the application form itself and also several documents that will need to be uploaded.