Michael Pozar LGBT Seminarian Scholarship
This $1,000 scholarship was established in 2010 in celebration of the ELCA policy changes applying to LGBT clergy, in honor of the life of Rev. Michael Pozar (1952-2001), and in recognition of the increasing financial needs of Lutheran candidates for ordained ministry.
Michael Pozar, a native of Chico, CA, lived in San Francisco for 15 years. After attending Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and earning his Master of Divinity degree in 1987, he was ordained at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in 1992. From 1992 to 1995 he served as pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Pacifica. He was the founder of the Lutheran AIDS Network (LANET), cofounder of Accion Luterana, Volunteer Coordinator of Shanti, a talented writer and musician, and an active member and support of Lutherans Concerned. On February 2001 he died at home after a long battle with AIDS.
The amount of the scholarship is $1,000. While there is an option to receive the scholarship more than once, priority is given to first-time recipients.
Scholarship applicants must:
- be sexual minority (LGBTiQ) seminarians,
- be currently enrolled or enroll no later than fall of the semester of application in teh Master of Divinity program at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (priority is given to first-year M.Div. students and second-career students),
- be members of an ELCA congregation for at least one year prior to applying for the scholarship,
- be legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia, and
- complete and submit the application for my June 30 of the year of application.
The application form is available through the PLTS Admissions Office, the GTU Finaicial Aid Office, or by clicking here. Instructions on how to submit the application are contained on the form.