The SED Student Loan Repayment Application is open every year from Mid Sept – Dec 1!
The Southeastern District (SED), LCMS is pleased to announce its 2025 Student Loan Repayment Program, offering grants to rostered and roster-eligible church workers serving in the Southeastern District—both full and part-time—to help repay college and/or seminary education loans.
Grants are awarded based on financial need, personal contributions, special circumstances, and available funds. Preference is given to those who have served within the Southeastern District for 10 or more years of continuous service.
Application deadline: December 1, 2025. (Now Closed)
Questions? Contact Sid Heetland at sheetland@se.lcms.org.
Eligibility: All rostered or roster-eligible Synodical graduates currently serving in the Southeastern District may apply. The minimum debt balance eligible for a grant is $3,000.
Use of Funds: Grants are applied to educational debt—federal or commercial loans, or credit card debt used for ministry-related education expenses. Payments are sent directly to the lender to reduce principal, not to make advance payments or alter scheduled payments.
Award Process: The Student Loan Repayment Committee reviews all applications and determines awards. The committee seeks to keep its definition of educational indebtedness broad but reserves the right to determine what qualifies.
How to Apply: Applications for the 2025 Program are now available. Submit by December 1, 2025, to: Student Loan Repayment Program Email: sheetland@se.lcms.org
Include:
- Completed application form
- Most recent loan statements for all listed lenders (showing borrower name, loan amount, account numbers, and lender contact info)
- Documentation for any qualifying educational debt paid by credit card or alternate means
Matching Gifts: If an applicant’s congregation or school contributes toward their loan repayment, the SED will match that gift up to an additional $500 beyond the original award amount. The congregation/school must submit its gift for matching funds to be released.
Timeline
- Applications due: December 1, 2025
- Awards announced: Second week of December
- Payments sent to lenders: Shortly thereafter
- Recipients will be notified and must confirm the grant was credited properly to their loan account.
Contact: For assistance or questions, contact: Sid Heetland — sheetland@se.lcms.org
Note for Students: This program is for those who have completed Synodical training and are currently serving in the SED.
Students should instead apply for the SED Student Aid Program:
se.lcms.org/resources/tuition-assistance
Definition of Educational Indebtedness: Educational debt includes federally subsidized student loans, commercial loans, or credit card debt for tuition, books, room & board, housing (for married students), and fees while attending an LCMS-affiliated institution, including:
- Concordia colleges nationwide or in Canada
- Lenoir-Rhyne University (NC)
- Concordia Seminaries (Fort Wayne, IN and St. Louis, MO)
- Valparaiso University (IN)
This does not include post-graduate work or studies beyond an MDiv or Deaconess certification through an LCMS seminary.
Broom Tree Fellows
The Broom Tree Fellows Loan Forgiveness Program assists ministry workers with education-related debt. The program is especially interested in religious leaders who exhibit the highest levels of faith, commitment, and service to God.
Over the past nine years, the program has provided over 300 loan forgiveness awards—exceeding $600,000—to ministry workers dedicated to expanding Christ’s reach. These Christian ministers represent 15 denominations from dozens of churches and religious organizations across the country.
It is our hope that, with lightening the load of their education-related debt, ministry workers are able to flourish in their ministry.
Please visit our website at www.BroomTreeFellows.org to learn more about our program and to obtain additional copies of the application. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/BroomTreeFellows.
Churches and ministry organizations are not limited in the number of Broom Tree Fellows applications that can be submitted, so please share this opportunity with others working in your ministry who may have student loan debt.