CHHSM’s Rev. Jerry Paul Scholar Program for Seminarians is Accepting Applications for 2022-2023 School Year

The UCC Council for Health and Human Service Ministries has opened applications for the 2022-2023 Rev. Jerry Paul Scholar. The CHHSM Scholar program is open to seminary students interested in learning more about ministry in faith-based health and human service nonprofit organizations.

The program is tailored to the individual seminarian, and runs during each school year. The scholarship may be renewable for multiple years during seminary.

Current UCC Fellow Essence Ellis was the Rev. Jerry Paul Scholar from 2019 to 2021. “My experience as the CHHSM Scholar was invaluable,” she said. “As someone that sometimes struggled with how to embody my own call, becoming familiar with the work CHHSM and its member organizations do was incredibly beneficial when thinking about my own vocational aspirations.”

The Rev. Jerry Paul Scholar Program offers many educational, experiential, and networking benefits, including:

• Up to $10,000/year paid to the scholar’s seminary toward tuition;
• Opportunities to engage with leaders in CHHSM organizations, including visits to area organizations;
• Attendance at CHHSM Board of Directors meetings (travel and board provided);
• Registration for the CHHSM Annual Gathering (travel and board provided); and
• Monthly conversations with CHHSM staff to discuss questions, thoughts, and ideas the scholar has regarding health and human service ministry.

Additionally, scholars have the opportunity to participate in the Nollau Leadership Institute, a year-long exploration of what it means to be a serving leader. Nollau graduates are consecrated as diakonal ministers during CHHSM’s Annual Gathering.

“Our scholars bring increased vitality and new ideas to CHHSM wherever they are involved: from the Annual Gathering and Nollau Leadership Institute to articles they write and programs they lead,” said the Rev. George Graham, CHHSM vice president. “We definitely gain at least as much from their contributions as they might gain from their experiences.”

The CHHSM Scholar program began more than 20 years ago as a way to foster seminarians’ interest in faith-based health and human service ministries. It was renamed the Rev. Jerry Paul Scholar Program in 2015. Paul oversaw the sale and conversion of the Deaconess Health System in St Louis into a grant-making foundation, for which he served as president and CEO until his retirement in 2012. He died in May 2015 after a lifetime of serving leadership.

“The fact that the CHHSM Scholar Program is named in honor of the Rev. Jerry Paul links generations of CHHSM leadership together,” said Graham. “We hope that the Jerry W. Paul Scholar Program develops a new generation of leaders with the same kind of creativity and dedication that was emblematic of the program’s namesake.”

For Ellis, one of the most meaningful parts of being CHHSM Scholar was the mentoring she received. “Connecting with the CHHSM staff was so helpful,” said Ellis. “I had monthly meetings with Elyse Berry that were so eye-opening and affirming. Having people outside my divinity school who cared about my spiritual journey allowed me to think more broadly about what my life’s work can look like.”

CHHSM is committed to Racial Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Justice in all of its work. It encourages applications for the Rev. Jerry Paul Scholar Program from all without regard to race, color, gender, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, partnership status, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other protected status. Seminarians who are members of the UCC are strongly preferred.

The deadline for applications is June 30, 2022. Learn more and apply.