The Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Financial Aid for Service office is now scheduling private consultations with any Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) teaching elders seeking educational debt management counseling and loan repayment assistance who will be at the General Assembly in Portland, Oregon, in June.
Staff from the Financial Aid office will be available in the Theology, Formation, and Evangelism ministry area’s Hospitality Suite, Room 2223 in the main building of the Hilton Portland, from June 19 to June 23 for individual consultations on student loan repayment and assistance programs offered through the PC(USA).
The office will also be offering appointments to any Presbyterian-related organizations that are interested in becoming authorized sites for Season of Service Loan Assistance.
“Eliminating barriers for service for church members is one of our office’s primary goals,” said Laura Bryan, associate for Financial Aid for Service in the Theology, Formation, and Evangelism ministry area. “While this office will continue to serve Presbyterian students by awarding them money to go to school, our goal is also to encourage students to discern who God created them to be through such opportunities as mission service.”
Season of Service participants receive up to $3,000 in quarterly payments upon completion of service at a Season of Service Loan Assistance participating site. Current participants include the Young Adult Volunteer program, Crestfield Camp & Conference Center, Mo-Ranch, Heartland Presbyterian Center, and Ferncliff.
The office is currently making appointments with PC(USA) teaching elders with educational debt who are seeking information about managing their student loans; PC(USA) teaching elders with educational debt who are serving small congregations or new worshiping communities applying for Transformational Leadership Debt Assistance (TLDA); and Presbyterian-related organizations interested in offering Season of Service Loan Assistance to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) members serving in part-time, temporary, or volunteer positions.
Contact the Financial Aid for Service office by email to schedule an appointment.