Harry Morudu of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa, a former LWF Scholarship recipient, shares perspectives from his context at a Gender Justic consultation in Geneva. Photo: LWF/A. Hillert
102 women and men from LWF member churches awarded scholarships to study theology and different areas of diaconal work
(LWI) - Over a hundred men and women from the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America have been awarded scholarships to study theology and different areas of diaconal work over the coming year. They are the latest group of students to benefit from the scholarship program which has supported academic formation for more than 4,000 people since its inception in the 1950s.
This year’s cohort includes 53 theology students from 30 member churches and 49 students for diaconia-related subjects who belong to 33 member churches. The majority of applicants come from African or Asian countries, with a small percentage also coming from Europe or Latin America and the Caribbean. The rigorous selection process aims to ensure a balanced representation of the regions, while over half of all scholarships are awarded to women and the majority of successful candidates are aged 30 or under.
Rev. Katariina Kiilunen, LWF Program Executive for Capacity Building and Leadership Development said that through these scholarships, “LWF continues its tradition of supporting theological and development-oriented education to equip individuals with knowledge, skills and the ability to think critically about the world around them.” Education, she added, “is a catalyst for positive change that extends far beyond the classroom, not only transforming individuals, but allowing them to contribute meaningfully to their communities and societies.”
Learning to lead with compassion, dedication, openness
Among those benefiting from the scholarships this year is Jávori Fülöp from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary, who is doing his master's in theology in Budapest. Alongside his academic studies, he leads services in both German and Hungarian, has tutored university students and founded a university choir, experiences which have “deepened my understanding of what it means to lead with compassion, dedication and openness,” he said.
Fülöp reflected that “in a world which often feels fragmented and disconnected, the church needs to be present in society with well-prepared pastors. It must be open to the challenges of the day. It must be sensitive to the real questions of the people,” and his studies are an essential step on that journey, he said.
Macarena Paloma Solís de Ovando Gómez from the Lutheran Church in Chile was among the successful applicants for a diaconia and development-related scholarship. She has a master's in international law from the Catholic Universit of Louvain and currently works as Assistant Counsel for Victims in the International Criminal Court. Since a large part of that work is done on a pro-bono basis, she also lectures at two universities in her native Chile.
“I am grateful for this scholarship which will cover expenses for the first year of my PhD relating to research into alternative and stronger systems of reparation for victims of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity,” said Gómez who also serves on the Board of Directors of the Chilean Society of International Law. “I will do my best to ensure that my doctoral thesis can really contribute to the right to reparations for victims of serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law,” she added.
New activities are opening up opportunities for scholarship recipients to contribute to the life of the global communion.
Rev. Katariina Kiilunen, LWF Program Executive for Capacity Building and Leadership Development
Recently the LWF has initiated new activities to build networks for scholarship holders in different parts of the world, providing a vital space for joint reflection and exchange of ideas. A first online meeting for scholarship alumni was held in 2024, offering an opportunity to broaden former students’ perspectives in a cross-cultural and intergenerational environment. Rev. Kiilunen noted that “through these new initiatives, the program has grown into something larger than itself, opening up opportunities for scholarship recipients to contribute to the life of the global communion and serve as resource persons for various activities and events.”
