Author

Melissa Earley

United Methodist Pastor

Melissa Earley is the lead pastor of First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights, IL. She has written for the Christian Century and United Methodist Disciplines. She is also active in the Chicago story-telling community and recently won her first Moth Story Slam. She blogs at www.melissa-earley.com.

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Scholarships available for the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising 

Applications for the Thomas H. Lake Scholarship are now open! This scholarship supports participants in the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising (ECRF), a program designed to help religious leaders explore the spirituality of fundraising and gain skills essential for their work. 

Applications will be accepted until Monday, August 3, 2026. Applicants should expect to hear a decision by the end of August.

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