Religious Education Scholarships and Grants

The UUA and affiliated organizations offer scholarships and grants to religious educators pursuing professional development.

Barbara Marshman and Ann B. Fields Scholarship

The Barbara Marshman and Ann B. Fields Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a religious educator serving a Unitarian Universalist congregation who is engaged in graduate study. This prize of at least $1500 is given through the generous contributions of those who wish to memorialize and honor the work of these two great religious educators and through the ongoing financial support of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).

The Marshman and Fields scholarship honors two who taught and mentored not only children and youth, but also new religious education professionals. Both Marshman and Fields were invited to share a personal Odyssey with their LREDA (Liberal Religious Educators Association) colleagues, Marshman in 1984 (PDF, 4 pages) and Fields in 1990 (PDF, 12 pages). Find out more about each of these remarkable religious educators by reading their Odysseys.

Application deadline is May 1. Fill out the online application.

Religious Education Continuing Education Grants

Continuing education grants of up to $500 are available for religious educators engaged in professional development. Grants are awarded each year on a rolling basis until funds are fully disbursed. You may apply for a grant up to 15 days after the event begins. Fill out the online application.

LREDA Sparks Scholarships

The Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) supports the UUA’s Religious Education Credentialing program by offering scholarships to LREDA Members. Policies, procedures and the application form are available on the LREDA website.

Class Photo from Ministry with Youth Renaissance Module, May 2016 in Newton, MA

Participants in a Ministry with Youth Renaissance module in Newton, MA in 2016.

LREDA RE Credentialing Scholarships

The Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) supports the UUA’s Religious Education Credentialing program by offering scholarships twice a year. Policies, procedures and the application form are available on the LREDA website.

UU Women’s Federation Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley Scholarship Program

This scholarship program provides direct financial support to aspirants or candidates to the Unitarian Universalist ministry, or candidates in the UUA’s religious education credentialing or music leadership certification programs, who identify as women of color, Latina, or Hispanic. Scholarships are awarded twice a year. Policies and application form are available on the UUWF website.

A Legacy: Marshman and Fields Scholarships
Learn of the contributions Barbara Marshman and Ann Fields made to their era of Unitarian Universalist religious education, in a Call & Response blog post by Gail Forsyth-Vail.

Reflections on a Legacy

Morgan Patten, Recipient of 2025 Marshman Fields Scholarship

Morgan Patten recently completed her first year of her Master of Divinity at the Methodist Theological School of Ohio. She currently serves as a Director of Religious Exploration at North UU Congregation in Central Ohio and is an aspirant for UU ministry. Morgan is passionate about multigenerational ministry, and working with queer and trans youth, and faith formation for people of all ages. She plans to pursue UUMA fellowship and parish ministry after graduation.

When she is not at work or at school, you can often find her out and about with her partner and their five children.

Rachel Teague, Recipient of the 2025 Marshman Fields Scholarship

Rachel Teague (she/her) is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lawrence, Kansas and is currently the Chair of the Religious Education Team and a proud OWL facilitator. After many years working in the fields of sexual violence prevention and education, LGBTQ youth leadership and activism, and sexuality education, she is returning to obtain her Masters of Social Welfare at the University of Kansas. She is incredibly grateful to the UUA and the families of Barbara Marshman and Ann B. Fields for this opportunity.