Mark and Sharon McLagan Endowed Scholarship Fund

The Pastor Mark and Sharon McLagan Endowed Scholarship was established in 2009 in gratitude to the Luther Seminary faculty for patience, persistence, commitment and gentle wisdom given to me during my studies at Luther Seminary. I remember frequent grace-filled words spoken and lived by many wonderful men in the days of the all-male faculty. I struggled through Greek and Hebrew throughout my seminary education. Though I never mastered the languages, the seminary faculty provided resources, encouragement and finally, the affirmation that the seminary accepted my proficiency as adequate. As a result, I was able to live the most exciting, rewarding, fulfilling life I could have imagined—that of a parish pastor. I served four congregations for over thirty-two years, preaching and teaching of the grace of God—grace I knew from a most gracious faculty. I met my first wife, Sharon Ruth Hahn, while on internship in Austin, Texas in 1971. Sharon completed her baptismal journey in 2002. Throughout our marriage we had talked about establishing an endowed scholarship at Luther Seminary, and I am pleased to fulfill our dream.