Southwest Leather Conference Spiritual Development Scholarship
The Southwest Leather Conference Spiritual Development Scholarship was created in 2006 as a gift from Master Steve of Butchmanns, to his beloved friend and leather brother, Master Skip, for his 50th birthday. It was created to honor Master Skip's ministry in the leather community of celebrating and modeling the integration of radical sexuality with one's spirituality.
The scholarship is designed to provide financial assistance to leatherfolk who are pursuing formal religious or spiritual training or education for the purpose of accreditation and / or personal spiritual growth and development. The scholarship is managed by Butchmanns, Inc.
The first recipient of the Southwest Leather Conference Spiritual Development Scholarship 2007 was Reverend Elect Tim Hamilton, a.k.a. Pup Tim. Tim is a graduate of the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA, having received a Masters of Divinity degree in December, 2007. He was ordained within the Metropolitan Community Church on February 16, 2008.
As a member of the Southwest leather community, Tim is co-founder of the Metropolitan Community Church of Los Angeles' affinity group, People of Leather Among You (P.L.A.Y.) and 2002 International Pup. Since 1992, Tim has been a member of the Los Angeles BDSM group, Avatar. He gave the central sermon at the worship service at International Mr. Leather 2003 in Chicago, and has offered workshops and presentations since 1996. He organizes the multi-religious service, the Leather Tribal Revival, at Southwest Leather Conference.
The 2008 Southwest Leather Conference Spiritual Development Scholarship was awarded to Master Fire. Master Fire was able to devote a solid month during her summer break from her secular/scientific studies to her religious Metaphysics studies using the scholarship which was awarded at SWLC 2008. During this month, she was able to complete a creative project which involved creating a guided meditation. For this, she composed and recorded both the music and the words herself and received an excellent critique. In addition, she was able to complete several courses, scoring well in each. She is most grateful for having had this opportunity and encourages anyone eligible to apply for the scholarship.
Southwest Leather Conference is proud to announce that the winner of The 2009 Southwest Leather Conference Spiritual Development Scholarship is girl debra! girl debra has been learning and studying Shamanism with the Foundation for Shamanic Studies for almost four years. She knew immediately upon her first experience that this was her chosen path, to be a "soul healer". The scholarship will help girl debra attend Shamanism and the Spirits of Nature, in Mt. Shasta, California. Shamans use the spirits of nature for healing, survival and knowledge. By learning from the plants and animals, from the rocks and mountains, from the winds and waters, and from the sun, moon, and stars, shamans helped their peoples live in harmony with the universe. In a world now out of balance, the way of the shaman can teach how again to respect nature, our Planet, and its inhabitants at a deep spiritual level. girl debra will work together intensively through shamanic journeys and other spiritual experiences, and will dedicate herself to working in both nonordinary and ordinary reality to restore and maintain a living Planet, girl debra cannot wait to share her experience and teachings with others.
Eligibility
To be considered for the Southwest Leather Conference Spiritual Development Scholarship 2010, candidates must be 21 years of age or older and meet the following requirements:
Self-identify as a person of leather heart and spirit;
Substantiate his/her participation within the leather community;
Have applied and been accepted into a formal religious or spiritual training program for the purpose of accreditation and/or personal spiritual growth and development;
Provide a letter of recommendation from another self-identifying member of the leather community as well as a letter of recommendation from an individual affiliated with the program the applicant is entering.
Age (other than the minimum age requirement), race, sexual orientation, relationship status, gender identity, physical ability, religion or spiritual practice(s), and kink/fetish practice(s) shall not considered by the judges in their awarding of the scholarship.
Selection Criteria
Candidate selection will be completed by the Butchmanns Selection Committee and recipients will be announced at the Southwest Leather Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sunday, January 24th, 2010. Recipients do not need to be present to accept the scholarship. Only recipients of the scholarship will be announced. Applicants not selected will not be known to anyone outside of the Selection Committee. If not selected this year, we encourage you to re-apply for next year's scholarship!
Selected recipients of the Southwest Leather Conference Spiritual Development Scholarship 2010 may receive any amount of funding, up to $1,000.00, depending on the candidate’s need and depending on the merits of other candidate applications under consideration.
The scholarship funds will be given to the recipient(s) for award year 2010. Throughout the award year, recipients must complete a quarterly Funds Allocation Report (template will be provided) and submit it to the Butchmanns Treasurer for inclusion in our Financial Reporting requirements.
The Southwest Leather Conference Spiritual Development Scholarship is not renewable, however past recipients may re-apply for the scholarship each year.
