United Church of Christ Young Adult Ministry
Young Adult Service-Learning Fellowships and Communities are unique pre-professional volunteer opportunities to explore service and social justice. Young adult leaders are transforming communities through a faith-inspired pursuit of justice, collaborative action, and intentional living. Please check-out the new programs we are providing below.
Leadership Fellows Program
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
+- Membership in a congregation of the Christian Church (United Church of Christ or Disciples of Christ) in the US and Canada.
- Entering first year of full-time, undergraduate study in the Fall of 2025 at a regionally accredited college or university in the US or Canada.
- Entering first year of community college is acceptable, provided the student plans to transfer to an accredited, 4-year college or university at the end of their first or second year.
- Students who have taken a year off after high school graduation and expecting to begin their first year of undergraduate studies at an accredited college or university are also eligible.
- Demonstration of leadership qualities throughout school, community, and church contexts.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
+- Online application
- Official High School Transcript
- Two short essays
- 3 Letters of Reference (from a pastor, a teacher, and a supervisor)
- All materials must be received by the March 15 deadline for an applicant to be considered.
- Apply Here
The Leadership Fellows Program is a collaboration with the Disciples of Christ to provide young adults a leadership development opportunity during their undergraduate years. It seeks to cultivate and strengthen participants’ potential for leadership through intentional focus on Christian community, societal transformation, global awareness, and leadership development. Students entering undergraduate education may apply to the program, which includes a scholarship, annual retreat, community and an international global immersion experience. The program aims to develop leaders through an intentional focus on the following four major areas:
During Year 1, Fellows will:
- Explore the complications of personal and communal ethics.
- Engage in conversations around expectations, autonomy, responsibility, and leadership.
- Primary Reading: Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
During Year 2, Fellows will:
- Explore the nature and purpose of Christian community.
- Engage in conversations around what it means to build and sustain authentic community.
- Primary Reading: Called to Community
During Year 3, Fellows will:
- Learn about intersectionality and cultural humility.
- Experience an international immersion trip.
- Primary Reading: Rebels, Despots and Saints by Sandhya Jha
During Year 4, Fellows will:
- Learn about lifelong practices of spiritual and vocational discernment.
- Engage in conversations around how to live meaningful lives of faithfulness and service.
- Primary Reading: Let Your Life Speak, by Parker Palm
Summer Communities of Service (SCOS)
Summer Communities of Service are pre-professional volunteer opportunities to explore service, career opportunities and social justice. Designed as summer semester or academic year length fellowships, residential programs offer housing, meals, a modest living stipend, and options for health insurance if the volunteer does not have their own insurance. Young adult leaders are transforming communities through a faith-inspired pursuit of justice, collaborative action, and intentional living.
Summer Communities of Service are unique opportunities for you to live in intentional community with others who share your commitment to service and social justice. Together, you will find the space to reflect on questions of meaning and to network for change.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
+Summer Communities of Service will relaunch during the Summer 2025. Please check back for the launch of the application.
Questions?
Please contact Danielle Hickman directly at hickmand@ucc.org, for more information.