United Church of Christ Young Adult Ministries

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.

Young Adults Leadership Fellows Program

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

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  • 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

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  • 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 Higher Education & Leadership Ministries (HELM) to provide a four year program for young adults during their college years. It seeks to cultivate and strengthen participants’ potential for leadership through intentional focus on Christian community, societal transformation, global awareness, and leadership development. The spring 2026 program application for current high school seniors or graduates who will begin college this fall.

Read HELM details and find application link here!

The Leadership Fellows application is open through March 15 at the link below, and requires submission of academic records and written references.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

2026 Summer Communities of Service Applications are open!

Applications and information for the 2026 Summer Communities of Service (SCOS) program are open through April 24. Through a collaboration with United Church of Christ partner organizations and local churches, we are able to provide a summer intern program for young adults ages 19-30. If you are a young adult interested in faith-based work experience, apply here to spend 10-weeks this summer serving the common good!

Interns are provided with vocational experience and discernment support, spiritual grounding, contextual history and social justice knowledge. They also receive orientation and training, a $1500 stipend, room and board, and the cost of transportation to and from the internship location.

Because the years following the Covid pandemic stopped us from being able to safely send interns to host sites across the country, the UCC is actively working to reenlist host organizations and increase placement opportunities for young adults. UCC congregations and affiliated or partner non-profit organizations with capacity and interest in hosting summer interns through this program are encouraged to contact Rev. Kelly Burd, UCC Minister for Volunteer Engagement at burdk@ucc.org or 216-736-2113.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

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Questions?

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Please contact Kelly Burd at burdk@ucc.org, for more information.