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
+- 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 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
Young Adult Summer Communities of Service (SCOS)
The UCC Summer Communities of Service program matches young adults with service organizations and agencies, support and a stipend for 10 weeks of summer service-based learning and work. Participants are paired in groups of two to three per placement site for mutual support and community. The program allows young adults to engage and learn new skills, reflect on aspects of their experience, organizational mission and the social justice dimensions of their work. Host sites provide transportation to and from the site, room and board, community building skills and opportunities for spiritual reflection and vocational discernment. The United Church of Christ provides an in-person orientation for all participants in May, and a stipend of $1400, and local churches provide programmatic support on site with mentorship and opportunities for spiritual reflection.
If you are considering Summer Communities of Service as a potential opportunity to live in intentional community with others and gain experience in service and social justice – whether because it aligns with vocational plans you have already confirmed or it can help you to discern or confirm your vocational interests, consider applying for the summer or contacting us for more information.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
+We are working with potential sites to confirm sites for 2026 Summer Communities of Service. Updates about 2026 program opportunities will be posted in February.
Questions?
Please contact Kelly Burd at burdk@ucc.org, for more information.