The Young Adult
Vocational Fellowship
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Who are we?
The ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) Young Adult Vocational Fellowship is a one-year discernment experience at the intersection of vocation, faith community building, and professional development. Young adults will explore employment that is meaningful, empowering, and reflects the values of their faith. The fellows will work at an ELCA partner organization for 9-12 months, gaining professional experience that is unique to each site. While similar to an internship or gap-year program involving vocational experience, this fellowship will offer a full-time salary and benefits.
Who are the Fellows?
Young Adults between the ages of 18 and 35 who can articulate lived experiences or demonstrated understanding in the following areas: LGBTQIA2S+ communities, BIPOC & Latinx communities, disabled peoples experiences, varying education levels, and/or varying socioeconomic status. This may be a great opportunity for folks with F1 OPT Visa status, in particular the ELCA International Leaders Program. People who want to gain professional experience and explore their vocation through the lens of their faith.
Fellows do not need to have a previously established connection to the ELCA - we welcome all who come to us from outside of this church! A required component of this program is the participation in faith-based programming, which is rooted in the ELCA understanding of grace and vocation.
What makes us different?
What makes this fellowship different from other year-long opportunities?
Not only will the fellows gain professional working experience, but they will also enter a cohort of other young adults with chances to meet and grow in their faith together, receive discernment coaching, and have the support of the ELCA Young Adult Ministry team through partner organizations. While similar to an internship or gap-year program involving vocational experience, this fellowship will offer a full-time salary and benefits and faith-based leadership development.
By the end of the year, fellows will have 9-12 months of professional, full-time work experience, networking opportunities in a similar field, received discernment coaching, and continued support from ELCA Young Adult Ministry.
What is the ELCA?
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 3.3 million members in more than 8,900 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. ELCA Young Adult Ministry is a ministry of the ELCA church.
We are the church that shares a living, daring confidence in God’s grace. Liberated by our faith, we embrace you as a whole person—questions, complexities and all. Join us as we do God’s work in Christ’s name for the life of the world.
ELCA Young Adult Ministry is called to radically affirm and connect young adults while equipping all young voices for strategic disruption and Divine justice.
