Contact: Ian Heseltine - ian.heseltine@elca.org

The ELCA 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.

Contact: Jenna Leazott - jenna.leazott@elca.org 

Abide is a small group ministry hosted by ELCA Young Adults. Young adults can register to be placed into a weekly, virtual small group led by a young adult Small Group Leader. Groups meet via video call for approximately an hour over the course of a month (1 month). These groups will be centered around a specific topic and participants may choose one of three topics each month.

Abide leaders are paid $80 for their time ($20/hr). Three broad topic areas include:

• Theological / Biblical / Spiritual Practice

• Advocacy / Justice / Peacebuilding

• Fellowship & Fun

Apply to be a small group leader | Current groups

Contact: Jenna Leazott - jenna.leazott@elca.org 

The Gather Network is a ministry of ELCA Young Adults that connects young adults in cities or regions throughout the ELCA. These ministries create space for young adults to join in fellowship, worship, community, and discussion. Gather invites the group to ask challenging questions of ourselves, our faith, and our world. We hope to create these communities for young adults across race, disability, faith background, gender, sexuality, and perspective to feel welcome to meet, to be, to gather. Some Gather ministries connect deeply with a local campus ministry, as well.

Dozens of sites are in development—fill out the form to get connected to the leaders in your area, or start one yourself!

Start a Gather ministry

July 16-20, 2024 - New Orleans, LA

Individuals who will be 18 to 35 at the time of the Gathering are invited to attend. We recognize that 18-35 is a wide age range and anticipate that most of our programming will be geared toward those 18 to 25 years old. All young-adult participants will be divided into cohorts based on age. Individuals interested in attending the ELCA Young Adult Gathering will need to register apart from any congregational group attending the ELCA Youth Gathering. Childcare will be available for those attending the ELCA Young Adult Gathering. Please note that children are not allowed to attend Mass Gathering programming. ‍

Priority registration: $260
Regular registration: $310
Late registration: $360

Volunteer to be a small group leader

Contact: Mary Campbell - mary.campbell@elca.org 

The word “amparo” in Spanish means the protection of a living creature from suffering or damage. The ELCA’s strategy to Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities (AMMPARO) was envisioned after witnessing the plight of children who are forced to flee their communities because of complex and interrelated reasons, including chronic violence, poverty, environmental displacement and lack of opportunities in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. Due to our connection to companion churches in the region, including companion synod relationships, and existing ministries in the U.S., the ELCA is well-positioned to help ensure that these vulnerable children are protected.   

Contact: Rob Gieraltowski - rob@lomc.org 

Lutheran Outdoor Ministries (LOM) is an association of outdoor ministry organizations, professionals, board members, businesses, and students connected to Lutheran camping, conferences, and retreats.  Our programs reach God’s children of all ages though summer camping programs, retreat opportunities, hospitality, team building activities, and partnership with congregations.  Our sites are affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America which states that “…outdoor ministries strive to strengthen, support and lift up the body of Christ through building relationships with others and with God while enjoying creation.”  LOM is a vibrant and diverse community, committed to deepening faith – in rustic cabins and in state-of-the-art retreat centers, on mountaintops, on city streets, on ocean shores.

Contact: Krista Kilgus - krista@servantcorps.org

Located in the gorgeous and colorful Denver, Colorado, the Urban Servant Corps welcomes you to participate in a transformational year of intentional community living and full-time volunteer service, while living simply and exploring your faith journey. Urban Servant Corps is a ministry of the Lutheran Church (ELCA) and is an LGTBQIA+ welcoming and affirming organization (RIC).

Contact: Shari Seifert - shari@shariseifert.com 

EDLARJ engages in advocacy at all levels of the ELCA. From policy and cultural changes at the national level to helping individuals address racial injustice in their communities, members of EDLARJ use our voices to advocate for racial justice. EDLARJ members also support the work of the other ELCA ethnic associations and collaborate for a church and world in which all are free. In the struggle for racial justice, we help write policy and write letters, preach in the pulpit and shout in the streets. 

Contact: Evie Landrau - evie.landrau@elca.org

More than 820 million people - that's about 11 percent of people in our world today - are hungry.

As members of the ELCA, we are called to respond. We are a church that rolls up our sleeves and gets to work. 

Working with and through our congregations, in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands Lutheran churches overseas and other partners, ELCA World Hunger is uniquely positioned to reach communities in need. From health clinics to microloans, water wells to animal husbandry, community meals to advocacy, your gifts to ELCA World Hunger make it possible for the ELCA to respond, supporting sustainable solutions that get at the root causes of hunger and poverty.

Contact: Dan Beirne - dbeirne@lirs.org 

Since 1939, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) has provided welcome and hope to more than three quarters of a million refugees. We are transforming lives and empowering New Americans with support and resources to begin anew.

Our legacy of compassionate service has made a difference in the lives of more than 750,000 people who have sought safety and hope in America’s communities. Our history reflects our own deep immigrant roots and passionate commitment to welcoming newcomers, especially those who are most in need.

Contact: Jill Beverlin - jill.beverlin@elca.org 

Coaching: Coaching is a relational alliance that leverages the art of deep listening, powerful questions and intentional exploration to produce awareness, change, and transformation for the client. In coaching, the client has agency, is the one naming the goals, designs action plans to meet those goals, and does 80% of the talking.  Faith-based coaching (from a Christian lens) looks at each individual as beloved of God, believes that person has been specifically gifted by God, and helps the person discover how they are being invited by God to use these gifts in God's work of loving and healing the world.

ELCA Young Adults can become coaches through coach training, or receive coaching through our YA cohort.

Information Request Form

Master's Programs:

• Master of Divinity (MDiv)

  • Optional concentrations in Climate Justice & Faith and Evangelism & Justice 

• Masters of Arts (MA) in Spirituality & Social Change

  • Optional concentrations in Climate Justice & Faith and Evangelism & Justice 

• Joint MDiv / GTU Common MA

  • Departments and Concentrations:

    • Sacred Texts and Their Interpretation

    • Historical and Cultural Studies of Religion

    • Theology and Ethics

    • Religion and Practice

Certificates

• Certificate of Theological Studies

• Certificate of Advanced Theological Studies

• Theological Education for Emerging Ministries (TEEM)

• Certificate in Climate Justice and Faith

Continuing Ed:

• Founders' Day and Luther Lectures

• Community Organizing for Climate Justice

• Thriving Leadership Formation

PhD through GTU

GTU Certificates:

• Asian and Oceanic Cultures and Faith Traditions

• Black Church/Africana Religious Studies

• Islamic Studies

• Jewish Studies

• Orthodox Studies

• Women's Studies in Religion

Contact: Jill Disbro - jillannedisbro@plts.edu 

Berkely, CA

Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) develops leaders in the Lutheran tradition for a complex and changing world. We equip people to put their faith into action as the church and culture face dramatic change; because people who follow their purpose can transform a community — and the world. Located in Berkeley, California, PLTS is situated close to everything: Berkeley is home to the free speech movement of seventies, vast world-class educational opportunities, easy access to the cosmopolitan city of San Francisco, and outdoor adventure on trails and beaches in all directions.

PLTS provides theological education for the training of clergy and lay leaders through ordination, non-ordination, and research level degrees and certificates. Let us prepare you to learn, graduate, and lead others to fulfill their life calling as you fulfill yours.

As one of seven seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, PLTS is a founding member of the Graduate Theological Union and a graduate school of California Lutheran University. PLTS was the first ELCA seminary to become Reconciling in Christ (RIC).

Theological education at PLTS is done in the context of people who are rich and poor, liberal and conservative, and a wide array of human race, religion, sexuality, education, experience, and background. If our theology did not take all people into account, it would be deficient.

Master of Arts programs (MA):

• Lutheran Ministries - Deacon and Chaplain

• Children, Youth, and Family Ministry

• Christian Ministry

• Bible

• History of Christianity

• Justice and Reconciliation

• Systematic Theology

Master of Divinity (MDiv)

Master of Theology (ThM)

• Concentrations

  • Bible (Old or New Testament)

  • Congregational and Community Care (Clinical Pastoral Theology)

  • Congregational Mission and Leadership

  • History of Christianity

  • Mission and World Religions

  • Pastoral Theology and Ministry

  • Systematic Theology/Ethics

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

PhD

Graduate Certificates:

• Bible, History of Christianity and Systemtic Theology

• Children, Youth, and Family Ministry

• Christian Ministry

• Leadership and Innovation for Ministry

Contact: Aaron Schutte - aschutte001@luthersem.edu

St. Paul, MN

Luther Seminary educates leaders for Christian communities across the country and around the world. As one of the seven seminaries in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Luther Seminary has educated more than one-third of ELCA pastors, lay professionals and leaders of many global Lutheran and ecumenical churches.

Luther is known for the diversity of learning that occurs in the classroom, online and in the field. Students continually learn important theological concepts, apply them in real-life situations and then discuss their experience to help grow and mature in their understanding.

We welcome students from around the globe as they pursue this transformational education. It is always Gospel-centered, yet innovative and challenging to meet the changing demands of the church and the world.

MDiv

• Concentrations in:

  • Hispanic Ministry

  • Rural Ministry

  • Mission Development

  • Youth, Culture, and Mission

MA

• Concentrations in:

  • Hispanic Ministry

  • Rural Ministry

  • Mission Development

  • Youth, Culture, and Mission

MA in Diaconal Ministry

• Concentrations in:

  • Hispanic Ministry

  • Rural Ministry

  • Mission Development

  • Youth, Culture, and Mission

Theological Education for Emerging Ministries (TEEM) Program

Certificate Programs

• Theological Studies

• Hispanic Ministry

• Rural Ministry

• Theological and Congregational Leadership

• Youth and Family Ministry

Dubuque, IA

Contact: Jeanette Perrault - jperrault@wartburgseminary.edu 

At Wartburg Seminary, we’ve been preparing leaders for over 160 years, but we’ve never prepared them the same way twice. Each leader is unique, personally grounded in who God created them to be.  We not only honor that, we embrace it.  Our graduates are skilled and artful leaders who have learned how to think – how to draw on the breadth of the Lutheran tradition and make it come alive for a new day.

Our deep roots allow us to be nimble and explore new ways of preparing people to lead in our brave new world.

There’s an edginess in that.

To “sit” in some Wartburg classes is to sit in educational spaces that didn’t exist ten years ago.  Although the central location is a castle, the technology within these brick walls is far from ancient.

Students both on and off campus engage in worship-centered community and critical theological reflection. Wartburg has found a way to live into these new technological learning spaces in ways that feels human and alive.  An example of this is when the on-campus students had fellowship over cookies, distance learning students found boxes of homemade cookies in their mailboxes, miles away.

Maybe it’s not so much the place, or the cookies, or the people in the many stories like this, but the God it all springs from who inspires many to say, “Yeah, there’s a pull here.” At Wartburg we are a community that does not exist for itself, but for the work of God in the world.  A world in need.  We are a school ready and excited to learn and develop new leaders who can speak into it.

Wartburg is a Reconciling in Christ seminary.

MDiv

Master of Theological Studies

Master of Theological Studies/JD

Master of Theological Studies/MS in Nursing

MA in Youth and Family Ministry

MA of Sacred Theology

Contact: Kit Kleinhans - kkleinhans@capital.edu

Columbus, OH

Since its founding, Trinity Lutheran Seminary has provided opportunities for theological education and faith formation in the classroom and around the globe, equipping students for transformative ministry in a variety of settings. The scope of our master’s degrees will prepare you to change the world, whether you see yourself leading a congregation, teaching in the classroom or advocating for social justice in the community.

• EDUCATING and forming a new generation of theologically informed leaders for the emerging world.

• DELIVERING relevant courses, experiences, events and speakers on our campus and across the globe that inspire students to impact the community and our world.

• FORMING leaders with an ethic of inclusivity and care, cultural competency, and ecological passion and commitment.

An institution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University is committed to expanding its students’ understanding of faith, responsibility to others and to our world, and purposeful impact. That’s forming leaders for Christ’s church at work in the world

Trinity is a Reconciling in Christ seminary.