Creating a Culture of Call: Greater NW Area Ministry Internship Project Launches!

Greater Northwest Area Garners $100,000 Grant

The Greater Northwest Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church, an area that includes the Alaska, Oregon-Idaho, and Pacific Northwest Conferences, was recently awarded $100,000 to create internships in local churches and other ministry settings for young adults discerning a call to ordained ministry. The funds were received from the Young Clergy Initiative, a $7 million fund designed to “increase the number of young clergy among the jurisdictional conferences.”

The grant will support a Ministry Internship Project that seeks to encourage a culture of call throughout the area by offering young adults, ages 18-25, the opportunity to experience first-hand ministry in the church and in the world. While the settings and number of interns will be limited at first, we hope these connectional internships will inspire other faith communities to consider the important role they play in the spiritual formation and vocational discernment of the young people in their care.

We are asking United Methodists throughout the area to share this opportunity with young adults who have expressed interest in ordained ministry. We also hope they will join us in praying for the interns who are selected and consider how they can encourage and support future leaders for our church today.

Project Details

The Ministry Internship Project will place at least three paid interns in local church settings for the academic year (September 2014-June 2015). This academic year internship provides a $25,000 stipend plus housing and health benefits supplied through a partnership with the local church.

The academic year interns will participate in an orientation retreat at the end of the summer (2014) and a culminating retreat near the beginning of the following summer (2015).  While serving in a setting, interns will be responsible for their own meals, entertainment, personal items, and transportation costs not related to the internship.

For the summer of 2015, the project plans to place at least five summer interns in ministry settings for 10 weeks.  Summer interns receive a $5000 stipend and housing from host sites. More details will be announced as they become available.

Host sites are also needed. We are looking for faith communities that have a history of nurturing young adults as well as understanding call.  These sites will need pastors and laity who know how to encourage and mentor young adults and some funding to help with the housing and insurance requirements of the intern.

How to Apply

Intern and host site applications are available to download below and are due no later than June 30, 2014 for year-long internships or April 30, 2015 for summer 2015 internships.

You should email completed applications to communications@pnwumc.org.  You can also mail applications to the following address:

Ministry Internship Project
Greater NW Episcopal Area
P.O. 13650
Des Moines, WA 98198

Interns selected to participate in the inaugural cohort will be notified by July 15, 2014. Host sites will be selected soon thereafter.

Questions

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Patrick Scriven at the Pacific Northwest Conference Office; pscriven@pnwumc.org, c: 206.304.9284 or David Reinholz; djreinholz@gmail.com, c: 360.821.9340.