Urban Ministry Fellows

Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. . . They shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness. 

- Zechariah 8:4-5, 8

This prophetic word from Zechariah is offered as a word of hope to the people of Israel while they are in exile, far from their homes and feeling as though God has abandoned them. But God reminds them of all the God has done for God's people in the past and what God will do for them in the future. God promises to restore them to their holy city, and in that city God promises them peace and justice. In God's reign, the city will be the place where children can play in complete safety and assurance of their well-being. The city will be the beloved community that cares for its vulnerable members and where one can grow old in peace and comfort. In God's city, there will be no more tears and God will live among us and the glory of God will be our light (Rev 21:3-4, 23). This is the vision of the city that calls me into urban ministry. The joy of collaborating in God's reign, living into the New Jerusalem that God has promised and through Christ has begun to deliver, is my inspiration for being part of Wesley's Urban Ministry Fellows Program.

Our community based research project-being undertaken by the Urban Ministry Fellows in partnership with the down town churches-is our first systematic exploration of where and how we see the reign of God becoming manifest in the downtown D.C. community. We are engaging in this project in order to identify the faithful and fruitful urban ministries already in place so that we can partner with them, learn from them, and contribute to their kingdom-building work. We are getting to know and be known by our neighbors around Mt. Vernon Square so that we can begin to build partnerships with downtown houses of worship and faith-based organizations. Our knowledge of the community becomes part of the text through which we learn what urban ministry is and how to be more faithful and fruitful urban ministers. By entering into partnerships with those already engaged in God's kingdom building in downtown DC, we hope to contribute to these efforts and to prepare our Wesley students for their own future ministries. And for me personally, being part of this ministry is the greatest praise and thanks that I can offer to the Lord for all that God has done for me.

Becoming an Urban Ministry Fellow with Wesley

Wesley's Urban Ministry Fellows are seeking faithful solutions to the challenges of homelessness and gentrification, addiction, failed schools, inaccessible health care systems, unemployment, and illiteracy. And they enjoy exceptional opportunities to grow through internships with urban congregations, social service advocacy groups and not-for-profit organizations. Urban Ministry Fellows receive scholarship funding and engage opportunities to provide pastoral care and leadership in congregations and other settings, engage in community organizing & collaborative research projects, advocate and mobilize for justice issues and to build connectivity amongst ecumenical and interfaith communities.

Students who are interested in becoming an Urban Ministry Fellow in 2012-2013 are encouraged to apply to the Urban Ministry Fellows program as part of their admissions process to Wesley. Urban Ministry Fellows are required to be full-time Master of Divinity students taking a minimum of 9 credit hours each semester. Applicants must submit an essay of no more than 1500 words addressing the following questions:

• How have you experienced a call to Urban Ministry?
• What qualifications or experiences support your Urban Ministry calling?
• In what type of ministry setting do you see yourself serving in the future?

Essays may be submitted beginning August 29, 2011 by email to admissions@wesleyseminary.edu, by fax to attn: Admissions at (202) 885-8585 or by mail to Admissions Office, Wesley Theological Seminary, 4500 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20016. Finalists for the Urban Fellows program will be invited to interview with members of the Urban Ministry Faculty Committee. Fellowships will be announced in late March of 2012.