What to Expect in a Year of Service

Urban Servant Corps is a one-year full-time Lutheran volunteer program in Denver, CO. Volunteers commit to living in intentional community and embrace values of simplicity and spirituality as they serve at inner-city Denver nonprofits. USC positions are at agencies that provide immediate and direct care service as well those who advocate for lasting solutions and long-term social change.

Urban Servant Corps is an ELCA-affiliated program. Participants are not required to be Lutheran or identify as Christian. However, we uphold the traditions and values of the Lutheran Church in the midst of our community gatherings. Volunteers are expected to attend community gatherings that include a faith reflection or worship service and engage in exploring their faith and supporting others in this practice. USC welcomes folks from all faith traditions and theological perspectives; in fact, that adds a rich dynamic to our conversations about spirituality!

No. There is not a fee associated with applying to Urban Servant Corps.

The majority of USC applicants have just graduated from college and are in their early 20s. However, USC has hosted volunteers of all ages, ranging from 21-75 (there is no upper age limit)! Additionally, married couples, international students, retired folks have added to the rich community experience at USC. All Urban Servant Corps volunteers must be 21 years of age.

You may download an application from the Urban Servant Corps website. Typically, people start applying in January. The priority deadline is March 1. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis thereafter until all positions are filled. USC staff members will process the application and contact the applicant for an interview, ensuring that USC is a good programmatic fit. Upon acceptance into USC, applicants will interview with a placement agency to further discuss the duties of the specific volunteer job. Finally, a Commitment of Agreement is signed between all parties (USC staff, applicant and agency supervisor).

Typically, the USC program runs from the last Sunday in August through the first Friday of the following August. There is a week-long orientation upon arrival and USC volunteers begin service at their placement agencies the Tuesday after Labor Day.

As a community of eight to ten individuals, volunteers meet for community business, meal sharing, and fun(!) on a regular basis. Volunteers utilize a consensus-based decision making model to work through the functioning and structure of the house community. Through these conversations and activities, the household becomes a support system…a group of people to “do life” together…an intentional community. Together, volunteers are able to cope with the challenges as well as celebrate the joys of the volunteer year.

USC volunteers are at all stages of their spiritual journey. Volunteers may or may not identify with a particular faith or denomination. Some may be outwardly disciplined in their faith practices while others may not. USC asks that volunteers be open to exploring and experiencing faith and spirituality with others. Volunteers are encouraged to seek outside spiritual communities as well. Spiritual Direction is offered to Urban Servant Corps volunteers, if they choose to individually participate.

Living simply is a challenge and opportunity that the volunteers face in our world of plenty. The USC experience invites individuals to embrace a year of simplicity and sustainability in order to open their hearts and minds to the needs of their local and global communities. USC provides for the basic needs of volunteers so that they can live out their passion in the world. In an act of solidarity and consciousness, volunteers are asked to live within the personal stipend of $150 each month. Food, housing, and health insurance are costs that are covered by Urban Servant Corps (separate from the individual stipend). Each volunteer must ask for themselves how they would separate their "needs" from their "wants" during this year of simplicity and sustainability. Wifi is available at the USC homes, but is not the kind of access that supports 5 people individually streaming separate Netflix movies -- one communal movie, on the other hand, you are in business!