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OVERVIEW:
The Mission Intern Program is a leadership development and social justice
opportunity for young adults (20-30 years old). The three-year program
is divided into a 16-month international work/study assignment and
a 16-month action/education assignment in one’s own country.
It is an opportunity for young people to hear the prophetic voice of
communities and individuals around the world who are working for systemic
change and to apply that experiential learning to their home context.
The program encourages participants to learn about and live out the
transformative gospel of Jesus Christ while working as grassroots organizers
and/or advocates in areas of conflict resolution, peace, education,
environmental justice, economic development, indigenous rights, and
women’s and children’s issues.
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GOALS:
- To commit to a ministry of presence, which supports marginalized communities
working for peace and justice.
- To learn through experience, the day-to-day
effects of systemic oppression on local communities, both internationally
and nationally.
- To actively participate with local organizations working
for social justice.
- To learn to live the gospel of Christ by connecting
with people who model creative social witness.
- To enrich your faith by
learning with others, interreligiously and ecumenically, experience
the liberating power of God.
- To bridge the experiences of different communities
so as to better facilitate communication and cooperation between peoples
seeking
justice in a global context.
- To witness in one’s local
church and community about new ways to envision mission as a
global church.
- To develop yourself as a leader, prepared to be
a prophetic voice in society and committed to holding the church accountable
to God’s
calling.
- To form a covenant community of young adults committed
to demonstrate through word and action the importance of
Christian presence within
and support of global movements for social change.
- To engage
in faith based action for justice and disciplined theological reflection
in order to better integrate social
justice into Christian
faith and learn to live a new definition of mission.
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CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF CANDIDATES:
- Commitment to the Christian faith, with an ability to express and relate
it to mission objectives, goals, and issues.
- Completion of an education program
(college, graduate school, etc.) and/or equivalent life experiences.
- Work
experiences which evidence commitment and skills appropriate for missional
tasks: observation, research, community involvement, interpretation
and communication
(written and oral).
- Willingness to commit three years to the program.
- Support of General Board
of Global Ministries’ goals and the capacity
to relate those goals to vocational intention and work.
- Sensitivity
to cultural diversities, awareness of events and issues in the world,
with evidence of cross-cultural and interpersonal skills.
- Willingness to adopt
a subsistence lifestyle.
- Commitment to action/education for systemic change.
- Indication of potential
leadership in church society.
Preference is given to people with strong church and community links
who show a commitment to involving themselves in both their
placement communities.
Preference is given to people with strong church and community links
who show a commitment to involving themselves in both their placement
communities.
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CRITERIA FOR PLACEMENT SITES
- The organization shall be a church, faith-based, ecumenical or community
organization.
- The organization shall be a committed to addressing critical justice
issues and involved in ministries of human liberation. Priority is given
to organizations
working in the areas such as community empowerment, economic development,
women’s
and children’s issues and environmental concerns.
- The organization will
provide the intern with experiences which facilitate understanding and
skill development related to:
- local cultural traditions and the ways in which they influence and are influenced
by political, social and economic systems
-
critical justice issues from the perspective of local communities
-
the role of faith-based communities in addressing critical justice issues
-
models of social change which emerge out of local cultural contexts
- The
organization shall designate a person to give direct, ongoing supervision
and guidance to the intern in areas of work, cultural education, community
adjustment, housing and other areas which seem appropriate
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EXAMPLES OF PLACEMENT SITES
- Christian Commission for Development, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
- Wi’am
Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center, Bethlehem, West Bank
- World Student
Christian Federation, Nairobi, Kenya
- Forth Spring Inter-Community Group,
Belfast, Northern Ireland
- National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice,
Chicago, Ill.
- Interchurch Center for Action, Reconciliation and Empowerment,
Jacksonville, Fla.
- Asia Pacific Center for Justice and Peace, Washington,
D.C.
2007 MISSION INTERN PROGRAM : CLASS TIME LINE
 February
1, 2007: Application Deadline
March/April: Interview Weekends
July/August: Orientation and Training
September 2007-December 2008: International
Placement
January 2009: Regrouping
February 2009-May 2009: Domestic Placement
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CONTACT INFORMATION:
For more information please
call
212-870-3660 or
email MIRYAP1@gbgm-umc.org
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Covenant
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