ELCA Youth Gathering Intern

This posting will close August 7, 2026, at 11:00 pm central time.

About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 3 million members in more than 8,600 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of “God’s work. Our hands.,” the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA’s roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

The Lutheran Center (national office) is located in Chicago, Illinois. A staff of approximately 400, under the leadership of the Presiding Bishop, serve as administrators, advisors, conveners, partners, and resource people for the ELCA and its ministries. Staff lead the work of national, domestic, and global ministries and programs including Lutheran Disaster Response, ELCA World Hunger, Service & Justice, Christian Community and Leadership, and Innovation. We are also home to five of our separately incorporated ministries: The Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA, Women of the ELCA, Lutheran Men in Mission, the ELCA Foundation and the ELCA Federal Credit Union.

About the position

Grounded in our purpose and priorities, the Christian Community and Leadership (CCL) home area helps the ELCA reach and engage new, younger, and more diverse people, welcoming them into the Christian faith. To this end, we will energize and engage our core membership and work with the whole of the ELCA to recruit, develop and deploy the leadership, both lay and rostered, that the church needs to fulfill its purpose of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and building the church.  

This position will serve as an ELCA Youth Gathering (Gathering) Intern for the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering and related events, providing administrative, logistical, and coordination support to Gathering staff and teams. The intern supports registration, travel and expense processes, training platforms, DEIA-related coordination, and community engagement efforts, while reinforcing the Gathering’s mission, vision, values, and youth ministry best practices. 

As this is an internship learning opportunity, the person in this role will have access to an ELCA Coaching Network coach.

This is a part-time (hours will vary based on the needs of the work, meetings, travel, events, etc.), hourly, internship position beginning September 8, 2026, ending October 31, 2027. This is a remote, location-specific role required to be based in or around the surrounding area of Minneapolis, MN. 

The eligibility of a candidate for remote or hybrid positions may depend on the residency of the candidate, and the budget for the role, including salary or pay, insurance coverage, and/or tax burden. Candidates for this position must reside within the fifty United States or the District of Columbia and be authorized to work lawfully in the United States. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

1. General Administrative & Team Support

• Respond to inquiries submitted through the Gathering inbox and phone, providing accurate and timely assistance or routing inquiries to appropriate staff/teams.
• Assist team members with preparing and completing expense reports.
• Assist Gathering office in expensing flights.
• Attend team leader and planning meetings and take clear, organized notes.

2. Registration & Onsite Support

• Provide general registration support to congregations, special guests, and team members. (Pre-Gathering).
• Support registration operations onsite.
• Assist with onsite logistics during events, including problem-solving and participant support as needed.

3. Community Engagement & Local Support (Minneapolis)

• Advise Gathering staff and team leaders on events or decisions that may have a significant impact on marginalized populations in the Minneapolis metro area.
• Represent the ELCA Youth Gathering locally and help foster deeper community engagement.
• Serve as a resource to Gathering planning teams meeting in the Minneapolis area.
• Support the SERVE team in identifying and coordinating service project opportunities in and around Minneapolis for congregational and synodical groups (as needed).
• Purchase and expense team supplies and assist with organizing and taking inventory of supplies at a local storage unit.

4. Event Presence & Commitment

• Be physically present in Minneapolis to support execution of the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering, MYLE, the tAble, and the Young Adult Gathering from June 22 – July 3, 2027.
• Attend required planning team meetings in November 2026, January 2027, April 2027, August 2027, and September 2027.
• Participate in event closing, evaluation, and follow-up work through October 31, 2027, including submission of a final report with a personal evaluation and future recommendations.

5. DEIA Memorial Support

• Provide administrative and coordination support for DEIA-related memorial actions connected to the ELCA Youth Gathering, including scheduling conversations, preparing materials, and supporting communication among designated partners. 
• Serve as a note-taker during meetings; organize and distribute notes, track follow-ups and deadlines, and support timely documentation. 
• Assist with organizing background materials, records, and resources to support staff-led planning, evaluation, and reporting related to DEIA initiatives.

6. The Academy & Training Support

• Provide general support for The Academy access and login issues.
• Assist with building and maintaining online courses.
• Support Adult Leader Training initiatives through coordination, communication, troubleshooting and running necessary reports.

7. Other Duties as assigned.

Estimated hours of work each month  

2026

September - 10 

October - 10 

November - 10 

December - 10 

2027

January - 20 

February - 20 

March - 25

April - 30

May - 35

June - 45

July - 35

August - 35

September - 10 

October - 5

 1. Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a college or university (youth ministry, nonprofit management, events, communications, or related field preferred). Must be at least 18 years of age. 

2. Lived experience and familiarity with the city of Minneapolis, especially non-profit/community-based organizations. 

3. Lived experience and familiarity with the ELCA and the ELCA Youth Gathering preferred but not required. 

4. Excellent organizational and time management skills. Self-starter, able to function well without supervision and able to manage multiple tasks; aptitude for detail and problem-solving.

5. Ability to support a team of volunteers.

6. Excellent interpersonal skills: the ability to attract and work collegially and collaboratively with a diverse population to present, motivate, communicate, and engage effectively both verbally and in written form. Understanding of and ability to work collaboratively across the organization and with external constituents.

7. Comfort and skill with public speaking.

8. Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and anti-racism. Ability and experience working with multiple constituencies, including multicultural, ethnic-specific, and LGBTQIA+ communities.

9. Appreciation for, and ability to articulate, the mission, vision, and values of the ELCA and the Gathering.

10. Minimum Technical Competency: Computer knowledge that enables you to operate a Windows Computer and follow basic troubleshooting instructions. Software skills to efficiently use computer programs and applications. Ability to leverage computer knowledge and software skills to understand new software, follow process, and identify opportunities for improvement. Experience using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, etc.) preferred as well as various resources like Google Suite (Google Drive, Forms, Docs, Sheets), Slack, willingness to learn financial platforms (Workday). 

Physical

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear, use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone. This position requires sitting for long periods of time as well as driving in and around Minneapolis and moving throughout large event spaces. This position will also need to lift materials and boxes of materials. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Travel

Frequent travel by car throughout Minneapolis and surrounding areas. Valid driver’s license is required. 

Benefits

The ELCA offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, including employer paid health premiums for employees, health and dependent care FSA’s, a health savings account (HSA) with an employer contribution, life insurance, and a substantial employer contribution to 403b retirement plan (no match required). We also offer a generous paid time-off policy including 17 paid holidays. All benefits commence on your start date.

Contact

If you have questions about this job or your application, please complete this form to contact Human Resources.

Salary

Commensurate with qualifications and relevant experience.

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees and prohibit discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. As a religious organization, we reserve the right, where permitted by applicable federal and state law, to employ individuals who share and support our religious beliefs, mission, and values.