- For Ministry Sites and Young Fellows growing creation care, climate justice and love of neighbor
- Seeking Ministry Sites within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
- Summer Fellows between ages 16-26
- Grants for $3000 per ministry ($2500 for Fellow and 500 support)
- Deadline for Collaborative Application is March 16th, 2026
The Green Chalice Ministry and Disciples Home Missions are hosting a cohort of Justice and Creation Fellows this summer. We will be offering grants of $3000 to DOC churches, regions, and camps (with preference given to churches). These grants aim to support the development of youth and young adult leaders (ages 16-26) engaged in the spiritual movement for creation care, climate justice, and/or social justice. A central goal of this grant program is to foster a culture of curiosity, connection, compassion and justice in faith leadership that goes beyond a focus on individual behaviors to collectively address the institutions and systems responsible for the present crises. Grants will promote a creation justice movement that recognizes and engages the root causes of injustice, climate crisis and systemic change. Priority will be given to those seeking to advance justice, creation care, and climate solutions that effectively center the needs of those most impacted by environmental degradation and the climate crisis. Ministries led by and/or serving communities that are Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color are highly encouraged to apply. First time applicants will have priority. We are seeking 12 ministry sites to join the 2026 cohort this summer.
2024/25 Ministry Sites offered fellowships to 25 young adult fellows that offered creation care leadership in ??? regions. They advocated for justice, grew communities and pollinator friendly plants, harvested hope and veggies, preserved waterways and taught faithful ways of caring for the earth and neighbors. You can learn more and see presentations HERE.
Sites from 2025 included:
- Cascade Christian Church, Grand Rapids, MI
- Cypress Creek Christian Church, Spring, TX
- Downey Ave. Christian Church, Indianapolis, IN
- First Christian Church, Fullerton, CA
- Saguaro Christian Church, Tucson, AZ
- Saint Andrew Christian Church, Olathe, KS
- South Broadway Christian Church, Denver, CO
- St. Paul’s Christian Church, Raleigh, NC
- United Campus Ministry of Greater Houston, Houston, TX
- In The Spirit Christian Church, Tulsa, OK
- Peniel Christian Church, Gresham, OR (video format)
- Fellowship Christian Church, Kansas City, KS
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I experienced God’s presence in many ways.
“Working alongside Montagnard families in the garden showed me God’s love through community and service. Caring for creation through composting and gardening reminded me of God’s renewal in the earth. I also saw God in cultural traditions like dance, language, and storytelling, which carry strength and resilience through generations.”-
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“We started a brand new Farmers Market
and expanded our garden significantly. We increased our CSA sales, pantry donations, and have two flourishing market access programs for low income, households experiencing food insecurity.”
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“I noticed God everywhere.
I didn’t expect to feel so connected to my spirituality this summer, but I felt God in the gardens, in the compassion and commitment of the congregation, and in the work that I and others were doing.”
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“I am grateful to Green Chalice for the ways God is working through this ministry.“
“Ridglea Christian Church really benefited from receiving this grant last summer. Actually, the relationship with the Young Adult Fellow is still ongoing. While still staying connected to the garden ministry, she is now teaching Worship and Wonder on Sunday mornings and is leading youth group on Sunday nights. As a mom of one of those youth, I am grateful to Green Chalice for the ways God is working through this ministry.”
Program Expectations
As part of this grant program, Green Chalice will offer discernment resources and sample Fellow application and recommendation templates to support the selection process for potential fellows.
Program expectations include:
Justice and Creation Summer Fellows
● Collaboratively create a summer intention or plan that engages the gifts of the fellow and aligns with the resources, people, context, and hopes of the ministry site.
● Complete a free online Climate Ambassador Training.
● Attend zoom orientation and training and summer closing reflection zoom gatherings – Fellows will regularly meet via Zoom to talk through summer intentions, goals and explore environmental justice and creation care as expressions of faith.
● Will be curious about their role in creation care and climate justice in your community and congregation.
● Contribute to the capacity, resilience and ministry of the local ministry being served
● Support a healthy work-life balance with the ministry site. This is a learning/serving experience, fellowships are not to be viewed as a form of cheap labor that falls below living wage standards.
● At the conclusion, collaborate on creating a report/narrative/presentation including photos/videos of your work including responses to the following- There will be a slide template to support your efforts:
- Ministry site population and size.
- Number of people impacted by the ministry and how.
- What measurable outcomes (events, lbs of food shared, policy maker visits)
- How many people participated in the Climate Ambassador Training.
- How did the congregation celebrate/communicate this program and ministry?
Justice and Creation Summer Ministry Site/Mentors
● Collaboratively create a summer intention or plan that engages the gifts of the fellow and aligns with the resources, people, context and hopes of the ministry site.
● Support a healthy, creative, safe work and ministry experience for the fellow.
● Two Zoom meetings with fellowship mentors and supervisors for initial orientation and end-of summer reflection.
● Provide ongoing support of summer intentions and plans in collaboration with fellow
● Supervisors/Mentors are encouraged to complete a free online Climate Ambassador Training designed by Blessed Tomorrow and Green Chalice.
● Support a healthy work-life balance with the fellow at your ministry site. This is a learning/ serving experience, fellowships are not to be viewed as a form of cheap labor that falls below living wage standards.
● At the conclusion, collaborate on creating a report/narrative/presentation including photos/videos of your work including responses to the questions above.
Find Application and Links Here
- Collaborative Application (filled out by Both Ministry Site and Fellow and submitted to Scott Hardin-Nieri shardinnieri@dhm.disciples.org)
- Sample Fellow Application For Ministry sites to distribute to potential fellows and
- Recommendation templates
Required Documents for Application
Ministry Site/Mentors – (to be submitted to Green Chalice)
• A letter of endorsement from a regional minister for Ministry Site/Supervisor
-A prospective or current-year budget for your organization
-501c3 or Fiscal Agent Information
Additional Documents Required for Fellowship Programs Designed for Youth Ages 16-18
• Copy of Abuse Prevention Policies (such as “Safe Church Policies”)
• Statement describing the qualifications and experience of the mentor in working with youth
For Justice and Creation Fellows (to be submitted to local ministry site)
• Two letters of recommendation for Fellow by pastor, regional minister and an additional adult teacher or mentor A sample Reference Template can be found here.
• A W-9 form to be submitted to shardinnieri@dhm.disciples.org
• If you have questions or ideas please contact Scott Hardin-Nieri at shardinnieri@dhm.disciples.org
NEXT STEPS
1. Discern if this summer is a good time to engage in locally-grown spirit-led creation care, climate justice, and/or social justice work.
2. Ministry Site (mentors) and Creation Care Fellows make a connection with one another
3. Collaborate on the Justice and Creation Fellowship Application and required forms
4. Return application and forms to shardinnieri@dhm.disciples.org by March 16, 2026
