About

Communitas is a Lilly Endowment funded program engaging 20 congregations over the course of 5 years in ministry innovation with young adults (ages 23-29). 

Announced in the Fall of 2022, the program seeks to, (1) engage young adults in a process of positive transformation as a result of their improved relationships with or in congregations, (2) research, develop, and implement models for listening to the hopes, dreams, and wisdom of young adults and for empowering them to cultivate connections between their lived realities, their spirituality, and their communities, and (3) build stronger partnerships between congregations and local young community leaders and organizations serving young adults.

Participating congregations receive training in design thinking and ministry innovation from Yale Divinity School faculty and staff and subject experts from around the country. While engaging in practices of community awareness and self-reflection, congregations receive the support of a young adult coach and access to grant funds to launch innovation initiatives of their choosing, led by young adults in their congregations and communities, toward the end of partnership and community building.