FAQ
The residency is designed for young adults ages 18–30 who desire to grow in their relationship with Jesus and be equipped to serve the Church. It is a good fit for those considering vocational ministry, as well as those who want to be faithful Christian leaders in the workplace, the Church, or everyday life.
No. The residency is not only for people pursuing full-time church ministry. Some residents may be discerning a call to vocational ministry, while others may be preparing to serve God through lay leadership, their workplace, or other areas of life. The goal is to help each resident grow in clarity, confidence, and purpose for whatever context God calls them into.
Residents will leave the program with a deeper understanding of their God-given identity, passions, strengths, and gifts. They will also gain practical ministry experience, pastoral and theological training, spiritual coaching, and greater clarity about how they are called to live missionally and lead faithfully in the next season of life.
The residency is built around three main areas:
Personal formation: growing in identity, character, spiritual health, and life with God.
Practical experience: serving in real ministry contexts and learning through hands-on leadership.
Pastoral education: receiving classroom-style training in areas such as discipleship, leadership, pastoral care, administration, preaching and teaching, and the mission of the Church.
The Emerging Leaders Residency is a year-long program. The 2026/2027 residency begins on August 11, 2026 and will conclude in July, 2026.
Residents should expect to commit approximately 20–25 hours per week. This includes ministry placement hours, formation and education time, coaching, meetings, and participation in key church-wide events. You may have work, school or other commitments outside of the ELR program, but you must be available to attend all ELR commitments each week.
Yes! Residents receive a monthly stipend of $1,000. Additional housing assistance of $500 per month is also available.
You may choose your own housing, or we are happy to help place you in a host home.
Residents will be placed in ministry environments at Cornerstone Boulder where they can serve, learn, and grow through hands-on experience. Depending on placement, this may include weekly ministry programming, Sunday ministry involvement, event planning, administration, communication, discipleship, hospitality, teaching opportunities, retreats, camps, and other church-wide ministry experiences.
Yes. Residents will serve in a ministry placement where they can contribute meaningfully while receiving coaching and development. Placement will be based on the needs of the church, the resident’s gifts and interests, and the discernment of the residency leadership.
A strong applicant is someone who loves Jesus, wants to grow, and desires to serve the Church. They do not need to have everything figured out. The residency is designed for emerging leaders who are open to learning, growing, being coached, and stepping into meaningful responsibility.
That is exactly the kind of season this residency is designed for. The program helps residents discern how God has shaped them and how they might faithfully serve in the next season of life—whether in vocational ministry, the workplace, or everyday leadership.
Applications for the 2026/2027 Emerging Leaders Residency are due by July 1, 2026.
The 2026/2027 residency begins on August 11, 2026.
You can apply by completing the Emerging Leaders Residency application. Once your application is submitted, our team will review it and follow up with next steps, which includes a personal interview.
