Lutheran Volunteer Corps (LVC) offers its legacy program — a one-year service experience — and starting in 2020, Flex Semesters with virtual volunteering. It’s for people interested in social justice work, careers, and values.  LVCers are motivated to explore justice work while living in intentional community with others if serving a year, or virtually.  Together fellows explore the intersection of spirituality, simple and sustainable living, anti-racism/anti-oppression towards a strengthened leadership skillset — as part of leadership development and values to live by.

LVC was founded in 1979 by Luther Place Memorial Church in Washington, DC . Since its beginning, Lutheran Volunteer Corps has matched over 2,700 volunteers with social service organizations in thirteen cities across the country.

An LVC service experience can be defined in many ways: an opportunity to develop real-world skills through hands-on experience; an altruistic activity where a person gives for the benefit of another; time given to improve the quality of life for those served and the greater good… However you define it, each service program and experience is different.  The LVC program provides a unique experience unparalleled by other programs, with the following benefits:

• For people with a strong need to make positive change in communities, countries, or across the globe — entree into a social justice organization is an entree to understanding how nonprofits, advocacy, communities, and citizens interact and advance behind the scenes and front facing.
• Opportunity to respond to a social justice calling, or learn more about social justice work, without needing prior experience.
• Valuable building of employment-related skills for work after service.
• Unique training/development around broad social justice topics and anti-racism/anti-oppression necessary for leadership competence.
• Experience practicing the values of living with others in intentional community (commitment to supporting one another in daily living), simply and sustainably (intentionally using few resources).
• Immediate ways to serve in leadership capacities with LVC after the service year, as mentors to house communities, on local support networks, and on national advisory networks.

The skill and development over the LVC service experience catapults full-time work preparedness; and instills values-based leadership principles for contribution to public and private life.

For the year program — As a “community” of four to seven individuals living in a house together, fellows meet for community business and fun once a week. Each community also meets together for spirituality and faith dialogue. Communities decide together how to handle finances, when to meet, how to make decisions, how to resolve conflict, and who is responsible for which household tasks. Through these conversations and activities, the household becomes a support system–an intentional community. Together, communities are able to cope with the challenges as well as celebrate the joys of the fellowship year.

LVC provides for basic needs so that fellows can live out their passion in the world. In an act of solidarity and consciousness, fellows are asked to live within the personal stipend each month; but are allowed to bring their own funds into the program experience. Because intentional community takes time and energy, full-year fellows are also asked not to work for pay outside of their placement or to take classes for credit. Many fellows bring musical instruments, computers, cell phones, bikes, etc. Each fellow must ask for themselves how they would separate their “needs” from their “wants” during this year of simplicity and sustainability. 

Living simply is one of the harder challenges that the fellows face in our world of plenty. This is because living simply is much more than living on a “modest” volunteer stipend. One must also consider the use of time and resources. The LVC experience invites individuals to embrace a year of simplicity and sustainability in order to open their hearts and minds to the needs of their local and global communities.

LVC is open to people from all spiritual journeys. About one-third of fellows come from Lutheran backgrounds. Some may not identify with a particular faith or denomination. Some may be outwardly disciplined in their religious practices while others may not.

LVC requires that fellows be open to exploring and experiencing faith and spirituality with others. Each house community conversations weekly; and has a spirituality mentor who walks with house communities as they share in a faith/spiritual centered activity with one another at least once a month.   Fellows are encouraged to seek outside spiritual communities as well.

SEMINARY INTEREST:  Fellows discerning going to seminary, visit YEAR OF DISCERNMENT for LVC’s partnership program with the Metropolitan Washington DC Synod of the ELCA. While participating in the LVC service year, fellows can join this discernment program hosted by the DC Synod to meet with others discerning their ministry walk, whether your journey ends up as a call to pastor in an ELCA church, or other way to serve in the world. 

Founded in 1979 as a ministry of Luther Place Memorial Church, and sustained and nurtured by that congregation, Lutheran Volunteer Corps today is steeped in Lutheran traditions and theology — evidenced by the values of living in intentional community simply and sustainably — while being open to persons of all faith traditions. It is the intent of Lutheran Volunteer Corps to maintain affiliation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), as well as other service year programs. On this firm foundation Lutheran Volunteer Corps continues to grow and serve the community.

Recently about one-third of fellows are Lutheran, one-third are from other Christian denominations and the last one-third come from a variety of other religious and spiritual traditions, and atheism or agnosticism. LVC is also not under the authority of any particular church organization and is governed by an independent, national board of directors.

Check out our primer “About the ‘L’ in LVC” for more info about Lutheranism, and the role of Lutheran theology and practice within LVC.

LVC’s Journey to an Inclusive Community stands out as an aspect that sets LVC apart. This emphasis means that an intentional part of the program is deeply exploring racism and other forms of oppression as a foundation for social justice, as well as ensuring that placements and LVC houses are not only open, but affirming of LGBTQ persons in all aspects of life and work.

Additionally, LVC has long been known as a program that provides a year of service in a larger context of support and reflection.

LVC now offers virtual service, as part of its 40th Anniversary re-invention, to accommodate a variety of service needs.

LVC provides layers of support to fellows living in program cities.

• Each LVC house has mentors — many who are LVC alumni — who meet with house communities monthly to discuss community and spirituality issues throughout the year.  
• Support congregations are faith institutions, mostly churches, that adopt an LVC house, pack-the-pantry at the year start, and might host events, parties, and check in over the year.
• Local support networks are mostly alumni but also strong supporters, who connect you with local resources, local tours, respond to specific house needs, etc.
• LVC staff provide the foundation for administration, monthly program learning experiences, 3-way relationship support with Placements, and general check-ins.

LVC schedules retreats each year, providing time for Volunteers to meet with other Volunteers in their region for reflection, discussion, and recreation.  

LVC also initiated Program Days in September 2020, featuring a different social justice topic each month, hosted by LVC and facilitated by experts, researchers, and practitioners on various topics.  

 Applicants must be 21 or older and self-motivated, mature, and stable. People from all skill backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be interested in social justice work; want to grow and engage with their housemates in intentional community or cohorts around community, living simply/sustainability, exploring spirituality, and social justice; and want to expand their anti-racism/anti-oppression and broad social justice skillset by participating in leadership learning experiences throughout the year. Fellows often find themselves in new and unexpected situations, so flexibility, openness, and a sense of humor are essential.

LVC is open to persons from all spiritual traditions. LVC does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, race, creed, age, culture, disability, economic class, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation.

Because of the nature of the service and community life, applicants are requested to be in good physical and emotional health. Those in recovery from alcohol or drug abuse are requested to have a minimum of two years sobriety before applying.

Fellows are encouraged to build new skills in all ways possible, and LVC will provide opportunities to engage and lead as the priorities shift annually.  

People from all skill backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Some programs have specific skill needs (ex. spanish fluency), and others look for a bachelor’s degree (ex. nursing) or a few years of related job experience.

On average, LVC accepts 90% of those who complete the full application. LVC is about including, rather than excluding people. If you are open to being challenged and are flexible about where you will serve, then your chances for a match are very good. It’s fine to have very particular preferences about the location and type of placement site, but know that those stricter preferences may make for a more competitive matching process. Each application is carefully screened by a member of the LVC staff to make sure the applicant understands the commitments, is well motivated, and is emotionally stable.

No. LVC welcomes applications from U.S. permanent residents, international students studying in the U.S., DACA recipients and other foreign nationals within the U.S. At this time we are not able to accept applications from foreign nationals who are not currently in the United States.

• International Student Applicants:
  LVC welcomes applications from international students who are currently studying in the US, and as part of their education are living in the US.  Due to visa extension requirements issued by US State Department and Immigration Services, all international applicants are required to take the necessary steps to secure their visa extension (LVC is unable to assist with this process). Please contact your on-campus international student office for assistance and read more information about F-1/OPT next steps on the U.S. Visa Guide, or International Students and Employment.  You and your on-campus international student office should determine your eligibility, the process for participation, and steps to receive your Visa paperwork in time to start  the LVC program (please be aware that in 2019, the Visa process for our international students took 4-6 months after application to receive approval).

Yes, LVC accepts married couples and couples in committed relationships. Please submit a completed application for each individual noting your relationship, and desired LVC situation. Each applicant is accepted or denied based on their own merits. 

Due to the amount of time and energy that it takes to build intentional community, applicants with dependent children are strongly encouraged to defer their application until they no longer have dependent children.

LVC does not discriminate due to ethnicity, race, creed, age, culture, disability, economic class, gender identity, or sexual orientation. As a Reconciling in Christ organization, LVC strives to be actively welcoming and supportive of fellows who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.  Our culture of acceptance supports our “Journey to an Inclusive Community,” and we ask that our placements join us in this effort.

LVC does not discriminate due to ethnicity, race, creed, age, culture, disability, economic class, gender identity, or sexual orientation. More importantly, our “Journey to an Inclusive Community” (JIC) means we seek to actively identify, recruit, welcome and include People of Color — and seek to increase representation within our program, staff, board, support networks, and placements.

Fellows serve within their communities to tackle challenges in dozens of areas including education, public safety, human needs, and the environment. Each placement organization must provide a substantive and meaningful service experience and must be broadly committed to goals of social justice. Many programs offer the opportunity for hands-on direct service. Others help coordinate, develop and manage projects by fundraising, recruiting volunteers, or creating systems that change communities.

Placements are varied and include schools, environmental organizations, shelters, programs for women and youth, medical and legal clinics, refugee services, public policy organizations, community organizers, senior service providers, food banks, and general social services.

LVC works with the applicant’s preferences; however, applicants need to be flexible about going where there is a need. To finalize a placement, the fellow must choose the organization and the organization must choose the fellow.

Read LVC’a placement city descriptions.

Explore a SAMPLE on LVC’s Placement Position Directory.

Fellows adhere to the vacation policies of their placement organizations and are granted a minimum of two weeks vacation per year if they serve with the year program. 

The schedule at your placement depends on the position description. Most follow a 40-hour week with weekends off; however, some positions require some evening, overnight and weekend hours.

Fellows live in low to middle income, racially diverse communities with two to eight roommates. When deciding upon the location of each house, local supporters and staff consider many different factors including access to public transportation, proximity to work sites, and safety.

Fellows often share bedrooms, but in some cases have their own rooms. Homes are adequately but simply furnished with donated kitchen supplies and furniture. Fellows are required to bring their bedding and personal items.  Some houses are fairly new, while others are quite old.

As in any city, crime happens in LVC placement cities. Fellows are encouraged to explore the cities they live in and get to know their neighbors. Fellows’ most common experiences with crime are petty thefts of things like technology and bikes.

There are some built-in safety factors. For example, fellows discuss personal safety during their national and local orientations as part of covenant building. Additionally, living in community means that someone in the community will more likely be around. Local Support Networks and alumni are neighborhood resources as well.

For many, the LVC experience is the beginning of a life-long commitment to working for justice and peace. About ten percent decide to do a second year of LVC, many of whom stay at their placement organization. In 2020, about 28% continued on as salaried employees at their placements. Some seek out positions at similar social justice-minded organizations. Some take positions in the private sector or government and gain new perspectives on complex issues. Last, several LVCers go on to graduate school to pursue careers of service (social work, education, law, medicine, ministry).

In general, all gain valuable work and life experience that is well respected and helpful in whatever they choose to do next.