FAQ's
Here are responses to some of the most frequently asked questions we receive each year.
If you don't see an answer to something you're wondering about, email us.
Who Should Apply for an ESC Year?
No, you do not have to be Episcopalian to serve with ESC. Some programs may give preference to Episcopalian and/or Christian applicants, but all are open to people from diverse faith backgrounds. However, all Corps members need to be open to attending Episcopal services, praying, and discussing God/faith/spirituality. Each program's website can answer this question more fully.
Lawrence House, Jubilee Year, Sacred Ground and Plainsong Farm do not require a college degree.
Generally, ESC programs require Corps members to be 21-32 years old. A few programs offer positions to people as young as 19 years old on a case by case basis.
No. ESC service is a full-time commitment.
Absolutely.
Each corps member brings their own religious experiences and spiritual understandings to their community. ESC believes that growth stems from taking the time to deeply engage with big questions. ESC offers a range of tools and practices for you to explore your faith further.
We love children in ESC but regretfully are not able to accommodate anyone younger than 19 in our communities.
Many of our programs welcome partners in a committed relationship. Email us to find out more.
Applying to ESC
Though all programs share a common application, you may apply to up to five programs and will be asked to rank your top three. Applicants frequently choose to apply to fewer. As in the Episcopal Church itself, there is considerable diversity in how each program lives out community and mission.
We believe that the support offered by the ESC community is extraordinary and unmatched by any AmeriCorps program. Corps members not only have their house community that offers emotional and spiritual support, but also are connected to ESC supporters (churches, nonprofits, diocese, and individuals) that donate their time and resources to mentor and advise corps members during their year of service.
Yes.
Vocational discernment is at the heart of ESC's mission. As a Corps member, you are particularly well situated to discern a religious calling. Additionally, ESC believes that vocation is found both inside and outside the Church. All corps members are encouraged to explore the question: Who and what am I called to be?
Yes.
Many Corps members use their year of service to apply to grad school. Most ESC programs conclude in June and July (Plainsong Farm is the one exception. Their year runs January to November.) This allows for an easy transition into the academic year. Your ESC experience, at your service site and beyond, will help to clarify your career interests.
Once you've submitted an application, local Program Directors will reach out to you to set up an interview. This shouldn't be a nerve-wracking experience. Consider these more as discernment conversations. We're here to help you figure out if an ESC Year is right for you and which program may best match your interests. Read more about the application process here.
Finances
First and foremost, ESC is concerned with the health and safety of its Corps members. We do everything we can to provide Corps members with all that they need to live during their year of service. Barring outstanding circumstances (e.g. credit card debt, car payments, financially supporting a loved one), Corps members have no need of additional income.
All ESC programs provide housing (a house or apartment to share with other members of their program), grocery stipend, transportation, health coverage, and small personal stipend which varies by program. Providing Corps members with the these items allows them to focus on their service and their community without worrying about their necessities.
There are a variety of options available to Corps members, including income-driven repayment plans & the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLFP) for those with federal direct student loan debt. There are also deferment or forbearance options, in addition to standard repayment plans. Individual programs can provide more information on these financial/practical arrangements.
If you have private loans, you’ll need to talk with your lender about repayment options. If you have a co-signer on any loan, it’s also important to discuss any loan repayment plans with your co-signer.
Several ESC programs offer an end of the year bonus. You'll want to ask program directors about this when you talk to them.
What is an ESC Year like?
Corps members are young adults with a wide variety of interests and goals. ESC promotes a balance of work, rest, social interaction, and deep reflection. Most Corps members serve normal office hours, and all programs require dedicated, intentional time with the ESC community. Outside of this, most evenings and weekends are your own time.
In ESC, intentional community is an attempt to live out our call to become Beloved Community. At the beginning of the year, each program develops a "Rule of Life" or community covenant in order to structure deeper relationships with one another through practices of shared meals, prayers, and lives. Intentional community is counter-cultural, and, in some ways, monastic.
ESC alumni contribute their gifts in a wide array of fields such as nonprofit, law, healthcare, advocacy, the arts, government, and religion. Service inevitably deepens a person's understanding of themself and their call. In the words of theologian Frederick Buechner, call is "the point at which our deepest gladness meets the world's deepest need."
