The Johnson Intern Program - In Transition

Watson A. Bowes, Johnson Intern Program Board Chair

The Johnson Intern Program at the Chapel of the Cross is one of seven similar programs in the Episcopal Church in the U.S. These programs have evolved to provide young adults a post-baccalaureate opportunity for vocational discernment and spiritual formation. The program was established in 1999, at which time, the vestry approved three years of financial support from a portion of the bequest of the late Margaret Johnson, for whom the program is named.

The program combines spiritual study, social ministry, and living in Christian community. Spiritual study involves courses in the religion departments at University of North Carolina and Duke University and participation in several structured retreats throughout the year. Social ministry is achieved in each intern's employment by one of several community-based social service agencies. Finally, the interns live together in a residential home in the community, in which they come together for meals, prayer, and theological reflection. Also they are involved in the life of the parish in several ways: teaching in the church school, serving in the choir and as lay readers, assisting in a number of ad hoc parish projects, speaking to various groups in the parish about their social ministry, and participating in parish foyer dinner groups. Importantly, the program has effectively expanded the commitment of the Chapel of the Cross to Christian social ministry in our community through its support of the work of the young adults in the program.

During the current year, leadership training for the interns was added to enhance skills in professional public and community service.This was accomplished by collaboration with Public Allies of Durham, an AmeriCorps program that involves young adults from various ethnic, racial, cultural, and social backgrounds. Public Allies and Johnson Interns met together each Friday for leadership training provided by leaders from the Public Allies and Johnson Intern programs.

Eighteen young adults have completed the Johnson Intern Program. Several are pursuing calls to religious vocations, some have continued working in community service agencies, and others are in graduate study programs.

The annual cost of the Johnson Intern Program is approximately $125,000. The program is supported by funds from several sources: payments from the social service agencies that employ the interns, foundation grants, and individual contributions. To reach its goal of becoming financially independent, the Johnson Intern Program is in the process of establishing tax-exempt status as a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit corporation that will function under the supervision of an independent board of directors while maintaining an association with the Chapel of the Cross.

Throughout 2003-2004, extensive efforts were made to secure funding for all or portions of the program from various foundations, agencies, and institutions. By mid-May, these efforts had not been successful; therefore, the vestry, at its meeting on May 13, concurred with the recommendation of the Johnson Intern Board to suspend the program for the year 2004-2005 and to reevaluate the parish's ministry to young adults in the planning process. After this decision was made by the vestry, additional funding became available from several foundations to continue the program for 2004-2005. However, applicants to the program, who had been notified about the decision to suspend the program, accepted positions elsewhere. Applications for positions in the program for 2004-2005 were reopened in June with the stipulation that, if at least three suitable applicants had not been recruited by August 1, the program would be suspended for 2004-2005 in accordance with the decision of the vestry at its meeting on May 13. Unfortunately it was not possible to recruit the minimum number of interns in the allotted time. Therefore, the program will be suspended for the upcoming academic year, with a view to reopening it for the 2005-2006 academic year.