Advocacy & Witness Fellows share highlights of their efforts on Capitol Hill and at the United Nations

LOUISVILLE — During their final week serving in the Advocacy & Witness ministries, 15 Fellows — by far the largest crop of summertime volunteers working in the PC(USA)’s Office of Public Witness and Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations — talked about some of the highlights of the work they’ve put in.

“Every summer, I have a front-row seat to watching young adults discover that they have something meaningful to offer the church and the world,” said Ivy Lopedito, OPW’s Associate for Young Adult Advocacy and Constituent Engagement. “They arrive with questions, passions and sometimes uncertainty about where they fit. Over the course of the fellowship, they grow not only in their understanding of advocacy and public witness, but also in their confidence.”

“They begin to see themselves as leaders, advocates and people called by God to participate in the work of justice,” Lopedito said. “That transformation is one of the most rewarding parts of my ministry.”

Grace Kromke, who led the team of Fellows, said this summer she “unexpectedly” got to do young adult visioning work with Lopedito and her colleague, the Rev. Christina Cosby, as well as the PC(USA)’s Advocacy Director, the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins. “Young adults contribute to the life and spirit of the church,” Kromke said. “I have such hope for the church after seeing the work these Fellows have done,” adding that “movements aren’t built alone and change doesn’t happen overnight.”

Among those presenting during a Monday gathering:

• Erica Mayo did research work that helped guide the work of the Reformed Identity Around the World Committee of the 227^th General Assembly. Part of Mayo’s work included immigration advocacy, “working to help Christians not shy away from this work. … This fellowship gave me a great opportunity to work with like-minded individuals,” Mayo said.
• Hank Royal proofread presentations to a pair of GA committees and worked on immigration reform with staff members of U.S. Senator Tom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina. “It’s been a productive summer,” Royal said.
• Cole Norgaarden, a student at the Yale Divinity School and an inquirer for ministry in the PC(USA), researched nuclear weapons policy and attended calls with the People Over the Pentagon coalition. “I gained a better grasp of the social witness policy of the church, and I learned from our partners as well,” Norgaarden said.
• Serena Dowling attended the 70^th Commission on the Status of Women and helped put together the upcoming fair trade for working families webinar. Dowling also contributed to the 2026 Presbyterian Issues Guide, which will be available soon. “When you cast a ballot,” Dowling said, “you’re voting for your community as a whole.” 

Hawkins called the many contributions of the Fellows “an intimate part of the work we do.”

“Every church I know wants more young adults,” Hawkins said. “These young adults talk about their awakening and the relationship between faith and advocacy, being witnesses for Christ in the public arena.” The work this summer “has opened their eyes to the levels of engagement the church is having in the world.”

“We know for young adults a primary focus is justice, and they are very concerned about advocacy,” Hawkins said. “They don’t just do grunt work. They do research, and the level of work they do enhances our work.”

Hawkins said he hopes “we can find ways to recommit to our young adults,” a message that resonated with Lopedito.

“The fellowship reminds me every year that formation happens in community,” she said. “When young adults are trusted with real responsibility, surrounded by mentors and given space to reflect on where faith intersects with public life, they often discover callings they hadn’t imagined for themselves.”

“Watching former Fellows go on to serve in ministry, public policy, healthcare and other fields reminds me that this program is about much more than eight weeks. It’s about helping cultivate leaders who will continue bearing witness to God’s justice and love wherever they are called.”