centering students in and around New Haven, CT
& welcoming all young adults (18-35 years old)
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we seek to better understand ourselves, the world, and the divine.
we welcome the asking of "heretical" questions and the sharing of diverse experiences.
we work to affirm one another's belovedness at every gathering.
we delight in the parts of you that may have been unwelcome other places.
we believe in building a community that meets us exactly where we are.
we act to put our faith and understanding of love into practice in the world.
we desire to be accountable to one another as we
"seek justice, practice kindness, journey humbly" (micah 6:8).
we meet in the basement of a LGBTQIA+-affirming, justice-seeking United Methodist Church.
monthly gatherings! mark your calendars!
monthly gatherings! mark your calendars!
Join us for community dinner!
Join us for community dinner!
Every second Wednesday of the month!
Upcoming: March 11th, April 8th, May 13th
upcoming special gathering!
upcoming special gathering!
Dance workshop on March 28th!
Contact Improvisation is a dance form that emerged in the 1970s. It explores spontaneous movement through touch and weight-sharing. It is so much fun!
This workshop is open to people of all levels of dance experience, from none at all to many years of dance. The workshop is open to folks of all ages. However, please note that the building is not ADA accessible. Although this workshop is hosted at a church, people of all backgrounds are encouraged to join.
The one-hour workshop will be led by Stephanie Roston (MAR ’26), a professional dancer and student at Yale Divinity School. Bailey Regan (MDIV ’27) and Charissa Lee (MDIV ’26) will be teaching assistants. A contact improv dance jam will follow with live music.
Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026
Time: 12-2pm
Location: 425 College St (First and Summerfield UMC)
Eligibility: all/no experience in dance; ages 5+
Registration link: https://forms.gle/GncTgvda69WKbDXw9
Sponsored by the beloved community at FSUMC. Email questions to charissa.lee@yale.edu.
upcoming special gathering!
upcoming special gathering!
For Easter on April 5th!
Interested in a space to wrestle with how to put your faith into action in responding to social concerns? We're gauging interest for this gathering!
Contact belovedcollective425@gmail.com with any questions or to express interest! We'd love to hear from you about what kinds of gatherings would serve you.
Our first proposed faith in action working group would be March 25th. We could discuss, pray about, and take any action around the No Kings protest planned for March 28th.
Interested in an intergenerational LGBTQIA+ affinity group / spiritual community? We're gauging interest for this gathering!
Contact belovedcollective425@gmail.com with any questions or to express interest! We'd love to hear from you about what kinds of gatherings would serve you.
Our first proposed intergenerational LGBTQ+ affinity group gathering would be April 15th.
connect with a chaplain!
connect with a chaplain!
Abby Langford (she/her) is our current student chaplain. She has worked with the campus ministry out of First & Summerfield UMC (previously Yale Progressive Christian Students) since 2018, when she began college at Yale. She is about to graduate with her M.Div. from Yale Divinity School and has been excited to spend her last year dreaming up a way for this ministry to serve young adults across the greater New Haven area while still centering students and following how God is moving and calling the local church and United Methodist connection to respond to community needs.
Abby laughs loudly, loves to take walks, and works to listen well. This ministry has been a place for her to wrestle with hard questions, and she would be delighted to treat you to coffee/tea and hear what is on your heart and how it is with your soul, or talk about anything at all. Reach her at belovedcollective425@gmail.com.
The pastor of First & Summerfield UMC is also always happy to meet and be a first point of introduction to this ministry. You can contact Rev. Jamie Michaels at jamiedmichaels@gmail.com.
history:
history:
Located right across the street from Yale University and in close proximity to many other institutions of higher learning, First & Summerfield United Methodist Church has long been a community where younger generations learn about and shape the Christian tradition.
In 2018, Yale students at First & Summerfield UMC began meeting over pizza to explore their spirituality and faith in community. Those young adults began an affirming, justice-centered Yale-wide campus ministry called Yale Progressive Christian Students. The church provided pizza, resources, mentorship, and pastoral care. Yale Progressive Christian Students is now a student organization at Yale Divinity School open to all students.
Beginning in 2025, young adults studying at other universities and also working as professionals began to meet at First & Summerfield again to deepen relationships and be in community around questions about the divine and our faith. We asked one another, "How is it with your soul?" We welcome you to join us as we gather as a collective of beloveds working to affirm one another's belovedness and to understand how to draw nearer to love in our spiritual journey and act with love in the world. While our student chaplain plans gatherings rooted in Methodist spiritual practices, we are an interdenominational group, welcoming of all traditions and relationships with Christianity.
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