A New Year

Many blessings this Epiphany season! We pray that you are surrounded by peace and joy as we begin another year.

This year promises many opportunities for young adults to engage in the incredible work we do together as the Episcopal Church. Not only are all invited to the Young Adult Festival at General Convention this summer, but the Episcopal Leadership Institute for Young Adults will continue to engage up-and-coming leaders in the work of justice through short term immersion events throughout the year. We'll be offering opportunities for young adults to participate and learn from the work of Episcopal Relief & Development, Episcopal Migration Ministries, Integrity, American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, the Office for Black Ministries and many others. So keep an eye out for these great opportunities.

We also hope this year will be an opportunity for strengthening the connections between dioceses, parishes, and ministries within our network through resource sharing, topical and regional conversations, and by highlighting the good and innovative work being done across the church. The survey launched last month is a start to that work and we hope you'll take the time to fill it out. We'll also be pulling out some older resources for revision (like the three at the bottom of this email) and want your feedback on how we might improve on them and make them more useful in the year ahead. On top of that we hope to convene the best and brightest in our networks to begin strategizing as to how we can best address some systemic needs, such as mentor and minister training, peer ministry and  leadership development, and broader opportunities for young adults to discern their ministry callings.

Like we said, it's going to be a busy year! But we couldn't be more excited to be engaging the challenges and opportunities ahead together. Please remember we are here to serve and empower you in your ministry and give thanks for the work you do.

Keep up to date on the latest happenings and connect with other young adults and ministers via our Facebook page.

Refugee Resettlement in America: Apply by 1/15

March 25-30 in Atlanta, GA

Spend six days with Episcopal Migration Ministries and young adults from across the Episcopal Church as we explore the theology, logistics and community support necessary to resettle the refugees in our midst. One of only nine agencies that work with the US Department of State to resettle refugees in communities across the country, EMM is one of the largest ministries of the Episcopal Church and a statement to the world about our denomination’s commitment to welcoming the stranger, sheltering those in danger, and learning to be neighbors all over again. This event is part of the Episcopal Leadership Institute for Young Adults. Applications due January 15. >>


Survey wraps up January 15

Young Adult and Campus Ministries needs your input!

Our survey of young adults, students and all those who minister to them will be wrapping up in only two weeks. Make sure your voice is part of the conversation. The more input we get the better we can respond to your needs and hopes for our common work together. Don't miss this opportunity! >>


Young Adult Festival at General Convention Registration Now Open!

July 5-10 in Indianapolis, IN

Join young adults (18-30 years old) and thousands of Episcopalians and Anglicans from around the world for the first five days of General Convention 2012. This triennial event provides a fantastic opportunity to explore how our church operates and to meet Episcopalians from many walks of life through fellowship, worship, intro sessions, workshops, and plenty of networking opportunities. This year you can also apply to spend your experience getting an inside look at some of the biggest and most successful organizations of our church. Early registration closes April 15. Space is limited so sign up today! >>


Mentors Needed

Young Adults often speak of the need for mentoring relationships: in work, in school, in parenting, or in their lives of faith. This year we will be working to empower the church at all levels to better mentor the young adults in our midst as well as those in the communities that surround us. If you have models or tools for training mentors or would like to help develop or host a pilot program in your parish or diocese in the coming year, we invite you to contact us and join the conversation. In the meantime, check out Episcopal Generations'  conversation on "Mentoring Leadership Across Generations " throughout the month of January.




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