Winter Greetings!

 

I pray this edition of EpiscoYouth Network News finds you warm and well. It certainly has been a long, snowy, cold winter in the north. Even those of us who are skiers and snow lovers are getting ready to move to a new season soon.

 

Since our last edition of Network News there has been a lot of activity in the world of Episcopal Youth Ministry. Many of us participated in an ecumenical continuing education event sponsored by the Ecumenical Youth Ministries Staff Team of the National Council of Christian Churches. The Episcopal group of almost 30 individuals was the third-largest denominational group at the Youth Worker Summit. You can read more about it on the EpiscoYouth blog by clicking here.

 

In January, I had the privilege of meeting with the folks in camping, conference, and retreat ministries at Camp Allen in Texas. I offered one of several keynote addresses to the Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers (ECCC) annual meeting, addressing the importance of collaboration between camps and conference centers and diocesan youth and formation staff and programs. Collaboration rather than competition was the theme. I also offered a workshop to dig a little deeper into methods for intentional formation in camping programs. I found this group to be absolutely delightful. They are poised to embrace new ways of engaging youth ministry for sure. I am feeling blessed to be able to count these folks as allies in our ever-growing network for youth ministry! Their next annual conference will take place at Camp McDowell in Alabama, January 22-27, 2012. Save the date, and join me next year!

 

The National Association for Episcopal Christian Education Directors (NAECED) held their annual conference, Tapestries, in Charlotte, North Carolina, in early February. This particular organization is truly gaining significant momentum in supporting all areas of Lifelong Christian Formation, having successfully advocated for adoption of the Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation at our last General Convention. They are working on some amazing initiatives to collaborate with a number of Episcopal institutions and organizations to increase our capacity for equipping our people for ministry in congregations. I will keep you posted on the blog and here, but I encourage you to enroll as a member and participate!

 

The deck is now clear for me to give all of my attention and energy to preparations for Episcopal Youth Event 2011. Keep reading to learn more on that topic! And don't hesitate to contact me with questions.

 

Blessings,

Bronwyn Clark Skov

Officer for Youth Ministries


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News from the PYMC

Provincial Youth Ministry Coordinators

How can we help you?

 

We can help you figure out all kinds of things about EYE, Safe Church policies and practices, training opportunities, and available resources. Please contact us with questions, suggestions, and ideas!

 

Don't know what Province you are in? Aren't sure who your coordinator is? Click here to go to the website for a map and descriptions. Click your area on the map to get information about your coordinator. Check it out!

EYE Registration Open Now!

Thru March 31, unless we reach capacity sooner . . .

 

Diocesan Registrars are busy registering youth for Episcopal Youth Event 2011. It is a process that will require many visits to complete, but our staff is standing by to answer your questions and provide logistical support. See the video invitation from the EYE Mission Planning Team youth on the Youth Ministries landing page , and find complete information on the Episcopal Youth Event pages, including answers to Frequently Asked Questions.


Office Updates

This month at the Church Center we are celebrating the decade of Young Adult and Campus Ministry under the leadership of our colleague Douglas Fenton. He will be departing the staff at the end of the month to take a call to ministry in his homeland of Canada in Vancouver, BC. Jason Sierra remains as the continuing officer and Greg Bezilla has accepted appointment as the part-time interim as we work toward filling the rather large shoes Douglas leaves behind. Please hold Douglas, Greg, and Jason in your prayers during this time of transition.

 

With this transition and other shifting forces at play in the church, officers on the Formation and Vocation Ministries Team have been working on laying new strategic plans. We recently convened a joint network meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, prior to the NAECED Conference. Members from the Provincial Coordinators for Campus Ministries (PCCM), Committee on Young Adult Ministry (CYAM), Provincial Youth Ministry Coordinators (PYMC), and Council for Lifelong Christian Formation (formerly ECCE) gathered together to share our histories, mission and ministries. There was a great spirit of support for continued collaborations. We acknowledged that there is far more overlap in our various ministries due to consolidated job descriptions across the church, and therefore, it would be a wise move to work in a more connected manner.

Scholarships

Applications are now being accepted for more than 60 scholarships available through the Episcopal Church for the 2011-2012 academic year.


Earmarked for education and schooling for Episcopalians, the scholarship money is derived from numerous trust funds that have amassed over the years.


The list of scholarships, the guidelines, the application form, and the instructions for filling out the form are available here.

For more details, check out the EpiscoYouth Blog post here.

Resources

Act Out: Empowering Youth to Heal a Hurting World

 

Awesome new modules from Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD) will help your youth ministry. These theologically sound new formation materials have been dreamed, written, piloted, and revised for use in your congregation and camping programs. They are still a work in progress as collaborators continue to revise and adapt each of the modules for creative situations. I highly recommend replacing your 30-Hour Famine program with one of these. Much as I support the mission and ministry of World Vision, we finally have our own tools that are inherently Anglican in theology and Episcopal in community. Click on the link above to learn more.

Prayers

Almighty God, give to Episcopal Relief & Development the vision of Jesus whose compassion failed not, that following His example we may bring healing to this hurting world.

 

Grant that we may know who we must be as the arms and legs of Christ in the world today, so that we shall do what we are called to do in responding and making available resources of money, skills, and persons to alleviate poverty, famine, and disaster.

 

We thank you for the many generous souls who give of their abundance and pray that many others may join them in responding to the needs, hopes, and concerns of the world through Episcopal Relief & Development.

 

Set us at tasks to risk the Gospel in all places where you lead us, through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.
 

 - Prayer for Episcopal Relief & Development by the Right Reverend Robert Gould Tharp, Former Chairman of the Board

 

ERD Sunday is the first Sunday in Lent, March 13, 2011. Click here for their Lenten Resources




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