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Dear Friends,

It has been such a gift to work with you over the last four and a half years. As I leave this position to return to school this fall, I will continue to celebrate your ministry with young adults, rejoicing as you raise up leaders for God’s work of reconciliation and healing in our world, just as you raised me up over these last years. Please know that your work is a source of hope for many across this church, and its fruits are visible and abundant.

My understanding is that there has been an overwhelming response to the open position and the staff is working to discern which applicants will move forward in the hiring process. While there is funding for only one position, we hope the process of discerning a call to churchwide leadership (even if it is not through the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society) will be beneficial to many. I invite us all to hold those involved in the search process in prayer.

In the meantime, please know that the Formation and Vocation Ministries team is here to support you. Team leader Bronwyn Clark Skov and associate Valerie Harris will make sure you get connected to the right people to get the resources you need. And, as always, look to your own colleagues in leadership through the Provincial Coordinators for Campus Ministry and the Young Adult Ministry Council.

Thank you all for your support, your friendship, your inspiration, and your incredible work. Until our paths cross again!

Paz y Fuego,
Jason Sierra

P.S. from Bronwyn: Please join me in prayers of gratitude for the more than 90 individuals who offered themselves for the open position for Young Adult and Campus Ministries. Our Human Resources department has moved us to the second phase of the application process, and we are prepping for the first wave of phone interviews. Please continue your prayers for all those still in the process, and for those no longer being considered for the position. The church is blessed with the energy and commitment to ministry with young adults evidenced in this process.

Campus Ministry Grants

The Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministries is excited to report a record number of applications for Campus Ministries Grants this year. In total, we received 64 applications requesting $1.5 million.

Of the 64 applications, 38 are for leadership grants to establish a new, restore a dormant, or reenergize a current campus ministry. Grants in this category will range from $20,000 to $30,000 for a two-year period. Leadership grants reflecting the same amount will be considered for future academic years in this triennium.

There are 26 applications for innovation grants to provide seed money to assist in the start-up of new, innovative campus ministries or to enhance a current program. These grants will range from $3,000 to $5,000.

These grant proposals are from dioceses, parishes or community college/college/university campuses for new as well as current campus ministries in higher education institutions in The Episcopal Church.

With just $100,000 available in funding for this year ($300,000 for the triennium), the grants committee will have some difficult decisions to make in the coming weeks.

Stay tuned as this award process unfolds and grant recipients are announced.

Clearly the Spirit is alive and well and stirring creative ideas across the church on and near college campuses!

EcoJustice Immersion Experience for Young Adults

Water and the West

November 1-3, 2013

Cathedral Ridge, Woodland Park, Colorado

$200 registration fee

More information here.

Click here to register.

Registration closes October 4.

Please keep an eye on the Facebook page, the blog and the website for updates regarding events, opportunities and resources for young adults, students, chaplains and young adult ministers.

If you would like to get the word out about something going on in your ministry or region that might be of interest to the wider network, please send it to Valerie Harris.

We give thanks for all those that made the Episcopal portion of the Shared Space event in Chicago last June a success! We will keep you posted regarding upcoming events for young adult and campus ministers and student/young adult gatherings.

Young Adult/Campus Ministry Database

We are now updating the online listing of Campus and Young Adult Ministries across The Episcopal Church.

If you are a leader in either a Young Adult or Campus Ministry community, please check your listing here and send us any changes via the online registration form. If your ministry is not already listed, please send use the registration form to submit your information for inclusion.