How can we help?
One of the main goals of Diocesan Youth Ministry is to support and encourage the ministry happening for youth in each of our congregations. What happens week-to-week is vital!
To accomplish this, we offer the following services:
1. Consultations: We will come to your congregation and meet with clergy, youth leaders, vestry members, or youth committees to assist in developing a vision for youth ministry and a realistic plan to impliment that vision. Or we can help catalyze youth ministry by coming to a Sunday worship to preach or speak - and it's even more powerful when we bring youth to help with the sermon or do a Gospel drama. We can also help your church to hire a youth missioner, develop policies, plan a mission trip and much more. Just ask!
2. Resources: Come and check out our library. Also, materials on J2A and Rite 13 (Journey to Adulthood), confirmation, and Christian education classes are available at the Diocesan Resource center for Lifelong Learning.
3. Support and train leaders: Call us with questions, ask us to train your leaders, or come to a Diocesan Youth event and take advantage of the networking, support and training. Also, make sure to take the Safe Church Training course.
We want to support your ministry to youth!
Permission slip for churches to use
Here's a permission slip you can use when you take teens from your church on trips. It's better to have a separate permission slip for each trip, but the simpler option is to just have one. It's important because in an emergency it tells you how to reach parents and allows medical treatment.
Safe Church Training
Adults who regularly work with youth outside of the Sunday school setting, and all church employees, should take Safe Church Training.
There are two parts to the course: the “Preventing Child Abuse” portion is for everyone and the “Adult Sexual Misconduct in Pastoral Settings” portion is geared to employees. The “Child” portion takes about three hours. In it you'll learn about recognizing and preventing child abuse.
The course is offered by our Diocese several times each year. Find out more and see a calendar for training here or contact Martha Hughes.
J2A and Rite 13: Journey to Adulthood
These are curricula for Sunday School/youth group programs for teenagers. Journey to Adulthood (nicknamed J2A) is both the umbrella name for all the programs, and the title of the programs geared to youth aged 14-15. Rite 13 is the program for 12 and 13 year olds, and the ceremony in which they are recognized by their congregations. Confused yet?The programs are great! They're used by many large and tiny congregations in our Diocese. Check out the web site at www.leaderresouces.org
For info on how to contact other leaders, and for a look at the wonderful materials, contact Elizabeth Ring at the Diocesan Resource Center.
