Connect Journal: Congregational

Summer 2011 • $8.95

Congregations as Advocates for YouthCherish Our ChildrenAdvocacy Bible StudyMuch more...

Journal of Children, Youth & Family Ministry

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Appleton, Wisconsin • Minneapolis, Minnesota • Thrivent.com • 800-THRIVENT (800-847-4836)25742 R6-11

201102408

Thrivent.com

While Thrivent Financial is proud to support Lutheranism through its members and benevolent efforts, it and its affi liates are not a church or part of the Lutheran church.

Our informational workshops are: • Interactive and informal.

• Focused on stewardship—managing the resources God has entrusted to our care.

• Led at your church by your Thrivent Financial representative.

• Offered at no cost or obligation to the congregation or participants.

Workshops are available on a range of topics:• Money basics for kids and teens.

• Life events (marriage, job change).

• Basic money management (debt, credit, saving).

• Giving back.

• Investment and financial strategies.

To learn more, visit Thrivent.com/fi ndaworkshop or contact your Thrivent Financial representative.

Bring free fi nancial education workshops to your congregation

Award-winning information

Many of our more than two dozen workshops have been recognized for excellence in fi nancial literacy education (EIFLE) by the Institute for Financial Literacy.

• My Retirement Matters (2011)• College Matters (2011)• Identity Theft (2010)• Charitable Giving (2009)• More than Money Matters® (2008)

The national EIFLE award acknowledges “innovation and quality of fi nancial literacy education.”

Publication InformationPublished by: ELCA Youth Ministry Network www.elcaymnet.org

Subscription Information: call 866-ELCANET (352-2638) or visit www.elcaymnet.org [email protected]

Contributing Writers: George Baum, Christopher Bruesehoff, Nancy Going, Don Marsh, Larry Wagner, Debbie Sladek

Design and Layout: Michael Sladek Impression Media Group www.impressionmediagroup.com

Contributing Editor: Debbie Sladek

Connect Editorial Board: Chris Bruesehoff, Todd Buegler, Sue Mendenhall, Jeremy Myers, Andy Root, Debbie Sladek, Michael Sladek

The ELCA Youth Ministry Network exists to strengthen and empower adult youth ministry leaders in service to Christ as a part of God’s mission.

Julie Miller: Board MemberCharlene Rollins: Board MemberLinda Staats, AIM: Board MemberYvonne Steindal, AIM: Board Member

Valerie Taylor Samuel: Board MemeberRev. Larry Wagner: Board ChairpersonRev. Mike Ward: Board MemberTodd Buegler: Executive Director

Connected (Fall ‘11) Partnership (Winter ‘12)

Welcome! 4 Todd Buegler

Hoping For A Place Where Everyone Knows Your Name 5 Andrea Walker

Youth and Family Ministry is “Congregational” 7 Don Marsh

Effective Youth Ministry Is: Congregational 10 Larry Wagner

Congregational Bible Study 12 Christopher Bruesehoff

Congregational Youth Ministry in the ELCA: Taking the Temperature 14 Nancy Going

Congregational: A Parent’s Perspective 17 Debbie Sladek

A View From Somewhere Else 18 George Baum

Calendar of Events 19

Table of Contents

ELCA Youth Ministry Network Board

Future Connect Themes:

RENEW | EDUCATE | CONNECT

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“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:46-47

Not too terribly long ago, I was visiting a young person who was hospitalized following a car ac-cident. The accident itself had been pretty scary. Her car was it and tossed into the ditch, rolling a couple of times before coming to a stop upside-down. She was wearing her seatbelt, and her injuries, while substantial, were not life-threatening.

So I went to visit. As I approached the hospital room, I heard the sound of voices…lots of voices…and laughter, and conversation. Before I walked into the door, it opened and a nurse walked out. When she saw me, she kind of rolled her eyes and smiled. “Good luck!” she said.

Puzzled, I opened the door. I instantly knew what she meant. The room was full of young people. And by full, I mean that it was a challenge for me to walk into the room. Friends had started to gather at the hospital immediately after the accident. First in the ER waiting area, and then as this young woman’s recovery process began, in her room. “We came up in 2’s, so the hospital wouldn’t notice that we had too many people in the room” one young person told me. “Yeah…I’m sure they didn’t notice at all.” I replied, looking at the group of about 20 who were currently occupying the space.

I spent about 20 minutes with the young woman, her family and the crowd. We talked, we told stories and we prayed together, giving thanks and asking for healing.

And when I left, I thought to myself “Yeah, a hospital policy or two was probably fractured in the process; but there’s church happening in there.”

And we believe strongly that effective children, youth and family ministry is congregational. It focuses on building up these communities that God has called together. When we gather to talk, to laugh, to cry, to pray, to worship, to drink coffee together, to eat a meal, to study, to work side-by-side, to share in the sacrament, we are being a part of the mission of God in the world.

Everything else that the church does: from mission trips, to youth gatherings to Bible camps, works (or at least should work!) to build up the body of Christ as it is lived out in congregational commu-nity. It’s not about the youth group by itself (we’ve spent too many decades feeding that one-eared Mickey Mouse*); it’s not about a particular camp or event…it is about the Grace of God, the love of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit changing lives in God’s people, nested in the communities that we call congregations.

And if you’re reading this, the odds are good that you are living and working in a congregational setting. Know that your work is important. Know that your work is vital, and know that the rest of the church prays for and supports you.

Where you are and what you do…”there’s church happening there.”

God’s peace,

Rev. Todd BueglerExecutive Director – ELCA Youth Ministry NetworkPastor —Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Maple Grove, [email protected]

*If you don’t know this metaphor, well…you should! Please refer to The Godbearing Life by Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean; Upper Room Books, 1998; p. 29.

Welcome! Network News BitesThe Network is receiving proposals for Extravaganza 2012 workshops. Do you have something to share with the com-munity? We think you do! Go to www.elcaymnet.org/workshops to submit a proposal!

Nominations are now be-ing taken to fill spots on the Network’s Board of Directors. We are looking for people to help give vision and direction to the Network as we move into the future. Nominations can be made at www.elcaymnet.org/Board-NominationForm.

Did you know that Extravaganza dates and locations are set through 2015? You can check and get them on your calendar by going to www.elcaymnet.org/FutureExtravganzas.

At this year’s Extravaganza, we’ll be giving away an iPad. Join us in New Orleans to dis-cover how you might be eligible to win it!

MartinsList is looking for your good stuff! Do you have a Bible study or a resource that you have developed and would be willing to share. MartinsList is a kind of an online “co-op” for the sharing of resources and materials. Go to www.martinslist.org to find out more, and please consider submit-ting your stuff!

Thrivent Fellowships are back! Designed for people who have never been to an Extravaganza before, 54 people from all over the church will gather at this year’s Extravaganza as “tables” to learn and network together. Fel-lowship recipients will have their registration costs covered fully. Learn more at www.elcaymnet.org/networkfellowships.

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Hoping For A Place Where Everyone Knows Your Nameby Andrea Walker

It was Easter Sunday, the day we could finally unpack the Al-leluias and celebrate what God has done for us through Jesus the Christ. Everything was ready. Everyone was in place. The church was decorated in white and yellow with the altar decorated in the bold words “Victory, Victory, Victory.” The members arrived in their brightly colored outfits, the choir and organist were prepared to give glory to God with Handel’s “Alleluia Chorus” the Easter Coffee was in full swing and Courtney was in tears.

Let me rewind a bit. About a month before this crying episode I got a response to an e-mail that was sent out to all the youth of St. John’s. “Pastor, I really want to do it” wrote Courtney, a precocious sixth grader. What she was talking about was the telling of the gospel story on Palm/Passion Sunday. It has become a tradition at St. John’s that the passion narrative takes the place of a homily on this particular Sunday. In the last three years we have been practic-ing biblical storytelling—that is reciting the biblical story by heart. It has been done by me as the pastor, our intern and one of our deacons. This year we decided we wanted to extend the opportunity; that meant getting our youth involved in the telling of the Passion.

It was all part of the evolution of what has been taking place at St. John’s. The youth of St. John’s have always participated in wor-ship as acolytes, crucifers and occasionally as readers. It has also been tradition, at St. John’s that George, our Music Director, has our youth with musical abilities offer their gifts during the liturgy, but they had never put together a worship service from start to finish. As in so many congregation the reading of the gospel and preaching at St. John’s was always left in the domain of pastor or intern. On Christ the King Sunday, now known as Youth Sunday at St. John’s, that all changed.

Youth Sunday began when Ken, a young adult in the congrega-tion asked if he could organize a totally youth lead worship service. Many congregations have Youth Sunday, and St. John’s has had designated Sundays to concentrate on the issues of youth in the past, but having a totally youth lead service was something that the members of St. John’s were not accustomed. He said to me, “Pastor you are always talking about the importance of faith and passing the faith on to the next generation, but how are we to know if the faith stories or what we do in worship has meaning for young people unless they are able to demonstrate it?” It was the right question at the right time and I immediately responded with “If you can inspire the youth to work on the service and find other young adults to assist,— then go for it.”

A totally youth led service, was indeed planned and executed. The Christ the King Service was put together with young people doing every part of the service including preaching, reading, playing in-struments, singing, the Eucharistic prayer and reciting the gospel by heart. The members of the congregation were amazed that Johanna, who was at the time in the fifth grade, delivered a well-crafted hom-ily about what it means to be “king.” It was a miraculous Sunday. I, along with every one of the faithful in church that morning, was spellbound by the gift our youth blessed us with. They were capti-vating, amazing and beautiful. Tears of pride and joy filled the eyes of parents, grandparents, and many others that day.

As a pastor, I have, like so many other pastors, struggled with how to help our young people stay engaged in worship and feel comfortable with words of faith. Through Ken and others who work with the youth of St. John’s I was issued a challenge and offered their participation — certainly a gift. The challenge reminded me of what Pastors all know. At baptism water is poured, words are spoken and children are entered into the life of the church. Members of the congregation welcome them by speaking these words of invitation: “We welcome you into the body of Christ and into the mission we share: join us in giving thanks and praise to God and bearing God’s creative and redeeming word to all the world.” But we forget once the words are out of our mouths that these are living and active words. We send our children off to the nursery and our youth to participate in off-site recreational projects and to sit silently in wor-ship until they are old enough to participate in more adult ways. At least, I will confess that has been my sin. We forget that they have their own experiences with God, and have much to teach us and this is why I tell Courtney’s story.

...you are always talking about the importance of faith and passing the faith on to the next generation, but how are we to know if the faith stories or what we do in worship has meaning for young people unless they are able to demonstrate it?

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For the Sunday of the Passion, six young people volunteered to participate. Courtney, Isabella, Kristen, Dominique, Aaron and Max are all outgoing children with multiple talents. Each was given seven to nine verses from Matthew 27 11-54 to memorize. We practiced as a group the Saturday before. My question to them was did they want to stand up in front of the chancel to recite or stay at their places? They opted, because I could see that they were a little nervous, to stay in their normal Sunday seats and simply step into the aisles. Sunday arrived and one by one the youth proudly told the story of Jesus’ passion, standing up mixed in with the congregation all over the sanctuary. It had a strong, dramatic effect on worship that day; the gospel story was heard in a new way. The youth were congratulated by the congregation for their willingness to share.

Unfortunately, Courtney was unable to participate in Passion Sunday. Right after she responded to my email she found out she would be traveling to Illinois for a surprise eightieth birthday party for her grandmother. So I asked her, “how about Easter Sunday?” She gave an enthusiastic “Yes” and I gave her a section of the text for the day Matthew 28:1-10. Two weeks before Easter, I received a Facebook message (one of several ways I stay in touch with our youth) from Sarah, a senior in high school, who also asked to be a part of reciting the gospel. Sarah is a fiery and full of life red head, who for the past two years has sung the great thanksgiving during youth service. We felt confident that she could memorize verses of scripture and that she and Courtney would do well together.

Easter morning came and the sanctuary was filled to overflow-ing. Seeing the huge crowd with so many unfamiliar faces caused Courtney’s anxious tears. Her mom assured me that she still wanted to participate and she would be alright. She just needed a few minutes to get herself together. As I rounded up Sarah and Courtney to rehearse the telling of the gospel one last time before worship I whispered to Sarah, “Courtney’s nervous, encourage her.” The two of them went through their paces with minimal help from me because Sarah worked her magic on Courtney; sharing calming words of en-couragement, comfort and support as they tested the microphones

and decided where they would stand. Her matter-of-fact manner had Courtney smiling, and feeling confident. It was amazing to see her self-esteem soar with the wisdom of her older, wiser friend. Sarah assured Courtney that she would be “awesome.” Two girls of the congregation working together, helping each other, telling the story of two young women at the empty tomb and indeed, their recital of this good news was brilliant.

It was very important for Courtney to be able to accept the invitation to try biblical storytelling. It was so important that she was willing to stand and recite the gospel by heart even on Easter Sunday. She was able to do this because she feels at home in this congregation. Courtney was baptized at St. John’s along with her twin Stephanie. Stephanie is one of the youth who shares her musi-cal talents by playing trumpet in worship. St. John’s is the place, where everyone knows their name. It is a place where they and all of our youth are able to overcome nervousness and to stand up, to speak up, to proclaim because they know that no matter how nervous they get, no matter how many tears they shed, no matter if it comes out right or not the grace of God is available to them and their fellow family members within the body of Christ will accept them with open arms.

Hopefully, the love and the strength they gather in this commu-nity of faith will equip them to bear God’s creative and redeeming word to all the world.

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Youth and Family Ministry is “Congregational”by Don Marsh

I walked in the door of Augustana Lutheran Church in West St. Paul, Minnesota 14 years ago having served several congregations in what has become a 31 year career in Youth and Family Ministry. When I started we just called it Youth Ministry. I remember realizing early on that youth ministry is indeed family ministry but, in all truthfulness it took my coming to Augustana to help me realize that if Youth and Family Ministry is to be effective it needs to be congregational by which I mean it must be valued, promoted, owned and supported by the congregation.

Untold numbers of youth workers who do not realize this or who choose to view ministry from a more dated, pied piper mentality have found themselves in the wasteland of frustration, failure and burnout.

One might ask why this is so; How is it that so many youth workers and, for that matter, congregations do not seem to recog-nize the power and potential of Youth and Family Ministry being congregational?

In reality there are probably many reasons why a congregation might not embrace a congregational view of Youth and Family minis-try. As I reflect upon my career in ministry serving at churches that, in my opinion, did not embrace Youth and Family Ministry from a congregational perspective, I would have to say that I think it was a combination of a lack of knowledge, busyness and indifference that kept them from doing so.

My first couple of congregations simply did not know! How could they? No one, including myself, had ever told them! Then, some congregations are so busy doing any number of great things in other areas of ministry they simply fail to spend time thinking about youth ministry, much less allowing for the significant shift that a congre-gational view of Youth and Family Ministry might require. Finally, Indifference! That is a serious statement, but I maintain that many congregations are indeed indifferent when it comes to providing a cul-ture in which effective Youth and Family Ministry can happen. I will go even further to say that it is at times pastors and other congrega-tional leaders who undervalue the role that Youth and Family Ministry might play in the growth and health of a congregation.

In one of my previous congregations, for instance, I was informed by the senior pastor that what matters is that people hear the Word of God and experience the sacraments. All else is pretty much “frivolity”. He made sure to specifically include Youth and Family Ministry in that statement!

I knew my days were numbered at that congregation. As one who has made Youth and Family Ministry my career, I take it quite seri-ously. One of the core values of Youth and Family Ministry is that relationships matter. As the church we must be about the business of

fostering, nurturing and sustaining relationships. Many congregations could benefit from borrowing this core value from Youth Ministry.

Youth Ministry professionals know, for instance, that relation-ships ARE the ministry rather than a tool of ministry to get people to respond in a given way. We build relationships because they have intrinsic value in and of themselves rather than building them so that people will participate. We invest untold time and energy in relationships because we never know when, why or how those relationships might become the defining moment of one’s life. Youth Ministry is anything but “frivolity”. It is real, vital, street level out-reach to the inquiring spirit of young people.

Recently, our congregation has been going through a strategic planning process that has been very challenging and helpful. I am excited to see where this process leads in the next few years. The consultant who is leading us through this process was sharing some examples of successful strategies for congregational growth. Chief among these was an emphasis on “welcoming your neighbor”. He went on to explain that the young senior pastor of a mega-church in the Minneapolis was making “welcoming your neighbor” the central plank of the outreach strategy of the church. The idea is to first identify your neighbor then to build points of contact to that person. He explained that these neighbors might be those who literally live on your block or acquaintances at work or any number of other places where connections occur. The congregation is going to be training people to foster and nurture those points of common interest or contact with others.

I almost fell off my chair! I happen to know this senior pastor. I knew him many years ago in fact when he was a YOUTH WORKER! And now, after going through seminary and experiencing life in the congregation as a pastor here he is leading his congregation in an

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outreach program based firmly on building relationships: not with any expectations that they will attend church. There is no such expectation. The congregation is being trained to build relationships because that is what congregations should do. This is fantastic! We have a pastor who is lifting a core value of Youth and Family Minis-try as the focal point of outreach for the congregation.

Frivolity! I think not. Rather, this is good old fashioned relational ministry. It is the heart and soul of Youth and Family Ministry. It was the heart and soul of the ministry of Christ; and it should not surprise us that it would be the heart and soul of an effective con-gregational style of Youth and Family ministry.

In my first year of ministry at Augustana I did what I had been told to do upon beginning a new position. I maintained those programs that others deemed important or vital while at the same time observing various programs to access what changes might need to be made in order to be more effective and vibrant as a Youth and Family Ministry program.

The first area that presented itself was the Confirmation ministry. In the past Augustana had a program that was high on content and excellent teaching but lacked participation from par-ents and other lay leaders. Put another way, Augustana was a staff driven church. I suggested changes; slight at first perhaps such as bringing in 3 to 4 parents to serve as small group leaders during class sessions led by pastors. This led us to dive into a full-fledged small group Confirmation ministry that has gone through constant adjustments that have resulted in our current program in which students alternate between large group teaching sessions one week and small group ministry the next.

The key element of success to this program at Augustana was the infusion of 25 to 30 caring adults serving as small group leaders which had an immediate and dynamic impact on our Confirmation ministry.

Hot on the heels of this rather significant change I suggested that we begin a Lenten Mentoring program that had been developed by Mark Holman who, at that time, was a local youth worker. We be-gan slowly with only our 9th grade students involved but the results were so immediate and powerful that we quickly expanded Lenten Mentoring to all three grades in our program. This meant that over night we had over 100 adults who were actively involved in and supportive of our Youth and Family Ministry effort.

I could go on for pages touting the miraculous results of Lenten Mentoring at Augustana but I will share just a couple of key things that have come about. First of all, Lenten Mentoring has reached the highest levels of the leadership of this church. Each of the last 7 church council Presidents has been a Lenten Mentor. This year our Senior Pastor was asked to be a Lenten Mentor and, having no valid excuse why he could not serve, he accepted. The second benefit

comes from the number of men who have been called back into various ministries of this congregation because they were asked to be a Lenten Mentor by a young man in the Confirmation program. There is a long list of men who were basically inactive at some point in the past who have not only served as mentors but also gone on now to participate in many other areas of leadership and service at Augustana. Lenten Mentoring has become a core element of the culture at Augustana. This is what you do here! It is an honor to be asked (yes, our students must actually ask an adult to serve as their mentor) and it is an honor to serve.

Seeing all of this in our Confirmation program has then caused us to be much more inclusive of adults in all areas of Youth and Family Programming. It is quite common, for instance, for us to do a youth event and have 1/3 of the participants be adults.

From my perspective as a youth leader this changes the whole dynamic of our events and activities. We no longer experience that us against them mentality that I used to deal with back in the old days. Now, we have plenty of adult presence as well as a culture that encourages youth to step up to leadership roles rather than simply participate in our program. We hear from new members that the first difference they notice when visiting this congregation was that youth and adults just stand around and talk with one another between services and at other church functions. It is a part of the culture at Augustana now. I am told it is also quite unique. I hope that is not the case. I trust that many other congregations are ac-tively seeking and finding ways to break down the barriers between youth and adults.

In closing I want to assure you that Youth and Family Ministry at Augustana has many growth areas. While we like most of what we are doing we know we can always do things better than we currently are. As I meet other Youth Workers I am impressed with much of what is going on in their various settings. It gives me great joy and pride to be called a Director of Youth and Family Ministry because I feel like I am in such great company.

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Now, we have plenty of adult

presence as well as a culture that

encourages youth to step up to

leadership roles rather than simply

participate in our program.

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Effective Youth and Family Ministry is indeed congregational. Better yet, the good news is that any congregation can do effec-tive ministry with young people by simply learning a few skills and adopting a philosophy that values and supports a congregational approach to Youth and Family Ministry.

While admittedly some congregations may not fully embrace this and while many in leadership do not think about Youth and Family Ministry from a congregational perspective, experience has shown me that the more we can emphasize and develop pathways and con-nections between the generations, the more effective and successful we will be.

There are many barriers between generations in a faith commu-nity. Those barriers are stubborn and strong. As a congregation that seeks to be healthy and vibrant we must continually recognize and tear down these barriers. As leaders in the congregation perhaps one of or chief tasks is to constantly yet diligently push back at those things that tend to separate us.

The more we can expose every segment of the congregation and include every aspect of a it’s culture to the power and potential of Youth and Family Ministry, the better off we will be.

Once we realize that the congregation is willing to be involved in ways we may never have imagined we can literally open the flood gates and allow the gifts, talents and energy of ministry to flow into and out of our Youth and Family Ministries.

Is Youth and Family Ministry congregational? Yes it is!

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Here’s our belief:There is an amazing amount of talent,

expertise and skill within our community.

And we have all developed resources for

use in our congregations.

Many of us are willing to share those re-

sources that we have created. MartinsList

is a place to do that. Here, we can share

our work with each other...and can create

a community of mutual support in our

ministry.

It’s open source ministry.

It’s MartinsList.

open source youth ministry

www.MartinsList.org

Effective Youth Ministry Is: Congregationalby Larry Wagner

I’m the proud Dad of 3 daughters, who grew up the “fishbowl” of a parish pastor’s home, here at Ascension Lutheran Church. All 3 daughters loved our congregation’s youth ministry and were actively involved in it from the time they entered Little Lambs Sunday School at age 2 and Cherub Choir at age 2, until they graduated from high school. Greta, my middle daughter and mother of my only grandchild, Stella, values her congregational experience so much that she desperately wants to move her little family back to Thou-sand Oaks so that her daughter and her unborn child can have the same rich experience that she had!

On a week-end camping retreat with our Senior Luther League at El Capitan Sate Beach on the central coast of California, a large group of us were sitting around a camp fire, having a wonderful con-versation during our evening Bible Study. In response to a question that someone had posed for her, my daughter Kelly confessed that there were more than a few times that she felt the discomfort of be-ing a Pastor’s daughter as everyone seemed to be looking at her and watching her every action. One of the other adults on the retreat asked: “But isn’t there something good about all of that, Kelly?” She immediately understood his question and gave an enthusiastic “Yes”! She said: “I know that wherever I am in this community, there is someone nearby who is concerned about my well being and safety!” Kelly fully understood the importance and value of her congregation, her community of faith.

Almost 5 years ago, about 10 of us gathered in Houston, Texas, to more clearly define the mission and ministry of the ELCA Youth Minis-try Network. As a part of that gathering of youth ministry profession-als from many different walks of life, we also attempted to come up with some working definitions of effective youth and family ministry. One of the ten descriptors that we all agreed with, was the reality that youth and family ministry is and must be congregational.

From the moment that we receive the sign of the cross on our forehead in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we become part of something infinitely bigger than ourselves. On that day, the congregation promises to “support and pray for us in our new life in Christ” as our faith journey begins as an infant, or continues as adults.

Keeping those promises, the congregation celebrates faith mile-stones with each of us on our individual faith journeys, milestones like First Communion, Confirmation/Affirmation of Baptism, and Graduation. As we grow up in the crucible of the congregation we learn how to pray, to study, to commune, to worship with our family of faith. If children or youth find their way to our congregation with little or no parental or family support or encouragement, other adults and peers within the congregation become faith mentors to accompany these children and youth on their journey.

In the context of the congregation, spiritual gifts are identified, affirmed, and encouraged. Through Youth Groups, Bible Studies, Servant Events, and more, youth discover leadership gifts and are empowered to lead and serve. Relationships are built, trust and confidence blossom, faith grows, and a strong sense of community emerges. As individual congregations, we train up leaders for still other congregations and for the larger church that we are all part of!

Ideally, using language from “Vibrant Ministries”, “where faith is present in the home, home is church (congregation) too!” In this partnership of church and home, there is a rich potential for effec-tive youth and family ministry.

As you explore a church campus and enter a sanctuary, you can tell whether or not children and youth are valued in this place. As you read church newsletters, visit church web sites, check out youth ministry communications, you can tell whether or not this congregation places a priority on Youth and Family Ministry, and is a vital part of the larger church at the synod, regional, and national level. Is this a “Lone Ranger” program of youth ministry, a personal-ity based youth ministry, or, is it a vital, healthy congregationally “owned” and supported youth ministry?

Effective Youth and Family Ministry IS Congregational!!

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Congregational Bible Studyby Christopher Bruesehoff

Let’s pray. Uniting and empowering God, You bring us together by the power of your Holy Spirit. Help us to open our hearts to your word, help us to be moved to do your will in the world, help us to see each other as your people, working together. Amen

What does it mean to be ‘Congregational”? The easiest answer is that it has something to do with a “congregation”. So what’s that?

One definition I ran across went like this:1. a group of persons gathered for worship, prayer, etc, especially in a church or chapel 2. the act of congregating or collecting to-gether 3. a group of people, objects, etc, collected together; assemblage 4. the group of persons habitually attending a given church, chapel, etc

Definitions 1 and 4 are easily related to the churches, but I think numbers 3 gives us the most to work with here.

Tell me: • When you think of yourself in a group of people, where are you, who are they, why are you together? • If I found your name in a list people, what list would this be, who else is on this list? • Sometimes we chose to be in groups and sometimes we are put in groups by other people. What are some groups that fit into each category? What’s the difference?

Let’s read:

Acts 11:19-2619 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. 20 But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. 21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. 22 News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.” NRSV

The earliest Christian churches were born from the houses, families, and extended families that encountered the disciples of Jesus as they spread the Gospel into the world. Check out these passages for more examples:• Acts 2:46-47• Acts 5:42• Acts 16:11-15

Prayer

So...

Open Scripture

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When you assemble for worship, does it feel like you are a part of a group? How does it feel?

When your congregation gets together outside of worship what do you do? Why?

What are the benefits to being a part of a “congregation”? What are the challenges?

If you could change one thing about your congregation what would it be?

How can you help your congregation to be more congregational? Do more ministry? Spread the Gospel? Support each other in faith?

L. God, who created us and brought us to this place…

All. Bring us together again and again to learn, to worship, and to play.

L. God, who sends us from this place out into the world…

All. Help us to know that we are always united in our identity as your children.

L. God, who gave us your Son…

All. Help us to give strength to each other so we can live the life the Gospel call us to live. Amen.

Now What?

Prayer

Chrisopher Bruesehoff

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Congregational Youth Ministry in the ELCA: Taking the Temperatureby Nancy Going

Maybe you are finding it much more difficult to get the young people at your church connected into youth activities because they are so busy. Perhaps your students show the stress signs of being too busy. Maybe your parents sign up for things like confirmation for their kids but then generally opt for other activities whenever there is a conflict and their families are only at worship once or twice a month if that. Is it as if church is now in a competition for a youth’s/family’s time? And does it seem that there are so many more families and young people at your church with “issues?” From ADHD to autism to eating disorders to kids in shared custody arrangements who are traveling between two homes, the world of congregational youth ministry seems to call for a very different kind of work than it did even five years ago. It was just such a reflective conversation that launched the Center for Children Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary in 2009-2010 out test our observations and ask youth ministry leaders about the temperature of youth ministry in the ELCA.

We at Luther, wanted to produce a representative look at the state of Youth Ministry in the congregations of the ELCA as seen by Synod Youth Ministry Leaders and then by a volunteer sample of congregational youth ministers. The aim of this study was to describe the nature and outcomes of current congregational youth ministry in the Lutheran Church. You can get the full report on who we talked to and the complete survey process by contacting us at [email protected].

It could be that the depth of change that you are experiencing has you doubting yourself or your leadership or your congregation. However, all of those trends named above were a big part of what we heard. Hopefully, you already have a sense that you are encoun-tering movements are a part of larger societal trends and seismic religious shifts. On the other hand, our listening pointed us to some important realities in Lutheran congregational youth ministry and even more importantly allowed us to identify action steps that are no longer just nice ideas, but rather are essential to the future of ministry with young people in the church. We’d like to suggest the following directions to re-orient the youth ministry of your congre-gation:

1. Congregations can tend the spiritual lives of young people. When asked to name five trends that they see developing in youth ministry in their church, youth ministers named program features that work in their ministries noted that those ministries that

focused on leadership and service seem to get higher levels of in-volvement. But they also repeatedly reported spiritual hunger among young people. It should be noted however, that when youth leaders talked about “what works” they were focused the ways they keep kids involved at church, and not what addressed the spiritual hunger that they also identified. What if you were to help your congrega-tion engage youth ministry on that “spiritual hunger” instead of church activity?

2. Congregations can develop a ministry of intergenerational relationships. Many youth ministers made observations about the power of relationships for continued connection to the church, but despite of that, their comments also indicated their struggle to find ways to develop caring environments and quality relationships. Lutheran youth leaders have begun to focus their ministries in this direction. Some memorable statements were: “Congregations are possessive of kids, but not claiming them.” “Technology is changing how we do youth ministry – it is creating a different way to be rela-tional.” “Relational YM is really growing. Not about numbers, about connecting. About the importance of networking adult leaders.” It is more essential than ever before to create a web of significant adult relationships around each young person in the congregation. Only that congregational gift can give young people authentic and Christ-centered community.

3. Congregations can engage parents as apostles to their children. The interviews documented a resounding cry for engaging parents in the faith lives of their children. However, no one talked about parent or family ministry as actually happening. There was a real sense of vision here. Youth leaders desperately know that they

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need to be empowering parents and families for faith formation, but aren’t doing it and aren’t sure how to do it.

This cry clearly calls for different kinds of ministry delivery systems than we’ve been working for years. It asks for leaders in the church to stop thinking that parents and families are looking for yet another program to attend. Instead could we begin to imagine different ways to come alongside families? What if congregations began to engage more individually focused methods for reaching families today?

4. Young people can lead their congregations in becoming missional. Our interviews also produced significant reflection on the ways in which service/mission appears to engage this genera-tion of young people in powerful ways. We heard that young people would often show up for service more than any other youth activity. On the other hand, when asked about the hopes and dreams that leaders had for ministry with young people, youth ministry leaders talked about wanting to see kids involved in church or wanting young people to develop a strong faith in Jesus. But there was no mention of any desire to help youth to live into a life of service as a way of following Jesus. What if the end goals of congregational youth ministry were not for the sake of our churches but for the sake of the world? And what if we could follow our young people into that life?

5. Congregations can re-think and re-create their systems. Finally, Confirmation appears to be the big elephant in the room of ELCA youth ministry leaders. The responses survey questions about ministry with confirmation aged young people reflected almost con-stant change in curriculum, in teaching style, in teaching location hoping this or that re-arrangement will make confirmation work. The focus of the conversation was completely on the methods rather than on young people themselves. It was also most interesting to us what was NOT was said about confirmation i.e. “This is a disciple-ship process, or we focus on relational development and faith forma-tion.” The confirmation experience tends to be talked about as an exclusively educational experience and constantly tweaked as such.

And our study shows us the consequences. The collective wisdom has always been that the Lutheran church has a two-year opportunity when young people and their parents are a “captive audience.” However when asked the question, “What is the percent-age of weekly congregational involvement among confirmation aged young people?” the responses of 85% youth ministers indicated par-ticipation of less than 75%. According to this sample, only 32% of leaders could report 50% or more of their confirmation aged young people involved in the life of the congregation on a weekly basis.

Leaders throughout the church are haunted by the fact that

confirmation programs are not helping to form committed faith in many young people but they no sense that we could put this down and do another thing, or celebrate an Affirmation of Baptism supported by a different system. These ministry leaders expressed hitting lots of dead ends, and real confusion about what to do. The results of such focus on information rather than formation could well be the cause of the following quote from a high school student: “I know how many days and nights Noah was on the ark, but no one ever asked me why I believe in Jesus.” 1

In addition, youth leaders also reported that increasing numbers of young are leaving the church during high school after Confirmation. A high number of study participants reported this, and this theme is borne out in direct questions about percentage of participation. Clearly, in the minds of many youth and their parents, there is an ever growing psychological if not physical disconnect with the church when confirmation is over. Apparently Confirma-tion has become institutional touch point that currently doesn’t translate beyond itself into a life-long journey of faith. It has yet to be determined if that disconnect can be overcome in order to help the Rite itself do what it is meant to do. However, the church appears committed to confirmation even in the face of its apparent lack of effectiveness in forming faith in young people. No leaders in the survey responses or interviews talked about imagining a system of relational discipleship that bridges and lives past the rite itself. What if congregations would re-orient their energy toward discipling their young people in maturing faith in Jesus Christ?

One more theme that was also present in our interview was that of exhausted and harried youth leaders; people working harder and harder to feed the machines of their programs and clearly see-ing fewer results in the faith lives of the youth and families they are called to serve. Many of the results of our Taking the Temp project are not news. However, the reality that we are losing so many young

“

“

Clearly, in the minds of many youth

and their parents, there is an ever

growing psychological if not

physical disconnect with the church

when confirmation is over.

1 Quote from an interview paper by Luther Seminary student Lindsey Niering.

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people —not just to our churches, but to committed faith in Jesus Christ, points to growing consequences for our congregations if we continue to structure youth ministry in ways remarkably similar to the youth ministry of the 1990’s. Yet the lives of our young people are different on so many levels. This is new wine that calls not just for a new blend of grapes, but for new wineskins.

As you walk away from reading this article, we’d like to encour-age you. First of all, the five re-orientations that we took from our listening project are being lived out in ELCA congregations. Sec-ondly, believe that the ministry of aiding in the faith formation of the next generation is a powerful one, and worth the awkwardness of following God into the wilderness of new structures for sharing faith with and accompanying young people on that journey. We have a sure promise that God is out ahead of us in the wilderness. You’ve been called to nothing less.

That’s why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the Christians, I couldn’t stop thanking God for you, every time I pray, I’d think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank, I ask—ask the God of our Master Jesus Christ, the God of glory –to make you intelligent and discern-ing in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, to grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, oh the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength. Ephesians 1: 15-19 (The Message)

Get Interactive With Connectwww.elcaymmnet.org/connectjournal

We’ve added a new feature to the Network website that invites you to interact with Connect. Point your web browser to www.ELCAYMNet.org/ConnectJournal and then click on each article title to read online and offer your comments.

Our goal is to offer more ways for you to connect (pardon the pun) with the ar-ticles and others in ministry. We hope that this will be another resource for you and a place of fruitful conversation.

See you online!

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Congregational: A Parent’s Perspectiveby Debbie Sladek

Youth ministry is congregational. Sounds simple enough. When my son was younger and just entering his junior high school years this was the type of statement that conjured up warm thoughts of confirmation classes with the pastor, carwash fundraisers, weekly youth group meetings led by a charismatic youth director, pizza dinners, lock-ins, retreats, and summer mission trips. I imagined my kid and others hanging out at church like it was their second home, excited about having a group of ready-made friends. A lot of my friends also conjured up these same images when their kids were reaching youth group age.

The reality of youth ministry in our congregations didn’t quite live up to this ideal. Our kids were sometimes one of the few youth who showed up regularly, or at all, for weekly events. Some of our sons and daughters joined the absentee ranks, unable to simultane-ously be at both their select soccer games and church services on Sunday mornings. And a handful didn’t feel fully welcomed, because of issues like their sexual orientation, ethnicity, or racial differences, or . . . A lot of teens were regulars until confirmation, and then just disappeared or drifted away.

Did youth ministry ever look like the ideal picture we painted in our heads? My husband hypothesizes that perhaps church used to be akin to the town square, the central place where people shared com-munity, camaraderie, identity. This certainly seemed to be his expe-rience with his Lutheran church and youth group thirty years ago. While my Catholic church didn’t have a youth group, Sunday morn-ing masses and Wednesday afternoon catechism classes were the structure around which we built our family activities. But for many of us today, church doesn’t seem to be our town square, instead, we shoehorn it into our busy schedules, just like everything else.

There’s a lot of buzz amongst Lutherans and other Christians that the key to effective youth ministry is relationships. When asked if they were coming to youth group one of the most common refrains from teens at our church was, “Who else is coming?” Who indeed? If kids aren’t present at church or its related events, how do we even begin forming these relationships? Today’s youth play year-round sports, and sometimes even participate in two or three sports during the same season. And in addition to being athletes, teens and tweens fill their waking hours with music lessons, part time jobs, SAT classes, volunteer hours required for graduation,

dating, and many, many other activities. Even Sundays are no longer sacrosanct, which makes a certain amount of sense in a society that is multi-cultural and where people of many faiths live in community together.

Not only are many of us not present in our congregations, but we may also have trouble answering, “Why Lutheran? Why not some other Christian church? What is different about our beliefs, our practices, our central values?” If you ask the average Lutheran in the pew to explain why they’ve chosen to worship as a Lutheran, would they be able to definitively answer what makes Lutherans different? Many of us might respond with a vague statement about the Lutheran concept of grace, but how well could we really explain this? And would this be compelling enough to lead someone to find out more? I can tell you from personal experience that those of us who did not grow up Lutheran want to more deeply understand the Lutheran identity, but sometimes finding answers can be mercurial at best.

I do believe that it is relationship that is key to youth ministry—to all ministry. This concept permeates the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. God is about relationship. But there has to be space for relationship to grow. I think that the Lutheran church is at a point where we need to find new ways to develop community, identity, and focus. To borrow a popular phrase, this is no your father (or mother’s) youth and family ministry. It’s a new day and the town square is looking very different.

Debbie Sladek is a freelance writer and editor and has more than 20 years experience working in the area of nonprofit and education. She lives with her husband and son in Sammamish, WA.

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So, a lot of my friends have been talking in recent years about the importance of “intentional community.” It’s a slippery term, and it means different things to different people. But, basically, it seems you pick a group of people, and then you’re intentional about living in community. In the extreme form, it’s like a monastery. In milder forms, well, it’s like going to visit your neighbors instead of staying in your house. (Intentional community is easier in milder climes, I’d guess.)

Switching gears, I’ve noticed that everyone I talk to seems to need to tell me The Main Problem for what is wrong with the country. One person might tell me about how The Fed is to blame; another will explain how The Insurance Companies are the culprit; still others will say it’s Some Ethnic Group, or Those Liberals, or That Gay Agenda, or on and on.

For a while, I’d been thinking this showed an uptick in conspiracy theories. That suddenly everyone needed an explanation or a scapregoat to pin all their troubles on. After all, I thought, I never heard this constant stream of Theory of Everything Wrong in the past. Something must have changed.

And then it dawned on me . . .

There hasn’t been a change in people’s thinking; there’s been a change in people.

For years, I’d surrounded myself with people like me. You know, same political views, same sports interest, same religious practices, same taste in music. We all do this, if you think about it. You don’t become friends with someone because they’re UNlike you, right? And the internet fosters that self-selecting isolation even more. Our modern ways allow us access to this massive pool from which to pick our friends, meaning the slice of life gets narrower and nar-rower. (If you’ve ever had a massive flame-out with a relative on

Facebook, you know what I’m talking about.) The chance that we might meet someone unlike ourselves becomes slimmer and slimmer.

And, unfortunately, parish life follows this trend quite nicely. A frightening number of parishes are filled with people who share political views, skin color, sexual orientation, and musical taste. This allows us all to hear what we want to hear, see what we want to see, and believe what we want to believe . . . with few inter-ruptions in our ways and thoughts. And, since people “shop” for churches these days, the absence of “the other” means we can say “I feel comfortable here,” and plop ourselves down for weekly doses of reinforcement of what we already believe about the world.

So, back to my encounters with the Theory of Everything Wrong. . .

Since taking on a “part-time” job in a parish, I am suddenly in the midst of people I would not have chosen as my friends and acquaintances. I am now in a decidedly UNintentional Community. I find myself interacting with people who would not be part of any intentional community that I joined or formed. These are not “my people,” but they are God’s People. And I am honored to serve among them.

There’s a lot to be said for intentional community, but maybe there’s more to be said for unintentional community, because that might just look a whole lot more like what the Kingdom of God looks like.

George Baum plays in the band Lost And Found

(www.speedwood.com) and also serves as Priest in

Charge at St. Patrick Episcopal Church, Brunswick, OH.

A View From Elsewhere: Congregationalby George Baum

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19

Calendar of EventsStart Date End Date Name Location Contact Person Web Site Targeted to:

Aug 16, 2011 1:00 PM

Aug 16, 2011 1:30 PM

3rd Tuesday Conversation YOUTH GATHERING SPECIAL EDITION!

Online/Phone Dannica Montplaisir

www.elcaymnet.org Adult Volunteers, Adult Profes-sionals, Parents

Aug 24, 2011 2:00 PM

Aug 24, 2011 4:00 PM

Synod Youth Training Redeemer Lutheran Erin Morris www.saintandrews.org Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals, 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering Leaders/Teams

Aug 24, 2011 6:00 PM

Aug 24, 2011 8:00 PM

St. Paul Synod Youth Training Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, St. Paul MN

Erin Morris www.saintandrews.org Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals, 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering Leaders/Teams

Aug 27, 2011 8:00 AM

Aug 27, 2011 11:30 AM

Virginia Synod Youth Ministry Workshop 1

St. Philip Lutheran, 8115 Williamson Rd., Roanoke

Scott Mims www.goodshepherdvb.org Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals, 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering Leaders/Teams

Sep 8, 2011 5:30 PM

Sep 9, 2011 12:00 PM

Practicing Discipleship: Walking Together with Youth

Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp, Crystal Falls, MI

Tera Kossow Adult Volunteers, Adult Profes-sionals, Parents, 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering Leaders/Teams

Sep 17, 2011 9:00 AM

Sep 17, 2011 12:00 AM

Metropolitan Chicago Synod Spring Training

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Arlington Heights, IL

Penny Harney www.oursaviours.org Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals, 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering Leaders/Teams

Sep 18, 2011 2:00 PM

Sep 18, 2011 3:30 PM

Training Webinar: "Lutheran Theology: How God is Working in the World" (Dr. Jeremy Myers)

Online Todd Buegler www.elcaymnet.org Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals, 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering Leaders/Teams

Sep 20, 2011 1:00 PM

Sep 20, 2011 1:30 PM

3rd Tuesday Conversation Online/Phone Dannica Montplaisir


Sep 30, 2011 6:00 PM

Oct 1, 2011 4:00 AM

Equipping Youth Ministry Leaders

Lutheran Seminary at Get-tysburg

Chelle Huth Adult Volunteers, Adult Profes-sionals, Parents, 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering Leaders/Teams

Oct 2, 2011 2:00 PM

Oct 2, 2011 3:30 PM

Training Webinar: "Lutheran Theology: How Lutherans Read Scripture" (Dr. Jeremy Myers)


Oct 4, 2011 8:30 AM

Oct 6, 2011 3:00 PM

Living Room Summit Minneapolis, MN Lyle Griner www.peerministry.org Adult Volunteers, Adult Profes-sionals

Oct 16, 2011 2:00 PM

Oct 16, 2011 3:30 PM

Training Webinar: "Your Role as a Leader" (Dr. Terri Elton)


Oct 16, 2011 8:00 PM

Oct 26, 2011 1:00 PM

Children, Family and Faith (Cont Ed or Academic Credit)

Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp @ Wartburg Sem Faculty

Linda Staats www.rmselca.org Adult Volunteers, Adult Profes-sionals

Oct 18, 2011 1:00 PM

Oct 18, 2011 1:30 PM



Oct 22, 2011 1:00 AM

Oct 22, 2011 1:00 AM

Rocky Mtn Synod - Adult Leader Training

Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp, CO Time TBA

Linda Staats www.rmselca.org Adult Volunteers, Adult Profes-sionals

Oct 22, 2011 11:00 PM

Oct 22, 2011 11:00 PM

SEPA Pre-Gathering Event Trinity Lutheran, Lansdale Robin Alderfer www.sepayouth.org Sr High Youth, Adult Volunteers

Oct 29, 2011 9:00 AM

Oct 29, 2011 12:00 PM

Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod Training Part 2

Good Shepard Lutheran Church 2115 Washington Blvd. Easton, PA 18042

Kathy Schaeffer www.freidenslutheran.org Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals, 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering Leaders/Teams

Oct 30, 2011 2:00 PM

Oct 30, 2011 5:00 PM


Freidens Lutheran Church 1076 Memorial Hwy. Oley, PA 19547


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Start Date End Date Name Location Contact Person Web Site Targeted to:

Oct 30, 2011 2:00 PM

Oct 30, 2011 5:00 PM


St. Paul Lutheran Church RR 4 Box 627 A Dallas, PA 18612


Nov 15, 2011 1:00 PM

Nov 15, 2011 1:30 PM



Nov 20, 2011 2:00 PM

Nov 20, 2011 3:30 PM

Training Webinar: "Strategic Planning" (Tiger McLuen)


Dec 4, 2011 2:00 PM

Dec 4, 2011 3:30 PM

Training Webinar: "Leading a Small Group" (Tiger McLuen)


Dec 18, 2011 2:00 PM

Dec 18, 2011 3:30 PM

Training Webinar: "Faith Con-versations" (Tiger McLuen)


Dec 20, 2011 1:00 PM

Dec 20, 2011 1:30 PM



Jan 8, 2012 2:00 PM

Jan 8, 2012 3:30 PM

Training Webinar: "Planning for the Unexpected: When it All Doesn’t Go According to Script" (Tiger McLuen)


Jan 17, 2012 1:00 PM

Jan 17, 2012 1:30 PM



Jan 22, 2012 2:00 PM

Jan 22, 2012 3:30 PM

Training Webinar: "Lutheran Theology: How God is Working in the World" (Dr. Jeremy Myers)


Feb 5, 2012 2:00 PM

Feb 5, 2012 3:30 PM

Training Webinar: "Lutheran Theology: How Lutherans Read Scripture" (Dr. Jeremy Myers)


Feb 8, 2012 12:00 PM

Feb 9, 2012 4:00 PM

Extravaganza 2012 Intensive Care Courses

Sheraton - New Orleans, LA Todd Buegler www.elcaymnet.org Adult Volunteers, Adult Profes-sionals

Feb 9, 2012 7:00 PM

Feb 12, 2012 12:00 PM

Extravaganza 2012 Sheraton - New Orleans, LA Todd Buegler www.elcaymnet.org Adult Volunteers, Adult Profes-sionals

Feb 21, 2012 1:00 PM

Feb 21, 2012 1:30 PM



Mar 4, 2012 2:00 PM

Mar 4, 2012 3:30 PM

Training Webinar: "Your Role as a Leader" (Dr. Terri Elton)


Mar 9, 2012 6:00 PM

Mar 11, 2012 1:00 PM

Equipping Youth Ministry Leaders

Camp Nawakwa Chelle Huth [email protected] Adult Volunteers, Adult Profes-sionals, Parents, 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering Leaders/Teams

Mar 18, 2012 2:00 PM

Mar 18, 2012 3:30 PM

Training Webinar: "Strategic Planning" (Tiger McLuen)


Mar 20, 2012 1:00 PM

Mar 20, 2012 1:30 PM



Apr 1, 2012 2:00 PM

Apr 1, 2012 3:30 PM

Training Webinar: "Leading a Small Group" (Tiger McLuen)


Apr 15, 2012 2:00 PM

Apr 15, 2012 3:30 PM

Training Webinar: "Faith Con-versations" (Tiger McLuen)


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Start Date End Date Name Location Contact Person Web Site Targeted to:

Apr 17, 2012 1:00 PM

Apr 17, 2012 1:30 PM



May 6, 2012 2:00 PM

May 6, 2012 3:30 PM

Training Webinar: "Planning for the Unexpected: When it All Doesn’t Go According to Script" (Tiger McLuen)


May 15, 2012 1:00 PM

May 15, 2012 1:30 PM



Jun 18, 2012 10:00 AM

Jun 18, 2012 12:00 PM

Spring Adult Leaders Training- Metro NY Synod

Hope Lutheran Church, Seldon NY

Julie Hagen [email protected] Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals, 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering Leaders/Teams

Jul 18, 2012 3:00 PM

Jul 22, 2012 12:00 PM

ELCA Youth Gathering New Orleans, Louisiana Gathering Staff www.elca.org Sr High Youth

Jan 24, 2013 3:00 PM

Jan 25, 2013 5:00 PM


Hyatt - Anaheim, CA Todd Buegler www.elcaymnet.org Adult Volunteers, Adult Profes-sionals

Jan 25, 2013 9:00 PM

Jan 28, 2013 2:00 PM

Extravaganza 2013 Hyatt - Anaheim, CA Todd Buegler www.elcaymnet.org Adult Volunteers, Adult Profes-sionals

Jan 30, 2014 1:00 PM

Jan 31, 2014 3:00 PM


Hyatt Regency; St. Louis, Missouri

Todd Buegler www.elcaymnet.org Adult Volunteers, Adult Profes-sionals

Jan 31, 2014 7:00 PM

Feb 3, 2014 12:00 PM

Extravaganza 2014 Hyatt Regency; St. Louis, Missouri


Jan 29, 2015 12:00 PM

Jan 30, 2015 3:00 PM


Hyatt Regency; Dearborn, Michigan


Jan 30, 2015 6:00 PM

Feb 2, 2015 11:00 AM

Extravaganza 2015 Hyatt Regency; Dearborn, Michigan


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Submit your event information and find the latest event info at www.elcaymnet.org/mastercalendar.

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ELCA Youth Gathering

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.org/g

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ering

Call 1-800-628-3522, ext. 2578 to learn more.

Visit the ELCA Youth Gathering Booth in the Exhibit Hall (Atlanta Ballroom) to: • pick up your free citizens with the saints padfolio

• learn more about citizens with the saints and get early access to your own copy of the logo

• enter a prize drawing to win floor passes at the dome, backstage passes,

and FREE GATHERING REGISTRATIONS!

July 18-22, 2012New Orleans, Louisiana

2012

Registration opens Sunday, October 9, 2011

Multicultural Youth Leadership EventDefinitely Abled Youth Leadership EventJuly 15-18, 2012

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10464_ELCA_Gathering-Xtravgnz.pdf 12/13/10 11:20:23 PM

ELCA Youth Ministry Network11821 98th Pl. N.,Maple Grove, Mn 55369

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Connect Journal: Congregational

Documents

Transcript of Connect Journal: Congregational