Five Marks of Mission

The Five Marks of Mission clip below is from our brothers and sisters of the Anglican Church in Canada, specifically Ottawa.  Our own General Convention adopted the Five Marks of Mission in 2009. The Marks are not a new way to live out our faith, but they provide a common language and a simpified tool for articulating and living out our Baptismal promises across the Anglican Communion and throughout the world. This clip will be used later this week when welcoming participants to some of the workshops at "Everyone Everywhere 2011," a global and domestic mission conference of the Episcopal Church being held at YMCA of the Rockies. Use the link to the conference to view webcasts for worship, plenary sessions, and workshops. Enjoy the clip!



What are the Marks of Mission? Why are they important? How would we know if we were living them out? Inspired by the resources at www.anglican.ca/marks/about, this video was originally created for "Great Chapters" (regional meetings) in the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa. It was first used in the fall of 2011. "When We Go," the track playing in the background is from Jon Brooks' 2009 Album "Moth Nor Rust." You can get the album or more info on Jon and his music at http://www.jonbrooks.ca/.

UTO Grant Opportunitiy

From our Public Affairs Office . . .
The Episcopal Church

Office of Public Affairs

United Thank Offering application process now online
For 2011 Episcopal Church grants
[October 25, 2010] The application process for the 2011 United Thank Offering grants is now open and, for the first time and for the convenience of the applicants, the entire process is online.
“This is the first year that United Thank Offering will operate an internet grant application process,” explained Claudia Conner, coordinator. “The purpose is to convert the application process from a 1950s model to 2010 technology. Online availability can eliminate or greatly reduce mailing and shipping costs, which sometimes were quite steep. It will also expedite the UTO Board’s application review process.”
Known worldwide as UTO, the United Thank Offering grants are awarded for projects that address human needs and help alleviate poverty, both domestically and internationally within Anglican provinces, dioceses, and companion dioceses.
Applications are due January 31, 2011. Funds will be available starting June 2011 for a one-year grant period.
UTO information and contact info are available: www.episcopalchurch.org/uto .

Complete instructions, application form, and additional info are available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/110043_42235_ENG_HTM.htm
In outlining the process, Conner noted that the following:
- one application may be submitted by each diocese of The Episcopal Church, with diocesan bishop approval;
- one application may be submitted by a diocese of the U.S. domestic Episcopal Church on behalf of an overseas Companion Diocese, with approval by both diocesan bishops;
- one application may be submitted by invited provinces of The Anglican Communion, with approval by the Archbishop or Primate or Provincial Secretary and, if applicable, the diocesan bishop.

For more information email utoapps@episcopalchurch.org or call the UTO Office at 800/334-7626. To submit an application in hard copy, first contact the UTO office.
The Episcopal Church welcomes all who worship Jesus Christ in 109 dioceses and three regional areas in 16 nations. The Episcopal Church is a member province of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Sunday School . . . or not?

There's an interesting conversation taking place on Episcopal Cafe at the moment in response to an EpiscopalLife Online article that ran yesterday, June 1, about Sunday School models. I encourage you to check it out and weigh in if you have wisdom to add to the conversation.

The debate is a timeless one for many of us, and most of us could make arguments from a multitude of perspectives on the question; how, when, and where should Sunday School take place in the life of a congregation?

Since this blog is more specific to Youth Ministry, and often this particular ministry with this specific age group (primarily 6-12 grade) is no longer in the realm of "Sunday School," I'm curious to know what your thoughts are about the young people you "inherit" into your ministry from the programs for younger children.

As an example, I can tell you that in Minnesota, most of our school districts honor Wednesday night as a light night on the school calendar to yield to Catechism  and Confirmation classes in our Lutheran and Roman Catholic congregations. Most of the main-liners and evangelicals have jumped on this bandwagon, too, and use it as an education night for middle schoolers and high schoolers. The model provides greater potential for musical and liturgical participation for this age group on Sunday mornings. It also makes older youth available to help teach in Sunday morning class rooms with younger children.

The interesting observation that I would make from my days in congregational youth ministry is that youth who have spent their early years in church with their parents know a lot more about Episcopal Liturgy and Prayer than those who have been in a concurrent Sunday School class. The greatest sadness for me is welcoming middle schoolers into the youth room who have never had a discussion about anything religious, spiritual, or faith-based with their parents. But if they've been in church we at least have common ground to begin the discussion. Often I have been blessed with watching spiritual transformation unfold as youth and their parents have learned more about their own faith and traditions together when participating in mentoring opportunities and multigenerational events focusing on Christian Formation.

What has your Youth Ministry experience been? How have programs for younger children influenced your ministry with teens and tweens? I encourage you to comment here and/or at Episcopal Cafe. I look forward to hearing and sharing the wisdom from each of you.

Blessings,
Bronwyn

Christian Formation Housekeeping

Greetings in the Season after Pentecost!

Most of us are in winding down mode from the program year . . . .

AND . . . .

most of us are gearing up for summer camps, mission experiences, and pilgrimages.

Youth Ministers never rest!

I hope and pray that all of you are intentional about tending to your own spiritual, emotional, and physical needs in addition to those needs of the people you serve in ministry. I am heading out for an annual camping trip with family and friends and will hold all of your ministries in my prayers as I take time to refresh and re-create. Thank you for all that you do in partnership with God's mission in the world and the on behalf of the Episcopal Church!

We are still transitioning our communications strategy at the Episcopal Church Center. As a stop-gap measure I will attempt to keep you up to date on the position openings that we receive by posting them here for now. Soon we will have a dedicated web page. Please send your information by copying the format below with links for a contact person who can provide the full description. Thank you to Sue von Rautenkranz in Upper South Carolina for serving as my example. The positions Sue has shared are all completely open for application and legit ; they are examples only in that they're the first that I'm sharing in this fashion.

Associate Youth Minister - Christ Church, Greenville, SC

This position which is primarily a ministry position with Senior High youth reports to the Director of Youth Ministries. Please contact Mr. Joel Tassie, Director of Youth Ministry
jtassie@ccgsc.org

Minister for Youth and Young Adults - Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Clemson, SC
Please send cover letter and resume by June 15, 2010 to The Rev. John S. Nieman
jnieman@holytrinityclemson.org

Director of Youth Ministry Position (Part-time) - St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, Chapin, SC
Direct inquiries to the Rev. Canon Phil Purser, St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, P. O. Box 265, Chapin, SC 29036.
stfrrector@sc.rr.com

Complete position descriptions on these three ministry positions are available here: http://www.edusc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=9

Blessings,
Bronwyn

UN Program on Youth

The United Nations is once again soliciting input from all of us . . .

Check out their links:

• FaceBook Pages
• UN Website

And on another note, the 2011 Episcopal Youth Event Mission Planning Team is assembling in Atlanta for our first planning meeting. Please keep us in your prayers and stay tuned!

Why Serve?

I realize that our target topic on this blog is Youth Ministry, but I also value the continuum of Lifelong Christian Formation and serve as the TEC Team Leader for the Formation and Vocation Ministries team in our Mission Program Department. So occasionally I get to share some of the amazing work being coordinated by my closest colleagues.

Our Young Adult and Campus Ministries Officers, Jason Sierra and the Rev. Douglas Fenton, are partnering with our Ethnic Missioners to hold an amazing discernment conference for young adults of color," Why Serve?" June 3-6 in Tennessee. Last year there was great energy for this conference called "Does it Fit?"

Do you know someone, perhaps a former member of your youth group, or a young leader in your diocese, who might benefit from this sort of gathering? Please forward the link and share the invitation!

Why Serve is sponsored by The School of Theology at the University of the South and The Episcopal Church Center offices for Asian Ministries, Black Ministries, Intercultural Ministries, Latino/Hispanic Ministries, Native American & Indigenous Ministries, Young Adult Ministries, and Young Adult Discernment and Vocations.

Province IV Holy Land Youth Pilgrimage

We have one more invitation from Province IV in conjunction with Kanuga Camp and Conference Center. There is limited space for this awesome opportunity. Applications are being considered now (due no later than February 15!), so investigate, pray, and discern. Information and downloadable brochures are available here on Kanug'a website.