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Youth & Young Adults

Throughout each year opportunities for the synod's youth to learn, grow, lead and share are made available.

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Additionally, every three years, Central States Synod youth participate in the ELCA Youth Gathering.​

Upcoming Events

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Past Events

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Leadership is a major emphasis not only in our synod, but across the ELCA as we seek to identify, raise up, and empower leaders for the church. How do we identify those leaders who may be called to serve the church not only in a rostered capacity but in whichever vocation they are called?

We are asking for your help. As you work with the young people in your congregations, do you recognize gifts of ministry within an individual or two whom you would like to invite into a discernment process to hear what God might be calling them to do? Then please invite them!  We have planned a retreat to assist youth in this discernment process. Information about the retreat can be found on the attached flyer, including how to register.

The retreat is designed for youth who have been INVITED by their pastor, PMA, or youth director to attend with those individuals that invited them. We hope you will consider this opportunity to raise up leaders throughout the church.

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ELCA Youth Gathering

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Leadership is a major emphasis not only in our synod, but across the ELCA as we seek to identify, raise up, and empower leaders for the church. How do we identify those leaders who may be called to serve the church not only in a rostered capacity but in whichever vocation they are called?

We are asking for your help. As you work with the young people in your congregations, do you recognize gifts of ministry within an individual or two whom you would like to invite into a discernment process to hear what God might be calling them to do? Then please invite them!  We have planned a retreat to assist youth in this discernment process. Information about the retreat can be found on the attached flyer, including how to register.

The retreat is designed for youth who have been INVITED by their pastor, PMA, or youth director to attend with those individuals that invited them. We hope you will consider this opportunity to raise up leaders throughout the church.

Central States Synod Summit for Leaders of Youth and Young Adults
September 23rd--24th, 2016

This gathering is for professional and volunteer leaders of ministries to youth and young adults, for the purpose of building connections, providing collegial support, and facilitating collaboration. Large group conversations will center around our common purpose and vision. Small groups will be formed based upon interest, geographical location, type of ministry setting, volunteer vs. paid, and lay vs. ordained. Small group conversations will center around the following questions:

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  • Where is your energy and interest?

  • What resources do you have/need?

  • What are your plans and dreams for your ministry?

  • How can we work together to mutually strengthen our ministries?

Practice Discipleship
Leadership Development for the sake of Faith Formation

 

Practice Discipleship began as an initiative through the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering to help young people articulate their faith. Research has shown that young people learn to speak faith from adults who speak faith, yet the majority of adults are no more religiously articulate than their children. A year-long training initiative was developed to equip leaders for ministry with young people.

The Practice Discipleship initiative fosters faithful, thoughtful and intentional leaders who follow Jesus in their daily lives and will:

  • Educate: Train leadership to accompany young people on their faith journey

  • Connect: Develop partnerships to strengthen faith formation opportunities for and with young people

  • Renew: Gather leaders for mutual support and encouragement in ministry

Each synod is asked to have a Practice Discipleship coach who will promote and lead training events to build partnerships with local stakeholders and nurture youth ministry networking. Our coach is Joe Jedrzejewski, (joe@adventolathe.org) Director for Children and Youth at Advent Lutheran Church, Olathe, KS. Joe will be attending a churchwide training event in mid-February, 2016 and bring back information to launch this initiative in our synod. Watch for more information.

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