Meeting minutes for March 2012 Conference Youth Team Meeting

Southwestern Conference Youth Ministries Team Meeting
March 4, 2012 9 am @ First Lutheran Church
Meeting minutes

Present: Ian Eastman (SW Conference), Tara Eastman (First Lutheran), Sue Kilmartin (Bethel), Judy Lind (Immanuel) & Jennifer Spacht (Bethel)
Regrets: Mike Felsman (Tri-Church)

DEVOTIONS...
We read and discussed "1 Kings 19 for Youth Workers" by Mark Oestreicher.

FOLLOW UP ON "TOILET BOWL" EVENT...

The Toilet Bowl, a Conference Youth event held at the Gateway Center, was held 2/27/12. We had youth and chaperones from 7 churches around the conference: Bethel (Jamestown), First, Gloria Dei, Holy Trinity, Immanuel, St. Timothy, Tri-Church. 67 in worship. We collected 155 paper products for First Things First/We Believe Recovery Ministry.


Make your own slideshow with music at Animoto.

The good...

Feedback from youth, adults, and the team were good, so the event is definitely a "keeper." The team felt like we would get an even bigger response from youth if we did it again, as they would invite their friends.

Worship was conducted by youth from Bethel, First, and Gloria Dei. We will continue to invite youth to share their gifts in future events.

We had many friendly adult helpers.

Judd Hamilton was a great speaker and the youth were very interested in his testimony.

The Gateway Center is a wonderful facility and the staff was very accommodating.

There was a good balance between fun, service, and faith formation.

Doing an event after church was very convenient for transportation and inviting youth.

What we could improve...

Jen expressed that the event was so close to the Souper Bowl of Caring that some people confused it with the Toilet Bowl and didn't contribute paper products. She suggested doing it earlier or later than the other event. We have some flexibility with our schedule, but want to stay away from the many annual meetings at congregations.

We had some feedback/speculation that some families didn't bring youth to the event as they were already committed to combined confirmation later in the evening.

NOTE: A full set of photos from the event can be found at this link.

ENGAGING YOUTH

We will organize 3 events annually that balance fun, service (justice/peacemaking), and faith formation (discipleship).

Spring 2012: Pool Party
We want to keep the momentum of the team going by doing an event in the spring. The team determined that earliest and best date that will avoid other activities is Sunday, April 15.

• Fun aspect - pool party with a pirate theme or a "Survivor" theme (Ann's suggestion). Ian has left messages with JCC & the YMCA regarding facility rental. Sue suggested that we also try the Boys & Girls Club.
• Service aspect - We can raise money for the "100 Wells Challenge". The ELCA is doing an offering for this at the Youth Gathering this summer. The CALY team can deliver this gift this summer. There are already fundraising efforts going on, and we don't want to compete with projects already happening. Ian had an idea for a way to raise funds without diverting a lot of funds: Pastor on the Plank. People could vote on a pastor to walk the plank (diving board) at the pool party. (A vote would cost $1.) Ian will check with Pastor Rumfelt, the conference dean, to gauge the support for this. [UPDATE: Whoops! Pastor Rumfelt is the incoming dean. Pastor Leitzel is still the current dean.]
• Discipleship aspect - Many themes involve water. No speaker was identified, though.
• There is a lot that needs to happen quickly to make an April event happen. The team will keep in contact via email.
• An alternative idea (if the pool doesn't work out) is to do a ropes course with the Survivor theme.

Autumn 2012: Youth Encounter

We want to host Captive Free, a Christian band from Youth Encounter, to come to the Conference in late October or early November 2012. Bethel and Saint Timothy have both hosted the team in the past.

• We would have to house/feed the team. The team gets a freewill offering (we'd hope to raise approx. $375) and accepts personal care items.
• We have a few options for the event... Do we want to do it as a stand-alone event, or make it part of an overnighter? Captive Free could work an event up to midnight.
• The travel schedules aren't available yet. June/July is a good time to check back and get a good date.
• We have to identify a service/justice/peacemaking part of this event.

Winter 2013: The Toilet Bowl

Spring 2013: Pool Party (if youth determine it's a "keeper")

Summer 2013: Mission on the Mon

Looking at a 6 day mission trip experience organized by the SWPA Synod in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. Ian spoke with the pastor who organizes the event. Youth would be involved in various service projects in the community, bookended with worship and reflection, and sightseeing and recreation in the evening. A few things intriguing about the Mission on the Mon.

• It's Lutheran.
• It is in the same regions as Southwestern New York (Appalachia and the Rust Belt). We are serving and learning at "home."
• Easy transport (a 3 hour drive).
• Relatively inexpensive: $125, includes food and lodging. (Youth would need extra money for souvenirs and personal care items.)
• Adults from the SW Conference can be incorporated into the staff. Youth going into 9th grade through seniors who just graduated can participate.)
• The team will approach the CALY team about keeping the cooperative fundraising efforts alive to raise funds for the Mission on the Mon in the 2012/2013 school year. Sue asked about the possibility of raising funds for youth work in general around the conference.

ENGAGING OURSELVES...

We can apply for a grant through the Connections Project at Princeton Theological Seminary for youth worker support in the conference.

• We could purchase a book to read together as a team for several months.
• We could also cover registration for the Youth Workers retreat held annually at LCLC (last Friday/Saturday in October).
• We need 7 - 10 people to be eligible for the grant. Email Ian ASAP if you want to participate.
• Ian will write the learning plan & grant.
• Judy suggested meeting after the monthly conference youth meeting.

Ian has noticed a connection between the Conference Youth Team meetings and attendance at events. So it is in everyone's best interest that we make connections at each church in the conference that go deeper than the pastor and secretary... We need that youth leader, or Christian Ed. Chair, or Sunday School teacher who will engage youth and parents. We have made much progress since last September, but still need to make connections at the following churches:

• Bethel (Portville)
• Bethany (Olean)
• Bethlehem (Falconer) - Ian has a potential contact he will follow up
• Grace (Dunkirk)
• St. Mark's (Mayville) - Brenda Sampson is checking in on this one
• Zion (Frewsburg) - Lois Rumfelt is checking on this
• Zion (Silver Creek)

Ask around when you meet people from other Lutheran churches and share the good things happening with youth people around the SW Conference. We want ALL youth and congregations to benefit from this work.

ENGAGING PARENTS...

We learned about the Vibrant Faith framework. This ministry has many good resources to help families foster faith formation. The framework is great to share and discuss with parents, Sunday School teachers, Christian Ed. Committees, etc.


The Southwest Conference Youth Ministry Team consults and trains congregations in creating an environment conducive to the development of Mature Christian Youth. Full Circle Triple A Training is about surrounding youth with faithful adults who are available, authentic and affirming. The beauty of this training is that it is not another program. It results in people empowered with the skills and intention to help nurture the faith of a young person.

• Can be offered as 4 Sunday School sessions
• Can be offered as a 1 day seminar (2 sessions, lunch, then 2 sessions)
• Combined Confirmation could work (do the class for parents while youth are in confirmation)
• Maybe churches could organize a Sunday School training day with Triple A training and breakout sessions specific to their churches?

UPCOMING MEETINGS...

The first Saturday of every month has worked well for the team, so we will continue to meet then.

4/7/12
5/5/12
6/2/12

Meetings are at 9 am at First Lutheran Church, 120 Chandler St., Jamestown.

(Note: The Southwestern Conference Youth Ministries Team is open to young people in grades 9 - 12, plus interested adults. Please circulate these minutes to youth, Sunday School teachers, Christian Ed committees, etc.)