Ministry with youth and their families is fast becoming one of the most significant ministries within the ELCA. Caring, nurturing and providing continuing education for youth ministry volunteers and professionals is a priority for this synod. The Calendar of Events lists just a few of the ways the synod Office for Youth Ministry is partnering with other churchwide institutions and agencies to provide congregational youth workers with ample opportunity to be nurtured and grow in their ministry.

All youth ministry volunteers and professionals should be aware of the ELCA Youth Ministry Network. Established over eight years ago, the network includes pastors, youth leaders, campus ministry and outdoor ministry professionals, plus churchwide leadership in youth and family ministry. In fact, almost anyone working with young people in the first third of life, are invited to join the network. Its ongoing mission is to provide continuing education and networking opportunities and to increase communication between all those who work with youth in the ELCA and beyond.

Gathering In The East Regional Youthworkers Event

One of the ministries with and for youthworkers in this part of the ELCA is the Gathering In The East. This annual continuing ed event and networking experience brings together youthworkers from around the nid-Atlantic region to hear speakers, bands, and workshop presenters on a broad range of topics affecting youth and families today. The recent event, held April 8-10, 2005, at the Radisson Hotel in Mt. Laurel, NJ, featured keynote speaker Marilyn Sharpe from The Youth & Family Institute. Next year's event will be held in Hagerstown, MD and will feature Rev Dr. Roland Martinson presenting on the newly finished Exemplary Youth Ministry Study. For more information and to see photo's from this years event, check out the Gathering In The East website at http://gatheringeast.org. 

Synod youthworkers are encouraged to check out the synod Office for Youth Ministry newsletter, Timothy’s Call. It offers columns on resources, Christian music and tips for planning, plus articles on the many what’s happening with youth ministry in and around the ELCA. We also encourage you to check out the following hot links to organizations and their websites that are designed to assist the youthworker in building a more complete youth ministry.

• Theological Education with Youth (TEY)
• ELCA Youth Ministry Network
• Youth Leadership
• Group Publishing
• Youth Specialties