Youth and family ministry relies on a network of faithful and hardworking youthworkers:

  • Youthworkers are congregational volunteers.
  • Youthworkers are pastors.
  • Youthworkers are congregational staff.
  • Youtworkers are parents.
  • Youthworkers accompany, mentor, and witness faith formation to the generation of children and youth, who are growing into their own powers as children of God, and disciples of Jesus in their congregations, homes, communities, and the world. In this synod we value our network of youthworkers, and offer a variety of continuing education and networking events. This page offers links to a number of these resources.

Network In the East: A Retreat for Youth & Family Ministers and Volunteers

This event has been cancelled due to limted registration: 6/24/2025

The ELCA Youth Ministry Network, in collaboration with Kindling Faith and the Lower Susquehanna Synod Office for Faith Formation and Youth Ministry, invites you to join us for a weekend of continuing education, fellowship, rest and spiritual renewal at Network In the East. This continuing education retreat for youth & family ministry volunteers and professionals is scheduled for August 7-9, 2025, at the United Lutheran Seminary, Gettysburg Campus, in Gettysburg, PA. This opportunity to ‘renew, educate and connect’ with fellow peers from across the mid-Atlantic region of the ELCA is being held on the historic Seminary Ridge, where one of the pivotal battles in the American Civil War was staged on the campus of one of our oldest Lutheran seminaries. Surrounded by the rolling hils and natural beauty of central Pennsylvania in late-summer, this is an ideal setting for a weekend of renewing your spirit before the fall ramp-up of faith formation and youth ministry programming in many congregations. We are looking to strike a balance between fellowship with peers, fun, inspiring worship and prayerful practices, plus informative presentations that will help you on the front-lines of youth and family ministry this fall and beyond. Our full schedule is listed below. Thursday will begin at 6:30 PM, with a picnic-style dinner on the lawn including wine and desserts and an opportunity to meet and converse with colleagues. A brief reception will follow in the historic Singmaster House on campus, with an opportunity to meet colleagues and our event team.

Event Registration Fee: $139
(includes all classes and meals, including dinner out on Friday evening)
Lodging: Billed Seperately*
*Event participants will be housed at the Best Western on Steinwehr Ave in Gettysburg, just a block off the square. Room rates are $162.50/night. You may opt to bring a member of your youth ministry team or a volunteer from your congregation, or partner with a leader from a neighboring congregation to share room costs, or request that we assign you a roommate, if you’d prefer. Housing DEADLINE: July 7, 2025

 

IMPORTANT Registration Note: Register for the event, which includes all classes and meals, using the link below. Then, reserve your room at the Best Western by the deadline of July 7, 2025. (Since this is tourism season in Gettysburg, we cannot guarantee rooms at this rate after the deadline

.
Tentative Schedule:
Thursday, August 7, 2025
6:30 PM  Picnic Dinner & Welcome Reception
                 (includes meet & greet of staff and fellow participants + schedule review)
Friday, August 8, 2025
8:00 AM  Breakfast at the Seminary Refectory
9:00 AM  Session 1: Roofcutters: Adaptive Leadership w/ Deacon Jessica Noonan  from LEAD
                  (includes breaks)
12:00 N    Lunch at the Seminary Refectory
1:00 PM   Session 2: Practicum: applying what we’ve learned from LEAD w/ Deacon Chelle Huth
2:30 PM   Break
2:45 PM    Session 3: Active Learning & Faith Formation w/Zach Hartman
4: 15 PM   Session 4: Network Roundup w/ Pastor Todd Buegler
4:45 PM   Break
6:45 PM   Dinner at Farm House Restaurant at The Barn Resort: https://thebarnpa.com/dining/
9:00 PM   Fellowship at Singmaster House on campus
Saturday, August 9, 2025
8:00 AM  Breakfast at the Seminary Refectory
9:00 AM  Session 5:  Trauma and the Teenage Brain w/ Lauren Bricker
10:15 AM  Break
10:30 AM  Session 6: Practicum: Curriculum Design w/Kellen Michalowski
12:00 N    Lunch at the Seminary Refectory
1:00 PM   Session 7: Ministry Trends: What We’re Learning About Generation Alpha w/Charlie Roberts
2:15 PM   Closing Worship w/Sending

Register at: https://ulsforms.wufoo.com/forms/q1jcori80aa4ykg/

REMEMBER, after registering for the event, if you need housing at the Best Western, you will want to make those reservations by visiting: Best Western Gettysburg | Hotel Rooms , prior to July 7, 2025. After that date we cannot guarantee rooms, as this is the peak tourist season in Gettysburg.

Historic Seminary Ridge, Gettysburg

Best Western, Gettysburg

FarmHouse Restaurant at The Barn Resort
https://thebarnpa.com/dining/

Events + Resources + Links

United Lutheran Seminary (ULS) Certificate in Congregational Faith Formation (formerly Youth Ministry Certification School)

This course is offered over a seven month period, in two-day increments, affording the congregational volunteer working in a full-time secular vocation, to attend without losing too many vacation days in one calendar year. The course includes theological, practical and theoretical training in developing a comprehensive congregational faith formation ministry. Alumni of the course develop a one-year plan for implementing an integrated faith formation strategy. Course tuition is $2,000.00, and a new course launches every spring. The tution covers all event expenses, including lodging. Applications for the Spring 2026 course will be available in the fall of 2025. For more details on the 2025-2026 course, and to learn how to register, visit: https://www.unitedlutheranseminary.edu/academics/certificate-programs/certificate-in-congregational-faith-formation/