A PASTORAL PLAN FOR YOUTH MINISTRY IN THE DIOCESE OF ALGOMA

(As approved by the Executive Committee, fall 2005)

YOUTH MINISTRY MISSION STATEMENT:

"As a part of the body of Christ, our mission is to encourage youth participation in ministry in our diocese through educating, coordinating and spiritually changing our youth. Amen."

GOALS FOR YOUTH MINISTRY:

1. To provide opportunities to discover, learn and advance basic fundamentals of faith;

2. To provide a forum where youth can deal with issues affecting their lives;

3. To encourage understanding of our global partnership in the Anglican Communion;

4. To maintain and encourage participation by youth in all levels of the church;

5. To develop leadership skills through training and application;

6. To make fun a component of all we do.

7. To create a safe environment for Youth to worship Christ freely, equally, and fully.

8. To help youth shape their identity in the light of Christian teachings.

VISION FOR YOUTH MINISTRY IN THE PARISH:

• to be a full participating member of the church
• lifestyle; discipling
• more open interaction between the ages
• being a recognized voice, getting your ideas across
• increased membership
• lifestyle witnessing
• youth involvement in parish mission work

VISION FOR YOUTH MINISTRY IN THE DIOCESE:

• build strong Christian leadership in youth
• interaction of all ages
• youth needs/want to be heard
• celebration of gifts
• all ages retreat led by youth
• variety
• youth involvement in mission work
• continue events such as Youth Synod and Young Adults’ Conference

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO REALIZE OUR VISION (SPECIFIC):

(Listed in Priority by the Committee)

• host a retreat of all ages led by youth
• develop youth leadership training
• diocesan youth coordinator – full time
• continue Youth Synod, but have more diocesan opportunities for youth
• youth prayer cycle
• availability of resources
• diocesan newsletter (youth)
• adult advocacy
• opportunities to move teens around the diocese to encourage and educate about spiritual growth
• traveling troupe (drama, music, clowning, VBS, etc.)
• package for Youth Sunday

By consensus, it was felt it would be best to provide leadership training for four young people in each deanery to return to their own deaneries to continue training.

ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTION OF YOUTH MINISTRY IN ALGOMA:

Parish Level

Each parish is encouraged to...

• develop a comprehensive ministry to, with and by youth, which is based on assessed needs of their area youth
• send at least one youth to Youth Synod annually*

*If this is not possible the parish is to ensure communication is maintained with the Deanery Youth Unit (DYU) and is encouraged to appoint a parish representative to the DYU.

 Deanery Level

Each deanery is encouraged to have a Deanery Youth Unit (DYU) comprised of:

• Deanery Youth Coordinator
• the parish delegates to Youth Synod
• the three Diocesan Youth Delegates of the Deanery**
• two adult assistants to the Deanery Youth Coordinator
• other parish youth representatives as appointed by parishes

**to be elected, not less than 3 months prior to the Synod, in a manner approved by Deanery Council as outlined in the Constitution (Article 1e)

 Function of DYUs

• plan and coordinate deanery youth events
• send a youth representative to Deanery Council meetings
• provide a youth information network in the deanery
• advocate for full participation of youth in the life of the parish and deanery

The youth representative to the Diocesan Youth Ministry Committee (YMC) is elected from the Deanery Youth Units (DYUs) at Youth Synod (usually to a two year term.)

 Structure of DYUs

• an executive (president or co-presidents, treasurer, secretary, etc.)
• a Deanery Youth Reporter
• other voting members

 DEANERY YOUTH COORDINATOR:

Appointed by the Bishop on recommendation of the Deanery Council and/or Officials, in consultation with the Diocesan Youth Consultant and youth in the DYU. The person must be active in parish life. The person in this position continues to hold this office at the pleasure of the Bishop of Algoma. The position may be evaluated from time to time by the following parties when initiated by any two of them: The Deanery Officials, the Diocesan Youth Consultant, and at least two members of the Deanery Youth Unit executive. Their evaluation and recommendation is to be forwarded to the Bishop.

 Function of Deanery Youth Coordinator

• act as agent of and be accountable to the Bishop and Diocesan Youth Consultant
• be the main advisor to the DYU
• actively encourage and support deanery events for youth
• encourage parishes to identify and commission appropriate adult leaders for youth ministry
• arrange transportation to Youth Synod
• ensure the election of deanery youth delegates to Diocesan Synod by the necessary date
• attend YMC meetings and Youth Synod
• if unable to attend Youth Synod, arrange a suitable adult replacement
• commits to attending the major meetings of the DYU
• intentionally involves the two adult assistants on DYU

Vacancy in the Deanery Youth Coordinator

When the Deanery Youth Coordinator (DYC) office is vacant it is the hope that the Deanery Youth Unit will continue to function.  This will require the co-operation of youth leaders, youth and Parish and Deanery Officials.  The Diocese of Algoma pledges to support DYUs, with staff and resources as necessary, when there is a vacancy in the office of  DYC.  It is strongly recommended that the Deanery Officials, and Deanery Youth Leaders work together as much as possible to continue the mission of the DYU and a search for a new DYC.  It may be necessary to assist the DYU in forming a search committee for a new DYC, and nominating persons to the Bishop and Program and Youth Consultant.  Incumbents should be aware of the vacancy and be encouraged to submit to Deanery Officials such names as they feel may be interested in the office.   If a person is acting as interim DYC until a new DYC is appointed, then that person shall be subject to appropriate screening procedures.

Function of Deanery Adult Assistants

• elected by youth in the DYU in consultation with the Deanery Youth Coordinator
• act cooperatively with the Deanery Youth Coordinator and youth in planning and carrying out events and other youth initiatives
• attend meetings of the DYU, taking on tasks (according to their ministry gifts) such as driving, advertising of events, communication, supervising/chaperoning, etc as appropriate
• must be active in their own parish, and seek their congregation’s blessing as they undertake youth ministry at the Deanery level

DEANERY YOUTH REPORTER:

• responsible for writing articles about deanery youth events and activities for the Algoma Anglican
• support the Diocesan Youth Newsletter Editor by being another source for articles

Diocesan Level

YOUTH MINISTRY COMMITTEE (YMC)

Comprised of:

• One youth representative from each DYU (elected at Youth Synod)
• General Synod youth delegate (elected by youth delegates at Diocesan Synod)
• Provincial Synod youth delegate (elected by youth delegates at Diocesan Synod)
• Diocesan Executive Committee youth delegate (elected by youth delegates at Diocesan Synod)
• Diocesan Youth General Secretary (elected in accordance with this Pastoral Plan)
• Deanery Youth Coordinators
• two members appointed by the Bishop
• Diocesan Youth Consultant (staff support)

 Function of YMC

• meet throughout the year, usually once in the fall, once in the spring, and once at Youth Synod; perhaps with conference calls or online meetings in between
• provide a diocesan youth information network
• supervise Youth Synod (a specific DYU may be responsible for planning and coordinating Youth Synod, with accountability to YMC)
• maintain links with Provincial and National youth structures
• promote full inclusion of youth in the life of the church
• explore and promote opportunities for faith/spiritual development for and by youth
• form and revise as necessary a mission statement for YMC

DIOCESAN YOUTH CONSULTANT

Appointed by the Bishop; a paid contract position

Function of Diocesan Youth Consultant

(taken from "Program and Youth Consultant" job profile)

• provides resources, training and support for volunteers in youth ministry
• shares new ideas and programs
• oversees the Diocesan youth ministry budget and provides staff support to YMC
• encourages participation in Youth Synod and attends if possible
• supports the Pastoral Plan of YMC as approved by Diocesan Executive
• attends key meetings of the Deanery Youth Unit(s) and recruits their adult leaders in consultation with the deanery officials
• has the development of youth ministry as first priority
• maintains links with provincial and national structures (this includes the Provincial Youth Ministry Network)

DIOCESAN YOUTH GENERAL SECRETARY

Elected by the members of Youth Synod from a slate of nominations developed by the Program and Youth Consultant and Deanery Youth Coordinators, acting as a nominating committee.  This is a two year term.  This person is responsible for:

• coordinating the agenda and minutes of Youth Ministry Committee meetings
• gathering information (stories, photos, minutes, etc.) of youth ministry activities and meetings, to be placed on the Diocesan website or published in the Algoma Anglican.

 YOUTH SYNOD

What it is

• a four day gathering held during the Civic Holiday Weekend for 13-24 year old Anglican young people
• attended by at least one delegate from each parish in the Diocese, if possible***
• planned to include an age appropriate balance of fellowship, worship and education and a variety of opportunities for faith development

***Delegates to Youth Synod form a large part of the Deanery Youth Units. Responsibilities for parish delegates are outlined under the function of the Deanery Youth Units (DYU).

Purpose of Youth Synod

1. To share concerns with each other and with the Diocese

2. A spiritual recharge for youth involved with leadership

3. To learn more about what it means to be an Anglican through worship, gathering as a group, and discussion

4. Build youth ministry in parishes and deaneries

GIRLS AUXILIARY (GA)

A continuing component of youth ministry in Algoma, responsible for developing leadership, fellowship and spiritual growth among its members.

G.A. Motto: "Let us Walk in the Light"

G.A. Purpose: "Our purpose is to open the way for girls to understand and accept their vocation as Christian women."

G.A. Festival: Held annually, hosted by parishes, towns, cities around the Diocese. An opportunity for all GA members in the Diocese to gather in fellowship and worship

CHALLENGE

A Challenge weekend is a gathering of Christian teens and young adults who wish to learn more about their Christian faith and grow deeper in relationship with God.  These weekends challenge teens and young adults to live their faith in everyday life.

 SCREENING IN FAITH

The Pastoral Plan recognizes that screening policies and procedures are "under construction" but quickly moving forward for implementation. For example, formal screening measures were successfully in place for Youth Synod 2001.

While it is impossible to completely eliminate risk, it is urgent that every effort be made to ensure that church activities and events are safe both for youth and for adult volunteers. Church should be "safe space" for everyone – perhaps especially children and youth.

 Most youth ministry activities can be classified as "high-risk" according to the Screening In Faith initiative. Therefore, the Pastoral Plan strongly urges all volunteers who work with youth (whether at the parish, deanery, or diocesan levels) to participate in Volunteer Canada’s 10 step screening process. Please refer to the "Screening in Faith" resource, recommended for use in the Diocese of Algoma, to determine appropriate screening measures for various positions and ministry situations.

As a first step, specific to the leadership positions referred to in the Pastoral Plan, the following high-risk positions will require completed police checks (to be kept on file at the Synod Office):

• Diocesan Youth Consultant
• Deanery Youth Coordinators and Adult Assistants
• Adult appointees to the Youth Ministry Committee
• Adult cabin leaders at Youth Synod

©2006 Diocese of Algoma

since March 4, 2006