Track the Young Adult Festival at General Convention 2009

Videos, blogs, photos & more!

In less than a week thousands of Episcopalians will converge on Anaheim for our church's triennial gathering. We'll be there along with 70 young adults at the third Young Adult Festival at General Convention.Click the above link to visit our official page and track the experience of young adults at GC 2009.

July 2009

We have all heard--and most of us have at one point or another said--that the Church is the people not the building. And yet, as many college chaplains will attest, a building doesn't hurt. Even young adult ministers, who win the "Most Likely to Meet Off the Church Property" award, will insist on the importance of place. Be it a pub, the Canterbury house, or our parish Sanctuary, while a place may not be the Church itself, it is in many ways vital to how we experience the Church.

"Space," then, is a central concern when working with any age group. For us, the question may take the form of "what kind of spaces are inviting and safe for young adults?"or "how do we create spaces that support and nurture the potential of young adults?"or "what motivates young adults to seek out and inhabit spaces that challenge and engage them as they grow?" In reality, we must foster a network of spaces that can support and hold all of the vital work we do with and for young adults & students.

The articles this month suggest just such a constellation of spaces--physical, social and even virtual--where the powerful work of young adult ministry takes place. They offer stories of individual journeys to create those spaces, spaces appropriate to the needs and concerns of the communities from which they arise. Consider the spaces you inhabit, the atmospheres you minister in. Consider the who, what, where and when of those spaces. Are they spaces where young adults are seen and recognized for their created beauty? Are they spaces where people are fed and transformed? Are they spaces where the spirit moves and challenges young adults, and us through them? Spend some time in this space and send us your thoughts.

Paz y fuego,

Douglas, Jason & Miguelina

Cafe Canterbury by Max Williams, Texas A&M University

In campus ministry, one finds oneself trying anything possible to get people in the door.  From free food to a couch to crash on late at night while studying to a TV with cable.  When it comes down to it, students (and young adults as a whole) are going to gravitate to places that are centers of welcome and places that will accept them in the midst of the stage of discovery that they are in .... >>>

Chillin' on the Web by Josh Thomas, Diocese of New Hampshire

In an effort to stay connected with high school graduates and college
 students, the Diocese of New Hampshire is 
launching a new website this summer, www.nhepiscopalstudents.org. It
 offers one centralized web presence for the 
five campus ministries across the state.... >>>

Meet the St. Jamesians by Kate Salisbury, St. James Church in New York City

I was recently explaining to somebody that one of the nice things about using the Lectionary is that, if one were to participate fully in our worship for three years, one would hear most of what the Bible has to teach us about our faith. At St. James’ Church, we take a similar approach to planning the calendar for our 20s & 30s group... >>>

Does it fit? by Miguelina Espinal, Pastoral Leadership Search Effort (PLSE)

On June 1-4, a wonderful group of young people of color met at The University of the South, Sewanee, TN to explore ministry in community while celebrating their cultures. The Does it Fit Conference, a collaborative effort between the Ethnic Ministries Offices and the Pastoral Leadership Search Effort-PLSE, was a rich experience ... >>>