by Abigal Mandris, UNSLYO President

CSLYOPs stands for the Council of Synod Lutheran Youth Organization Presidents. It took place from November 4 to the 7. It gathers teens from all over the country to meet and talk about what's going on in their Synod. I had the pleasure of representing the Upstate New York Synod this year.

The gathering started off with an enthusiastic welcome from the Carol Joy Holling camp staff in Omaha, Nebraska. Throughout the course of the weekend, meetings and plenary sessions were held not only to discuss business, but to help the youth come closer to God. Amazing keynote speakers contributed presentations that related to the gathering's theme: Overflowing in Thanks, Serving God, and God's people. We also had prayer partners like those during Synod Assembly. In our Prayer Groups we had discussions about serving and time to get to know each other.

God shined through everyone who attended this year's CSLYOPs. I learned a lot about how other Synods and LYOs work. Pastor Laurie Carson-Nelson and I have brought back many great ideas for the LYO this year and it won't be long before you start seeing those actions take place.

God's Peace,

Abigail

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As Synod LYO Advisor I come into contact with many adults who minister to and with youth in congregations. Some are volunteers, others are paid, some are part time, others are members of multi-person staffs. Across the board, I hear a common theme: leaders of youth are enthusiastic, gifted, and called but often feel ill equipped for the task of making disciples of their young charges. Like many aspects of being church, youth ministry is evolving to reflect the lives and needs of disciples in the 21st century. It's important for congregations to recognize this and support youth leaders as they so faithfully fulfill their call. Here are a few thoughts on how your congregation can support youth ministry, whether you have one or two youth led by an aunt or 60 youth led by a full-time, paid and certified youth worker:

1. Encourage spiritual growth and interaction with other youth workers. It's hard to pass on a faith that has become stagnant.
2. Provide up to date training. As in any vocation, youth leaders profit from learning more about their "trade." When a youth leader knows the nuts and bolts of leading youth in the 21st century, the entire congregation benefits. Keep an eye on the LYO section of the synod website for local opportunities; consider one of the Youth Ministry Certification Schools. http://www.elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Ministry/Youth-Ministry/Youth-Ministry-Jobs-and-Training.aspx
3. Give your youth leaders a membership in the ELCA Youth Ministry Network so they can keep in touch with youth workers around the ELCA. http://www.elcaymnet.org/.
4. Require background checks and boundary awareness training, even if everybody is related. These steps can prevent a lot of pain. (http://upstatenysynod.org/document-center/synod-documents/46-background-screening-recommendations)
5. Provide a realistic budget for youth ministry. Expecting youth to earn all their own funds sets it outside the ministry of the congregation, puts a huge pressure on the leaders, and can leave some youth out. Building youth ministry into the budget sends a message to all members that youth are an important and vital part of the faith community.
6. Adults can make cookies, provide pizza, offer to drive, share faith stories, and generally support youth ministry in non-leadership ways. Look a teen in the eye and talk with them about how God is active in your life. Include them in worship leadership. Take their suggestions seriously.
7. Remember that, like most of ministry, much of what a youth leader does is hard to quantify. Sitting with a teen who is struggling, planning devotions and putting together events all take "behind the scenes" time. Much of working with youth involves hearts and emotions, and youth leaders need support and time to recharge.
8. Thank your youth leader sincerely and often. While working with youth is very rewarding, it's a big responsibility to keep God's children safe, listen intently to their deepest concerns, and help seeds of faith grow.

Submitted by Rev. Laurie Carson-Nelson, LYO Advisor

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Planning on attending the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans?! Awesome! You will be among 38,000 youth and adults from across the country coming together to practice justice, discipleship and peacemaking through large group gatherings, service, worship and learning opportunities and so much more! We are here to help you get ready and completely psyched for this amazing experience, so read on:

Get Ready

Registration for the Gathering opens on Sunday, October 9 at 2 pm, and is done online! So gather your registration info for your group and you can enter that info online ahead of time so that on October 9, you only need to click on that Submit button and you're done. As for travelling to the Gathering, that's up to you how you want to get there, but there are several churches interested in sharing transportation. Let us know if your group would be interested in "cooperative travel" or if you already have travel plans and would like to share your bus/plane/train/helicopters...whatever!

Get Trained

Did you know the ELCA has launched the "Practice Discipleship: the ELCA Youth Ministry Training Project?!" It's a series of in-person seminars, online webinars and national youth worker gatherings to not only prepare you for the Gathering, but to train you in your ministry right here at home, right now! The Fall 2011 phase of the in-person seminars are happening at King of Kings, Liverpool on October 15, and as a part of the Youth Worker Training Event at Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center on October 28-29. We'll add other dates if there is interest in areas we haven't covered yet. The online webinars are a series of 7 workshops happening on Sunday afternoons this fall and winter, and will repeat in 2012.

Get Gear...or better yet...design it!

You can go to www.oldlutheran.org now to shop online for advance Gathering "bling!" We are also having a contest to design a Synod t-shirt to wear at the Gathering! Here's how it works: Submit a design that incorporates some Upstate New York element(s), plays on the 2012 Gathering theme, and would be able to be printed in a single color. Submit design entries by December 31, 2011 to: 2012 Gathering T-shirt Designs, c/o NFCLYO, 55 Pleasant Ave., Lancaster, NY 14086 or to rick@nfclyo.org. The winning entry will be selected by January 15, and by February 1 we hope to have the final t-shirt ready to go for ordering for your group.

Get in Touch

There's a ton of resources to get info and be in touch with others about the 2012 Gathering!

On the Web: www.elca.org/gathering (the official Gathering website) Facebook: ELCA Youth Gathering page (official Facebook Gathering page)

Twitter: @elcagathering, or #cwts12 And...there's Synod-wide ways to stay connected with local people going...GREAT way to find out about travel opportunities!

Facebook: Upstate NY Synod National Youth Gathering 2012 Attendees group Upstate NY Synod National Youth Gathering (Adult Youth Leaders) group

Feel free to get in touch with either of us as well for all things Gathering:

Rick Mollenkopf-Grill, Synod Coordinator (for Gathering info and questions): (716) 465-1321 or rick@nfclyo.org

Pastor Justin Johnson, Synod Coach (for Training info and questions): (585) 243-4490 or sttimpastor@yahoo.com

Blessings and prayers as you prepare for next summer in New Orleans!

Submitted by Rick Mollenkopf-Grill

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