The Young Leader Formation Team
- focuses on the spiritual formation and leadership development of youth and young adult leaders in our congregations and Presbytery.
- facilitates/organizes/promotes youth and young adult participation in Triennium and other mission and learning focused events that nurture spiritual leaders who will shape the church in the future
- provides for local leadership development and spiritual formation opportunities for youth and young adults.
- nurtures and supports connections and networks of paid and unpaid leaders whose focus is youth and young adult ministry within the Presbytery.
A Full Year of Exciting Young Leader Formation News – Events- Resources
Read All About It!
The Young Leader Formation Team hosted its Annual Summer Workshop for Youth Leaders on Sunday, August 25th from 2 – 6:30 pm. We were hosted on the beautiful grounds of Johnsonburg Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center.
Our speaker was Liz Moore, Assistant Director of the Institute for Youth Ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary, who led us in a Youth Ministry Design Workshop. oversees the Certificate in Youth and Theology Program and develops training and resources for youth workers. She led the group of about 20 people from the Highlands and neighboring presbyteries through the design-thinking and planning process as a way to help us imagine and innovate ways to connect with and serve young people in our churches and communities.
The room was energized as we moved through the steps of the design-thinking process!
Empathize: gain an understanding of the young people you are seeking to minister to. . . what do they say, think, feel and do?
Define the problem/need or opportunity and consider how the church is uniquely poised to help.
Liz encouraged us to “fall in love with the problem” and come alongside young people with empathy rather than thinking the young people themselves are the problem, which they are not. Refine your thinking into a “How might we” statement. . . “How might we (verb) a (adjective, noun) so that (group) can (verb).”
For example, “How might we nurture a safe, loving, inclusive and wider space so that young people can discover their identity as beloved children of God?”
Ideate – brainstorm without limitations or filters, ways to respond to the “how might we” statement.
Prototype – Choose the idea that seems to best address the “how might we” in a way that is doable within your ministry context. Develop a plan of action, knowing it will need refining over time.
Test – Liz mentioned “the pancake principle.” The first pancake never comes out quite right and you make adjustments over time. Your ideas and plans will also need refining over time. It is important to know that failure is a part of the process and to look at moments of “failure” as opportunities to learn and adjust and refine and grow. Liz also shared a quote from the Vineyard Ministry – Faith is spelled R-I-S-K. We were all challenged to put that quote into action!
The Design-thinking process is helpful for all areas of church planning. Slides and resources from the workshop can be found on the Young Leader Formation Team Webpage (see link below). Our time together closed with worship, led by Katherine Scott-Kirschner and a meal provided by Johnsonburg.
Mark your calendars now for August 31, 2025 for our next Young Leader Formation Workshop!
Photos
Steve Shussett interviews Steve Gaden, who recently attended the APCE Conference 2024 ( Association of Partners in Christian Education)
Family Spirituality Day 2024
Learn more here
YLF Webinar with Megan DeWald - Building Innovative Ministry with Young People
YLF Webinar with Megan DeWald – Building Innovative Ministry with Young People
Resource materials from Megan DeWald’s presentation.
- Resources for Innovation in Youth Ministry
- Building Innovative Youth Ministry
- The IDEO Shopping Cart Challenge from ABC Dateline (straight outta the early 90s!)
- The Milkshake Story from Clay Christenson
- How Wolves Change Rivers (An example of emerging ecologies, called “trophic cascades,” when new variables are introduced)
- The Story of Frodrick (A quick example of design thinking in action)
Designing Youth Ministry…for Now - 2023 YLF Workshop
The Spiritual Child
Young Adult Advisory Delegate to the Synod of the Northeast
A Gathering for Youth Ministry - 2022 YLF Workshop
2022 Social Justice Summit at Johnsonburg
2025 Presbyterian Youth Triennium
We are seeking volunteers to help with planning a delegation from the Highlands and neighboring Presbyteries to attend Triennium 2025! Please contact Steve Shussett steves@highlandspresbyterynj.org if you are interested in joining the Triennium Planning Team. The information we know so far is listed below:
Programming and meals will be held at the Kentucky International Convention Center with participants staying at nearby Triennium-designated hotels at special PYT rates.
$199 fee includes all programming, registration, meals, an event t-shirt, and more. Housing at Triennium-designated hotels will be an additional cost along with travel which has yet to be determined.
Family Spirituality Day 2025
Save the Date: Family Spirituality Camp – March 1, 2025!
This will be a Saturday morning event designed for families, to support home routines and rituals that encourage spiritual awareness and connection. More information to come!
Local Outreach Opportunities for Youth
Are your initiatives for youth open to all?
If so, send information on youth outreach activities and mission trips to the Presbytery Office!
Thank you to the First Presbyterian Church of Whippany for the many youth-oriented Outreach Opportunities found here!
2024 Youth Mission Trips
If your mission trip is open to the wider community, send dates and contact information to the Presbytery Office
For information on these annual mission trips,
Appalachia Service Project: organized by Denville Community Church. Contact denvilleasp@gmail.com
Community Presbyterian Church of Ringwood. Contact tracyrynkowski@gmail.com
Volunteers in Mission: organized through the Flemington Presbyterian Church. Contact the church’s VIM Team at VIMTeam@flemingtonpres.org
Johnsonburg Camp and Retreat Center
Johnsonburg Camp & Retreat Center
Explore their “Summer Camp” and “Our Programs” page!
Building Innovative Ministry with Young People
YLF Webinar with Megan DeWald – Building Innovative Ministry with Young People
Resource materials from Megan DeWald’s presentation.
- Resources for Innovation in Youth Ministry
- Building Innovative Youth Ministry
- The IDEO Shopping Cart Challenge from ABC Dateline (straight outta the early 90s!)
- The Milkshake Story from Clay Christenson
- How Wolves Change Rivers (An example of emerging ecologies, called “trophic cascades,” when new variables are introduced)
- The Story of Frodrick (A quick example of design thinking in action)
Designing Youth Ministry…for Now
Ministry Collaboratory – Grants & Resources
Megan DeWald, youth ministry support, megan.dewald@ptsem.edu
For more information:
To access resources through the Institute for Youth Ministry at Princeton, go here
For Mission Collaboratory resources/grants for engaging young adults (ages 23-29) in your church ministry, go here
To contact Megan DeWald for more information on youth ministry support: megan.dewald@ptsem.edu
Reimagining Imago Dei in our LGBTQ+Siblings
Child and Youth Protection Policies and Resources
Johnsonburg Camp & Retreat Center
PCUSA Faith Formation QuickSheets
PCUSA Youth and Triennium Resources
Missional Giving Supports Young Adult Ministries