The Children's Charter for the Church was passed by the General Convention in 1997 to commit the Episcopal Church to: a) nurture of the child, b) ministry to the child, c) ministry of the children. (Department: Ministries with Young People)

Basic youth ministry resources are available:
Resource Book for Youth and Young Adult Ministries -- 400 pages of practical and theoretical articles
Handbook for Ministries with Young Adolescents (ages 10-15) -- introductory material, 133 pp.
Handbook for Ministries with Older Adolescents (ages 16-19) -- introductory material, 143 pp.
(Department: Ministries with Young People)

Campus Ministry Startup Kit is a compilation of resources for any congregation or ministry beginning work on college and university campuses. (Department: Ministries with Young People)

A Resource Officer for Ministries with Young People was appointed in 2001 -- this was a new position authorized by the 2000 General Convention with a focus on producing new internet, print, and video resources for Ministries with Young People. (Department: Ministries with Young People)

A new Young Adult and Higher Education Ministries Officer was appointed in 2002. (Department: Ministries with Young People)

Ministry on the Frontier: The Contribution of Episcopal Campus Ministry to the Present and Future Church was completed in July 2000, a joint publication of the Episcopal Society for Ministry in Higher Education, The Episcopal Church Foundation, and the Office for Young Adult & Higher Education Ministries. (Department: Ministries with Young People)

There are seven Episcopal Church-operated young adult intern programs; a directory is available. (Department: Ministries with Young People)

What is planned


A church-wide Christian formation gathering Will Our Faith Have Children? will feature over twenty parallel educational tracks covering all areas of faith formation in February 2003 with an emphasis on younger people. We are prepared for 600 participants and featured speakers will be responding to video footage of faith stories taken at four sites across the USA. This event will be produced by the Office for Children's Ministries and Christian Education and the Episcopal Council for Christian Education. Confirmed speakers include Robert Kegan of Harvard's School of Education, noted author and teacher Parker Palmer, and Bishop Michael Curry. (Department: Ministries with Young People)

An ecumenical vocational exploration in service week sponsored by the Episcopal Church will take place in New York City May 17-24, 2002, led by Episcopal Chaplain to Kansas State University Matthew Cobb. Young adult participants will spend a week working in hands-on service to homeless and hungry persons, learn the skills of social analysis, and reflect theologically on the situation and their calling. (Department: Ministries with Young People)

The Episcopal Youth Event is a triennial gathering of high school-aged youth and their adult sponsors slated to attract over 1,400 to Laramie, Wyoming in July 2002. This is the second-largest representative gathering of Episcopalians (next to General Convention). (Department: Ministries with Young People)

Come to the Feast is a biennial ecumenical gathering of young adults and young adult ministers to resource and energize congregational and regional ministry. The next gathering is May 24-27, 2002 in San Diego, CA, and we expect over 500 in attendance. (Department: Ministries with Young People)

New Campus Ministers' Orientation attracts over 35 new campus ministers each year, including parish-based, lay, and peer ministers. The Rev. Dr. Gary Brower, Episcopal Chaplain at University of California/Berkeley is this year's facilitator. The event is free and subsidized by the Office for Young Adult & Higher Education Ministries and administered by the Episcopal Society for Ministry in Higher Education. June 18-19, 2002 at Tulane/LSU Medical Centers, New Orleans. (Organization: Episcopal Society for Ministry in Higher Education)

Continuing Education Event for Campus Ministers is held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the Episcopal Society for Ministry in Higher Education (ESMHE). Over 150 participants are expected in New Orleans for this annual event June 19-22, 2002 at Tulane/LSU Medical Centers in New Orleans. (Organization: Episcopal Society for Ministry in Higher Education)

Over 2,000 college and university students from seven partner communions, including the Episcopal Church, will gather in Albuquerque, NM at the fourth quadrennial ecumenical student gathering, Celebrate! Weave Us Together. Featured speakers include Habitat for Humanity founder Milllard Fuller, spiritual director Marilyn Ascarza, and former basketball star Paula McGee.

Are you called? an event focused on vocation for 1,000+ young people, including children, youth, and young adults featuring all orders and types of ministry, celebrating the ministries of young people. Space has been tentatively reserved for meetings during the main weekend of General Convention 2003 in Minneapolis. (Department: Ministries with Young People)