Episcopal teens ages 16 to 19 are invited to apply to become part of the 82nd General Convention’s Official Youth Presence, a group whose members have seat and voice in the House of Deputies and can testify at hearings before and during the summer 2027 convention. The deadline to apply is Nov. 20—members will be announced in February.
Up to two youth from each of the church’s nine provinces will be selected to participate in the Official Youth Presence (OYP) from July 3-8, 2027, in Phoenix, Arizona. Youth who are selected must also attend orientation and training in Phoenix from March 4-7. The Episcopal Church budget covers travel, lodging, and meals for those attending orientation and General Convention.
Additional criteria are listed on the application form. Find a nomination form here. Nominators must not be related to the applicant.
“Young people are not simply the future of The Episcopal Church—they are part of the church’s leadership and discernment right now,” said House of Deputies President Julia Ayala Harris. “The Official Youth Presence brings their voices, wisdom, and lived experience into the heart of General Convention. I hope young Episcopalians from across the church will hear this invitation and know: your voice matters, your perspective matters, and there is a place for you here.”
The Episcopal Church Office for Youth Ministries is coordinating the application and discernment process in collaboration with the president of the House of Deputies.
“Youth selected to be part of the 82nd General Convention’s Official Youth Presence will get to meet and listen to youth from across the church in our new integrated programs for children, youth, and young adults,” said Canon Myra Garnes, officer for youth, young adult, and campus ministries. “Our hope is that this will allow OYP members to better represent the voice and concerns of young Episcopalians while being immersed in the governance, structure, and polity of The Episcopal Church. OYP has been formational for many current churchwide leaders, and I encourage youth to begin discerning this opportunity.”
The General Convention, which normally meets every three years, is The Episcopal Church’s governing body. It comprises the House of Deputies, with more than 1,200 clergy and lay deputies elected from every Episcopal diocese, and the House of Bishops, with around 125 active members.
