Title: ELCA Hosts Youth "Extravaganza" in Atlanta, Jan. 30-Feb. 2
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
January 24, 2003
ELCA HOSTS YOUTH "EXTRAVAGANZA" IN ATLANTA, JAN. 30-FEB. 2
03-011-MR
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) who are committed to strengthening the Christian faith
lives of youth and young adults will gather Jan. 30-Feb. 2 for the 2003
Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza at the Hilton Hotel, Atlanta.
"For the typical youth ministry worker, the extravaganza serves as
a place to get quality education, link with colleagues and be a part of
a community," said Todd Buegler, president, ELCA Youth Ministry Network.
"The extravaganza is a centerpiece, a place for youth ministry
stakeholders to talk about the future of youth ministries," he said.
The extravaganza is an annual event sponsored by the ELCA Youth
Ministry Network, an organization that brings together youth ministry
workers from ELCA congregations and from other areas of the church that
provide leadership in youth ministry.
Buegler, director for youth and family ministries, Lord of Life
Lutheran Church, Maple Grove, Minn., said youth ministry as a profession
is maturing. Youth workers "are looking at youth ministry in the long
term, as they embrace a broader sense of vision and create support
systems."
Buegler said the work life of a youth worker is short. "The
typical turnover rate is three to three-and-a-half years. We want to
lengthen that life span." One way to do that, Buegler said, is to help
youth ministers recognize their "spiritual selves. By helping them
explore their spirituality they can, in turn, strengthen spirituality
among young people."
The Youth Ministry Network is a valuable service to youth workers,
according to Buegler. "The Network offers encouragement and support,
particularly in connecting youth workers with others locally, and it
offers information and advice, such as how to manage a youth ministry
budget. For example, if gas prices go up in the summer, how can youth
workers afford to take kids on trips?"
Extravaganza 2003 will feature more than 30 workshops. Topics
range from dealing with stress and burnout to including children in
worship. The workshops are designed to provide training, share new
ideas and inspire youth ministry leaders. Eight "Intensive Care"
workshops will be conducted Jan. 29.
Keynote presentations will be delivered by Dr. David W. Anderson,
author of "The Child in Our Hands," and recently affiliated with the
Youth and Family Institute located at Augsburg College, Minneapolis; the
Rev. Barbara Berry-Bailey, associate director for worship, ELCA Division
for Congregational Ministries; Curt Cloninger, a Christian and a
professional actor and writer, Duluth, Ga.; Sunitha Mortha, director of
international music ministry bands, Youth Encounter, Minneapolis; Helen
Musick, professor of youth ministry, Asbury Theological Seminary,
Wilmore, Ky.; Tex Sample, coordinator of the Network for the Study of
U.S. Lifestyles, Goodyear, Ariz.; and the Rev. Hal C. Weldin, director
of distributive learning, Youth Leadership, a youth ministry training
organization, Minneapolis.
The event will feature worship and music from Peter Eide,
Eyewitness, the Fitz Family, Tracy Howe, Voices of Atlanta and Celia
Whitler.
-- -- --
Information about the 2003 Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza is
maintained at http://www.elcaymnet.org/extravaganza/2003/index.shtml on
the Internet.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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