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Chicago (ELCA)-MR — 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.