ELCA-Southeastern Synod

 

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America-

Southeastern Synod

 

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 JOIN OUR LIST to get e-mail news directly from Rachel Alley, Southeastern Synod Director for Youth Ministries in your in-box!

 

(This page is administered by the synod office. Please go to www.ses-youth.org to visit the site designed by Southeastern Synod youth for youth and youth leaders.)

Events

Flyers and information about upcoming events

 

Serve & Swim 2008
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SESYALL Event

 

Rau-Wood Camp
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RW-Camp JR High

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RW-Camp Youth

 

 

Grow in Grace

A youth and family ministry training on October 17 & 18, 2008, Trinity Lutheran Church, Lilburn, GA.  Check back for further information.

 

2009 ELCA Youth Gathering

Jesus - Justice - Jazz - July 26-26, 2009, New Orleans, LA

 

Registration Information

 

International Companion Program to the 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering

ELCA Youth Gathering - New Orleans!

MINISTRY CALLING for 800 Young Adult SERVANT COMPANIONS

We need 800 young adults ages 20 to 25, to be Servant Companions at the ELCA Youth Gathering July 20-26, 2009 in New Orleans. You will help lead 36,000 high school youth and adult leaders through a variety of experiences around the theme of Jesus, Justice, and Jazz.

 Each Servant Companion will help welcome, lead, facilitate and care for groups of 45 youth and adult leaders through the Youth Gathering experiences while in New Orleans. This will include service projects, theological reflections and interactions with an area of justice.

 If you are a person who...

·      Senses a calling for youth ministry

·      Is growing in your theology and practices of faith

·      Is excited by being with high school youth

·      Engaging and confident voice that commands and energizes a group of 45

·      Has a confident, welcoming, life affirming personality

·      Listens carefully to concerns and can help problem solve

·      Can “think on your feet”

·      Learn names quickly

·      Has experience with small group facilitating skills

·      Has an interest in justice issues

·      Be okay with not having all the answers.

·      Is able to listen and wonder with youth about ambiguous ideas of theology and sociological issues

·      Is humble, dependable and above all flexible. –The Gumby Pledge!

 Then we need you!

Apply today to join us as a Servant Companion by going to www.elca.org/gathering

<http://www.elca.org/gathering> click on the link that reads “Volunteering at the Gathering” to apply on line.

 

 

Youth Gathering Volunteers Needed

2009 EMCEE Application

Information

 

 

ONGOING

 

"Be a Reformer Tour"

Germany 2008

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Information and Registration

 

The Youth & Family Institute and Center for Youth Ministries at Wartburg Theological Seminary provides a Certification School Training in Youth and Family Ministry

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Information and Registration

 

 

 

E-News

ELCA Southeastern Synod Youth Ministry E-News

July- August 2008

www.elca-ses.org/youth_news.htm

I hope that all of you are having a great summer. If you have some summer stories about your mission trips or funnies about anything that happened at VBS or another event, please email them to me. I would love to share them in the August E-news. We had a fabulous week at Affirm with over 300 youth and 85 staff. I can’t wait for next June. Thanks to Bishop Gordy for serving on staff in the YAYMI unit! Thanks to Asst to the Bishops Delmer Chilton and Nancy Christensen for coming and serving as well. From July 23-August 9, I will be on the Germany “Be A Reformer” Synod Trip with 22 other youth, young adults, and adults from our synod. The next e-news will have a different format. So… be looking for the changes and let me know what you think. 

God Bless!

Rachel

 

Synod Events

Lutheran Night at the Braves Wedne sday July 30

Turner Field  7:10 pm

 Lots of information will be online this year.  You'll be able to request your tickets and make payments.     Simply go to www.atlantalutherans.net and look for the buttons for Lutherans Night at the Braves and Lutherans on Parade.

 

                                Youth Rally                              

Conference #1  Holston – East Tennessee

3:00 pm on August 24, 2008.

Contact Suzanne Wilhoit at wilhoits@hughes.net for details.

 

Finding Your Fit Workshop for High School Youth in Conference 4

at Messiah, Madison, AL  Saturday, September 13, 2008

10 am-4 pm with a Mystery Event to follow

RSVP to Linda at Messiah  256-721-0041

ALL TENNESSEE LUTHERAN YOUTH GATHERING 

November 8-9, 2008
Camp Carson Springs, Newport, TN (hosted by Conference # 1)

Romans 10:17 "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." The Bible is a book of faith, a bearer of Good News, a shaper of lives. This year's theme will support and equip youth is using the Bible as a resource and guide in their daily living.

Basic Information:

bulletPlanned cost ($50 - $55). 
bulletThe format will be a festival setting.  This will include several sites where youth will be able to flow through the camp grounds and experience interactive activities through crafts, music, dramatic arts, storytelling, etc.
bulletThere will be a band and a key note presenter.
bulletEvening free time activities will include a concert, movies, and games.
bulletThere will be evening devotions at the bon fire.
bulletA service project will be part of the festival which will benefit "Appalachian Helping Hands" in support of our troops.

If you have questions, please call Bruce Keicher at (865) 475-8691 or (865) 805-4620 or email at bk4ut@usit.net.

 

All GA Youth Gathering March 6-8, 2009 FFA- FCCLA Camp, Covington, GA Plans are just beginning! Contact Robby to be apart of the team.  rjohnson@stjohnsatlanta.org

 

SESLYO 2009 BE! LOVE! SERVE! REPEAT!

Best when used with the BIBLE!

Southeastern Synod Lutheran Youth Organization Annual Assembly will be like no other! Stay tuned for more information coming soon about date, location, and cost!

   

2009 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans! Registration forms were sent from churchwide to all the congregations. They are also available online and you can click on the synod site and we have a registration link for you there too! Also, my notes from a synod coordinators meeting are posted there as well. We will not have a buses going to the Gathering provided by the synod. If you would like to link up with congregations in your conference or near you and need help. I’ll be happy to help you network with others. Please check the www.elca.org/gathering website often. Lots of stuff is going up daily. And there is a discernment tool to help you pick out which area of interest is best for your youth group! Registration begins on 9/15!

MYLE is the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event that is before the Gathering. The cost is $175 per person which covers hotel, programming, and food. It does not cover travel but I will coordinate if there are enough of us interested in going as a group from the Southeastern Synod. I realize there are multicultural youth that might not get to go to this event because they are the only person in their youth group. So maybe we can go together. If you or if you have youth that would be interested please email me at ralley@elca-ses.org.

 

Young Adults

 SESYALL Fall Event Sept 26-28, 2008

SERVE AND SWIM

We will be heading down to St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Thunderbolt, Ga (Near Savannah) on September 26-28th, for our next retreat, "SERVE & SWIM". St. Luke's has fallen on hard times and NEEDS OUR HELP! More details to follow shortly!
Also- SESYALL is in the midst of becoming more "official" with a mission statement, by-laws, a website, and leadership positions. Email us at sesyall@gmail.com if you would like to lend your gifts to us. Visit us at our facebook and myspace sites as well!

 

Liberty Lutheran Services, a social ministry organization in the Philadelphia area, is seeking a young adult to serve in a volunteer exchange program that they have with a similar organization in Silesia, Czhech Republic. The term of service in the Czech Republic is September 08 to August 09. If you're interested, contact Rev. Bill Erat, werat@libertylutheran.org.

 

Sitting at the Table – a National Gathering of ELCA African American Young Adults will be held in Atlanta October 2-5. Contact Pastor Beverly Wallace for more information. bwallace@elca-ses.org

   

PROJECT CONNECT – www.projectconnect.org

Vocational Discernment Retreat coming up soon - September 12-14, in Orlando. The leadership team is the most ethnically diverse group of leaders ever assembled in the history of the ELCA (yes, we are prone to making exagerations but this one might be true). The leadership team for this retreat includes Larry Clark (Exec Dir Lutheran Theological Ctr in Atlanta); Lily Wu (Metro NY Synod); Reggie Price (LCM at Morgan State); Leila Ortiz & James Smith (LTSP students); Andrea Walker (pastor, St. John's, Summit, NJ); Ruben Duran (ELCA); Uriah Moore (church musician, Baltimore); Ham Hamilton (pastor - St. John, Jacksonville); Rick Malivuk (pastor, All Saints, Lutz, FL). It doesn't get much better than that, folks. Oh yes, also Mark Olsen (LTSG) and Don Johnson (Project Connect).

 

There's an exciting opportunity coming up soon at Ohio State. It's with the Lutheran Campus Ministry there called Jacob's Porch. The internship offers an opportunity for individual gifts for ministry to be utilized in an atmosphere of exploring how to grow your own gifts for ministry. They offer room & board and a monthly stipend. You can get more information at www.jacobsporch.com or email to Jay Gamelin, Lutheran Campus Minister at jay@jacobsporch.com.

 

Gulf Atlantic Lutheran Student Movement Conference at Rock Eagle Feb 20-22, 2009 Contact Erin Chonka for more info: echonka@uga.edu

 

Training Opportunities

Chattanooga Area and Conference 2 Youthworkers Training at Trinity, Hixson, TN on August 21, 2008. Topics covered will be Programming, Spiritual Growth among Youth and Conflict Resolution. Contact Donna to RSVP at dekuberg@comcast.net

 

gngtrans.gifGrow in Grace Southeastern Synod Youth and Family Ministry Training is October 17-18 at Trinity Lutheran in Lilburn, GA with Rollie Martinson, Youth and Family Professor at Luther Seminary.  Registration and workshop information is online at www.growngrace.com

Cost is $25 per person for 2 full days!

 

 

 The Foundations Youth Ministry Conference 2008 September  18-20, Nashville, TN Come join Mark DeVries and the Youth Ministry Architect Team for 3 days of practical training plus a special concert with Mark Schultz!   Go to www.cymt.org/events.htm to register today.

 

The 2008 Breakthrough Leadership Conference from Stephen Ministries is  Oct 12-17 in St. Louis, MO For more information log on to www.breakthroughleadership.org/2008 to learn more and request an information packet and DVD.

 

2008 Youth Specialties National Youthworkers Convention

Sacramento: Oct. 10-13 Pittsburgh: Oct. 31-Nov. 3 Nashville: Nov. 21-24 www.youthspecialties.com

 

http://www.elcaymnet.org/user_files/image/large/NetworkLogoRedBlack_150.jpg
2009 ELCA Youthworkers Extravaganza Youth Ministry Training Event Jan 28-Feb 1 Sheraton Hotel, New Orleans, LA   http://www.elcaymnet.org/

 

 2009 National Youth Ministry Conference by Group Feb 27-Mar 2, Columbus, OH

For Details: http://conference.youthministry.com/

 

Resources

 

CHURCH CHOIR This is a group of people who decided to do something incredibly creative at their church, and they have on white gloves and are performing in front of a black light ... enjoy! Turn your sound on before clicking the link http://www.mychurch.org/blog/30635

 

Check out all the newYouth Specialties Resources in their online Catalog. www.Youthspecialties.com

Check out www.wordle.net  for a creative way to make a poster or brochure for one of your upcoming events!

 

 

 

The ELCA Southeastern Synod supports "Safe Havens" for children and adults

Associate in Ministry Ranate Patrick serves as Safe Haven Consultant for Congregations for our Southeastern Synod.  The primary purpose of this role is to support congregations as they develop Safe Haven Policies (you may call them Boundaries or Youth Protection or any of a number of titles), and to provide support for leaders of synodical youth events as they develop policies to do everything possible to keep our youth and children safe.  Unfortunately, because of the shortfall in mission support, the synod budget cannot provide funds for this work, so any expenses (travel, phone calls, or resources) for her work with your congregation would need to be picked up by the congregation.

If you are developing or reviewing policies that relate to the protection of youth and children, please contact Ranate for any support that she can provide to you.  Ranate can be contacted at (770)978-2011 or by email at ranate@bellsouth.net.

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Southeastern Synod "Safe Haven" Guidelines (.pdf format)

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Safeguarding Children

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ELCA Safe Haven Resources

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Sample Safe Haven Forms   (courtesy Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, Peachtree City, GA)

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Sample Save Haven Manual (provided by South Carolina Synod)

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A Resolution adopted at the Sept 2004 meeting of the Synod Council to protect children and adults, members and visitors, from abuse.

 

 

The following guidelines are brief ideas for helping keep churches safe during VBS.


Please carefully consider guidelines established by your insurance companies.  For more information about child to child sexual activity, contact ELCA Consultant Barbara Keller for a question and answer bulletin.

Email:  Barbara.Keller@elca.org
Telephone:   610-308-3428

Safe Church Suggestions for VBS

Questions to consider:

1.      Are your participants from your congregation and are they children basically known to the leadership?     Or

2.      Are your participants children from the neighborhood that will be mixed in with the children from your congregation?

3.      Will the VBS staff be all people who are basically known by the congregation?

These answers will help you know how much you need to ask about your participants and staff.

Insurance Company

1.      Review your insurance policy to make sure VBS is covered in your policy and that volunteers specific to VBS are covered.

2.      Always talk to your insurance company about changes or additions to you policy.

Staffing Guidelines:

1.      Use the same guidelines for background checks and training that you use for any Sunday school or youth events - especially if they are volunteers who are not well known to the VBS staff.

2.      Consider reducing the numbers of children per staff person because you may be taking children outside, different locations in the building, and you will be spending longer blocks of time than on Sunday morning.

3.      These rules are good practice: The 2 adult rule: adults should be together at all times while children are present and, The 6 month rule:  Each individual staff person needs to be a member or known by the youth director for at least 6 months.


4.      Teenage help needs to be carefully considered.  No minors should have unsupervised contact with children - especially regarding the lavatory. Teenagers should be used as adjunct helpers:  craft activities, snack time, presentations, puppet shows and other drama or music activities.

5.      Staff should avoid driving children unless it is a special field trip with permission slips and with two adults whose driving records have been checked.

Space:
1.      Remember to keep doors open as much as possible.

2.      Watch for areas where children can hide and be unsupervised.

3.      Monitor lavatory times very carefully

The participants:

1.      Keep the ages separated as much as possible.

2.      Watch for any inappropriate touching, child to child, or any excessive aggression.  Sexually reactive children are those who have experienced some inappropriate/early sexualization.  Frequently, they react to their experiences by acting out with other children in a similar way.  Please contact ELCA consultant, Barbara Keller (610-308-3428) for more information on sexually reactive children.


3.      Have parents or guardians fill out a form regarding their children. Consider: certain fears, allergies, other medical concerns, court orders or protection orders.  Ask parents for phone numbers and who are people allowed to pick up their children.

Additional resources
1.      Safe Sanctuaries -  www.discipleshipresources.org
2.      http://synodresourcecenter.org /admin/personnel/volunteers/
3.      www.christianlaw.org/newslette r/articles/protecting_vbs.html
4.      http://www.elca.org/safeplace
5.      http://elca.org/init/safehaven


ELCA Consultant:
Barbara Keller    Barbara.Keller@elca.org
610-308-3428

   

2007-2008 Southeastern Synod 

Lutheran Youth Organization Board

 

Nicole Wirshing, Chair Conference 4
Louis Tillman, Vice Chair, Multicultural
Joey Betterton, Secretary, Conference 7
Shawn Smith, Director of Communication, Conference 8
Ashlyn Neas, Chaplain, Conference 1
Elizabeth Hawkins, Conference 3
Hannah Everheart, Conference 9
David Kilgore, Conference 11
Katie Waara, Conference 13

 

To learn more about SESLYO e-mail ralley@elca-ses.org

 

Click here to view the SESLYO Constitution.

 

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