Dear Friends,
In the ever-shifting landscape of faith formation, the pursuit of knowledge and growth is not just a luxury but a necessity. We are excited to share a new feature on the ELCA Youth Ministry Network’s website: a personalized tool for tracking your continuing education. This development marks a significant step in our collective journey of lifelong learning and professional development.
The Power of Continuing Education
Children, youth and family ministry, at its heart, is about walking with young people as they navigate life, and helping them realize who God created them to be as they deepen their faith. As we engage with a generation that’s more connected, informed, and diverse than ever, our methods, understanding, and insights must continue to grow. Continuing education empowers us to stay abreast of the latest trends, theories, and practices in faith formation, ensuring that we can effectively connect with and support the young people we serve.
Personalized Learning Paths
Recognizing the unique journey each of us undertakes in ministry, the new tracking tool on our website allows you to track your experiences. Whether you’re exploring new theological concepts, brushing up on counseling techniques, or delving into the complexities of modern youth culture, this tool helps you keep track of your progress, set goals, and reflect on your learning journey.
When you participate in Network events, like the Extravaganza, or Oasis, or other events, your participation will automatically be recorded in your “transcript.” In addition, you can manually add other events and learning opportunities that you take elsewhere.
Not only will this help you track what you do and identify areas for growth, it will produce for you a report that you can share with your supervisor, or your personnel committee, to demonstrate your commitment to personal and professional growth.
Building a Community of Learners
Learning is not a solitary activity. It thrives in a community where experiences, insights, and challenges are shared. Our website’s tracking tool is designed not just to record your individual progress but to foster a sense of community among us. By sharing our learning goals and achievements with colleagues, we can inspire and learn from each other, creating a vibrant, knowledgeable, and supportive network of youth ministry professionals.
To Access
To access your tracking tool, log in to the Network web site. On your welcome page, click on the link that says “Continuing Education Hours.” There, you will see your transcript. And, from there, you can click on “Add Credit” to enter continuing education events that are not automatically listed by the Network.
A Commitment to Excellence
This ability to record and track the learning we do will pair well with the recommended Leadership Competencies that the Network created a few years ago. This document can point you in directions where you may want to dive deep into learning.
Incorporating continuing education into our professional lives is a testament to our commitment to excellence in ministry. It reflects our dedication to the youth we serve and our desire to grow not just as professionals, but as individuals. This commitment is now made more accessible and manageable through the ELCA Youth Ministry Network’s website.
As we embark on this journey of continuous learning and growth, let’s embrace the opportunities that lie ahead. The new education tracking tool is more than just a feature on a website; it’s a gateway to enriching our ministry and, ultimately, better serving the youth who look to us for guidance, support, and inspiration.
Together, let’s continue to learn, grow, and become the best versions of ourselves for the sake of the young people we are called, and privileged to serve.
In Faith and Fellowship,
Todd
Rev. Todd Buegler
Executive Director; ELCA Youth Ministry Network
Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church; Owatonna, Minnesota
Network is a Verb 