Category: The Network
Why is No One Talking About This?
A few months ago, I came across a powerpoint slide that Beth Lewis, CEO of Augsburg Fortress Publishers had used as a presentation to a group of pastors at a conference in Florida. (Thanks to Beth Lewis for the slide!) When I saw the numbers, in all honesty, it took my breath away. The slide ...
The App is Back! (Again)
Earlier this week, the Network’s app went back online and fully functional! Whew… Some of you have tracked the saga for the last six months. But in a nutshell: The company that we worked with to develop the app, iGivings, which focuses on mobile apps for congregations, went through an organizational crisis. In short, ...
New Network Board Members Appointed
Sue Megrund and Tom Schwolert have been appointed to fill vacancies on the Board of Directors of the ELCA Youth Ministry Network. Their three year terms will begin at the conclusion of the Network’s Extravaganza, January 30-February 3, 2014. Sue Megrund is the co-founder of Interserve Ministries, an organization based in Minneapolis that works with ...
Regional Facilitator Selection Is On!
Every year, 3 of the ELCA regions are up to select (or reappoint) their Regional Facilitator. This year, Regions 1, 4 and 5 are due up to select their RF. We have modified the selection process for RF’s this year as well. Our new process isn’t powered by election, but by a matching of skill ...
Leadership Happens
Someone recently made a comment to me about the leadership structure of the Network that piqued my curiosity. Someone wondered how leadership was developed within the Network, and if the Network’s leadership structure was ‘insular.’ It’s a great question, and one that we need to regularly be taking a look at. So I decided to ...
Nadia is Going on the Road!
At the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans last summer, something unusual happened. First, understand that the main stage program is always good. Speakers…music…video…production…it’s all done really really well. But in the years that I have been at the event, the ideas are what people walk away with. A year later, I’ll hear our young ...
Musicians & Artists & Speakers, oh my!
It’s a phone call that comes in fairly often: “We’re planning a big event for our (fill in the blank…congregation…synod…conference…etc…) and we’re looking for a speaker and a musician. We want a (fill in the blank: (soloist…band…loud…acoustic…etc…). Does the Network have a listing, or a directory, or a recommendation or anything that can help us?” ...
So What Would Google Do?
I am more and more convinced that for the church in all its expressions (congregational… synodical…denominational…) is going to grow into the next era, we are going to need to learn to think very differently. The days of working to protect the institution, and to contain decision making, leadership and power, are pretty much gone. ...
Thanking Jacqui
Years ago, when we were just getting the Network “up and running”, we realized the need for a regular, e-mail newsletter. Something that could both communicate information, and inspire adults who work with young people in their ministry. Who to put this all together? It took approximately 3/10ths of a second to grab the phone ...
Extravaganza: What’s In A Name
I get this question about once a year: “Extravaganza? Why would I go to that? We don’t have the funds for me to go to something that is extravagant!” I thought it might be helpful to explain a bit. First, the history: At our very first, stand-alone event (before that, we had met together prior ...
Network is a Verb 