Renew…Educate…Connect…
CHICAGO (Jan. 18, 2023) — The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), partnered with the ELCA Youth Ministry Network, has received a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish the Formation Lab Project. The goal of the project ...
The Network is excited to welcome Alyssa Engedal to the Network leadership team. This Fall, Alyssa will begin serving as the Network’s finance director. Alyssa currently serves as the Faith Formation Minister at Immanuel Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation in ...
Extravaganza 2023 participants will have an opportunity to learn how to stretch their thinking and tap into their imagination as they wonder about new directions for their ministry. One of the Intensive Care Courses being offered this year is “Imagination: The Curiosity ...
Hello Network! Members of the Network community are invited to come together for “Oasis: A Place Between” on November 10. Oasis is a digital webinar and a time of learning and connection that is designed for both volunteers and professionals ...
by Rev. Dan Fugate; Chairperson of the Network Board of Directors The recipient of the 2022 Thomas Hunstad Award is so accomplished and has provided so much leadership in the church in general and in the area of children, youth, and family ministry in general, that we have a hard time trying to choose what ...
Like many of you, I’ve been watching the updates coming in from Ukraine. And like many of you, my heart has broken, seeing the conflict develop, people fleeing, the sights of bombs going off and images of families being separated. This is horrible. It’s terrible. On so many different levels, it’s just so very wrong. ...
Hello friends, Our ELCA camps and outdoor ministry sites are in deep need right now and are asking for our help. Coming out of the pandemic, and a year where they either didn’t operate or they worked to provide online ministry opportunities for campers and their families, they are now struggling to recruit enough staff ...
Dear friends, At this year’s Extravaganza, ELCA staff members and many of the team leaders from the ELCA Youth Gathering were present to talk about the cancellation of the 2022 Gathering and the transition to the 2024 Youth Gathering. And at this event, Deacon Tammy Jones West was introduced as the new Interim Director of the ...
Hello friends, By now, you have probably seen the notification from the ELCA Youth Gathering, letting the community know that the 2022 Youth Gathering in Minneapolis will not take place. Instead, the Gathering leadership will pivot and begin working on the 2024 event. We want to let you know that the 2022 Extravaganza, scheduled for ...
Dear Network friends, The Extravaganza planning team has updated our COVID protocols for our gathering next month at the Hilton in Minneapolis. We are committed to an event that fulfills our mission and our goals: Powerful spiritual renewal, quality continuing education and great networking. At the same time, we are committed to an event that keeps participants ...
Dear friends, It is with deep sadness that I write to share the news of the death of Rev. Heidi Hagstrom. Heidi died last night around midnight, in the presence of her family members. Heidi had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer last year. Heidi served most recently as the pastor of Fields ...
Hello friends, The ELCA Youth Ministry Network has made the decision to require onsite Extravaganza 2022 participants to have COVID vaccinations, or a negative COVID test no more than 72 hours prior to the start of the event, in order to participate. We ask our onsite registrants to be prepared to show proof of vaccination ...
The results of the 2021 Salary Survey are in and available for you to use. The goal of the salary survey is to serve as a starting point for congregational conversations about budget, salary and compensation. Facts are our friends, and being able to look at data as it relates to the size of your ...
A couple of days ago, I came across a social media post by Rev. Beth Wartick, of Resurrection Lutheran Church in Ankeny, Iowa. I read it, and then read it again. And I realized that it is a really good description of the journey that we have been on. I could see myself within it. ...
Network is a Verb 