Youth Ministry

Youth Ministries

Enhancing faith formation


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Our Mission:
To grow as disciples and serve as apostles by exploring and sharing our faith through worship, fellowship, and love.

Welcome! Our diocesan youth ministry program is designed to enhance the faith formation of our youth by broadening their spiritual development through a variety of youth events, including weekend retreats throughout the program year and opportunities for camp and service-learning during the summer. Through peer ministry, our youth serve as the face of Jesus for each other, live into servant ministry, strengthen their faith, build Christ-centered relationships, and become empowered in the leadership of our Church.

The diocese also provides enrichment for youth workers and volunteers by offering opportunities for networking, professional development, spiritual formation, and resources for our Diocesan Youth Ministers (DYM) through regular DYM meetings, as well as coaching and consulting for individual parishes.

Youth Ministry

 

Youth ministry in our diocese
is vibrant and strong.

 

The programs at local parishes contribute to the strength of youth ministry, and our diocesan opportunities also enhance the Christian formation of our youth. We depend on the dedicated involvement of youth ministers, as well as clergy, musicians, and numerous other volunteers, in order to be able to provide such a thriving diocesan youth ministry.

To receive information about youth ministry in the diocese, please email Jen Manning, Missioner of Youth, Campus, and Young Adult Ministries at jmanning@dioala.org.
Youth Ministry

Safeguarding God’s Children

All youth workers and volunteers must complete training for Safeguarding God’s Children. These forms need to be printed and completed by each individual. Please read these forms carefully as you complete them.

The background check form and the safeguarding online training registration form need to be sent to the diocese. Mailing instructions are included in these forms. All other forms need to be submitted to the parish administrator to be retained permanently in the parish files.

Safeguarding God’s Children
Youth Ministry

Happening

HAPPENING is one of those things that must be experienced to be fully understood. During the three-day weekend, the 10-12th grade participants spend time seriously considering the person and teaching of Jesus Christ in a relaxed, fun, informal and loving atmosphere. They are provided with opportunities to share, discuss, learn and live with fellow Christians in an environment of acceptance and understanding. More information and registration can be found on the Happening Website!

Upcoming Happening Events:

Happening #85: November 8-10, 2024
St. Stephen’s Birmingham

Happening #86: March 7-9, 2025
St. John’s Decatur

The Youth Department

The Youth Department is a group of twelve youth (10th-12th grade students) elected by their peers to represent the Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) in the Diocese of Alabama. They meet monthly to plan and host events for the diocesan youth community, and represent them at Diocesan Council meetings as well as the annual Diocesan Convention. They are guided by six adult advisors, the diocesan Missioner for Youth, Campus, and Young Adult Ministries, and two spiritual directors.

Dio Day Fall Festival – Sunday, October 13, 2-4pm at All Saints in Birmingham Over 80 participants joined us for an afternoon of games, fellowship, fun, and a costume contest for our first ever Fall Festival for grades 7-12! The highlight of the day was “pie a priest” where youth who brought canned goods to donate to a local food bank had a chance to pie our participating clergy and our YD Chair even got to pie Bishop G! We had a great time and look forward to next year’s gathering.

Christmas Conference at Camp McDowell – December 28-30, 2024 All 9-12th graders, please join us for Christmas at camp! Our theme this year is “Destination Faith: Where is your faith taking you?” and our Program Director will be Rev. Emily Brown from Christ Church Tuscaloosa. Registration is available HERE. Cost to attend is $185 and financial assistance is available upon request. For questions or additional information please contact Nick Mielke, YD Advisor and Christmas Conference Registrar, at alabamayouth@gmail.com.

EYC Convention LockIn and YD Elections – January 31- Feb 1, 2024 9-12th graders are encouraged to attend our EYC Convention Lock In in Decatur! We will attend part of diocesan convention and hold our 2025-2026 YD Elections. More information will be available along with registration in December 2024.

Spring Conference at Camp McDowell – April 4-6, 2025 for grades 9-12 More information will be available in 2025.
  • Interested in serving in the Youth Department?

    Eligible candidates for Youth Department are:

    • 10th – 12th graders (during their term on the Youth Department)
    • Confirmed Episcopalians (or going to be confirmed within the year)
    • Residents in the Diocese of Alabama (at-large members) or within the district in which they are running to represent
    • Able to fulfill the duties of attending convention, each of the monthly YD meetings, special events hosted by YD, their respective district meetings, and are active in their local EYC

    The YD is elected by those present at our annual EYC Convention, which is held concurrently with our Diocesan Convention.

    For more information about Youth Ministry in the Diocese, please contact Jen Manning, Missioner for Youth, Campus, and Young Adult Ministries, 256-655-5460, jmanning@dioala.org.