Youth Commission Minutes

May 2004

Present- Nick Hurd, Steve Weidman, Andrew Metzloff, Sammi Cutlip, Liam Doherty, James Moffitt, Rachel Phillippi, Lois Carter, Butch and Carol Wiest, Jay Phillippi, Wendy Schumacher, Terra Cutlip, and Jasille Jackman.

Devotions were lead by Rachel Phillippi.

Overnight Convention Event – The convention has been moved to Grand Island, so Jay will ask St. Martins if they will be able to accommodate us. We will need volunteers to help setup and run.

Convention Delegates – We will be choosing Deanery Youth Representatives at the next meeting. Everyone was asked to think of people they feel would be an asset to the convention.

• We tried holding longer meetings once every other month and we evaluated the results.
• Fr. Dan feels that monthly meetings were more effective.
• Jay said that he has had a difficult time with this change because he felt that he was making more decisions on his own.
• James Moffitt moved that meetings return to monthly meetings – seconded by Rachel – motion passed.

• Jay would like to make a calendar with all youth events on it so that he can send them to the congregations for planning.
• He needs all dates from any youth event that will be held during the rest of 2004 and all of 2005.
• Sammi Cutlip moved that we submit information to Jay and keep it updated for the sake of having one diocesan youth calendar – seconded by Rachel P. – motion passed.

• Applications are available at the parishes for Sr. High and Jr. High, Sleep Away will be there shortly. All campers can begin the registration process on Jay’s website, but remember that the registration is not complete until the health form and the $50 deposit is returned.
• Sr. High –
• Only one person has registered as of this meeting. The youth were asked to get their act together and get their applications in.
• Jay is looking for two more male counselors and maybe one more female.
• Jr. High –
• Jr. Counselors and Sr. Counselor applications are available on the "Other Official Jr. High Camp Website".

LCLC – Glen Oswald (Executive Director of the Camp) told us a little about the campgrounds and expressed interest of the Lutheran and Episcopal Church sharing some programs there. Jay is also on the planning board.

• Jay proposed that we adapt standards for youth and adults at youth events. These standards were passed out and read by all.
• Discussion was held on the open-door policy, Happening and other meetings are strictly for the members of that committee.
• Discussion was held about New State Law and Canon Law, do they agree and are we following both?
• Butch spoke to the fact that the Diocese is in a "Crash" position – people are looking at us and we don’t want anything to be done that might jeopardize the youth ministries of this diocese.
• Diocesan Council is very pleased that we are working on this.
• Discussion regarding Guidelines and/or Standards
• There were two amendments presents. One added Bullying and intimidation (the threat of use of physical violence) to the section that addresses Violence. The other one was added to the section that deals with the use of tobacco. If an adult must smoke while on a youth event, they must be in a discrete designated place that is away from any youth.
• Liam moved that Youth Commission accepts these proposed Standards, seconded by Terra, motion was carried.
• Terra moved that we submit this to the Resolutions committee at the Diocesan Convention, to be adopted by the diocese.
• Discussion was held on the process of getting this to convention and what happens while at convention.
• Motion was passed.

Bishop Robinson Society – youth and young adult ministries.

• This is intended to be an independent funding source for youth ministry.
• One major setback – Campus Ministry will close, making need to change the program of The Bishop Robinson Society Events.
• How important is youth ministry to you?
• We need testimonials – either written or verbal
• Talk to your parish convention delegates, tell them how important this is to you.
• Find your Deanery representative on Diocesan Council and let them know what the youth ministries in the diocese mean to you.
• Over the summer take a look at the youth ministries that you are involved in and prioritize.

At 5:10 Liam moved to adjourn the meeting, James seconded and motion was passed.