Youth & Family Ministry

SCSW Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Network

The South-Central Synod of Wisconsin-ELCA Youth & Family Ministry Network maintains a strong online community via our Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/scswyouth/). Lay leaders, volunteers, pastors, and church staff engage with one another via posts and in-person conference networking. There is idea sharing, problem-solving and general conversation. The network provides support to one another in cooperation with the national ELCA Youth Ministry Network and the Region V Network facilitator allowing our synod to connect to other youth and family ministry leaders from across the country.

For more information about Youth & Family Ministry in the synod or to get connected please complete this form to be added to our email and information list, contact Marie Leafblad in the synod office, or reach out our current network convener:

Heather Greenley
Central Lutheran – Edgerton
(608) 884-9418
youth_clc@yahoo.com

Synod Youth Ministry 2023/24

In late-August we shared via email and USPS mail a letter along with flyers sharing a host of information on youth ministry in our synod including support, learning opportunities, youth events, and preparing for the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering. Below are copies of that letter and flyers for download:

Are you a leader in your congregation for children, youth, and/or family ministry? We want to get to know you. Share your information with us whether you are paid staff or volunteer so we can keep you up to date by completing the form HERE.

Monthly CYFMN Zoom Gatherings

When: Monthly (September-May) on the 2nd Thursday, 10:30am – 12:00pm
Where: Zoom Webinar
Who: All in our synod who work in children, youth, family, cross+gen, and camp ministries.
Why: This is a time to share ideas, as well as our ups and downs of ministry with people who have similar experiences. We also spend time to pray with and for one another Be sure to follow our Facebook group for full details: https://www.facebook.com/groups/scswyouth/.

“Alive” Synod Youth Night

We are excited to offer a new youth ministry program—“Alive” Youth Night, a series of youth-focused events for middle and high school students and youth leaders from synod congregations.  All congregations are invited to join us from 5:30 p.m. – ~7:30 p.m.for an evening of dinner, games, icebreakers, fun, worship and music. The cost of the event is just a suggested donation of $5.00 to cover the cost of food (paid via cash/check [payable to the host church] onsite). We ask for an RSVP with an estimate of attendance prior to each event for planning purposes but know that everyone is welcome. You may RSVP for our October Alive Night by completing the form below.

Save the Dates for our 2023-24 “Alive” Nights:

  • Wednesday, October 11, 2023 @ Central Lutheran (Edgerton)
  • Sunday, February 4, 2023 @ Immanuel Lutheran (Watertown)
  • Wednesday, April 24, 2024 @ Evangelical Lutheran (Mt. Horeb)

Want to know more? You can read about 2023-24 slate of Alive Night themes, dates, and locations HERE.

If you have any questions please contact Marie Leafblad via her contact information on the synod staff page.

October 11, 2023 Alive Night RSVP


ELCA Youth Gathering

A hallmark of youth ministry in the ELCA and the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin is the ELCA Youth Gathering. Every three years ~30,000+ high school youth and their adult leaders from across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America gather for a week of faith formation known as the ELCA Youth Gathering. Through days spent in interactive learning, worship, Bible study, service and fellowship, young people grow in faith and are challenged and inspired to live their faith in their daily lives.

An important part of the Gathering’s ministry are the two pre-events, the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE), a faith formation and leadership development event primarily for youth of color, and the tAble, a gathering that gathers, blesses and empowers youth with disabilities.

The 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering will take place July 16-20, 2024. Visit the ELCA Youth Gathering page to learn more at https://elca.org/gathering.

For more information on our synod’s plans or if you have questions about starting to plan with your congregation please reach out:

Pastor Jason Poole-Xiong
Gathering Synod Champion
jasonx@scsw-elca.org
(608) 387-8560

Resources