The next step
It is an exciting outcome after two years.
In response to our obvious need, the Synod has for two years considered a process to develop parish-based youth ministries in the Diocese. The outcome has been exciting at two levels.
The first is that a way of supporting youth in all parishes, no matter what size or strength, was agreed. Secondly, a means of supporting that process through training and staff resourcing was agreed.
The exciting next step is that the Ministry Council has recently launched a Youth Ministry Development Grants Scheme. Youth Ministry Development Grants are available for the development of Youth Ministry Trainees, Youth Ministry Workers and Youth Ministers in the Diocese.
The grants will attempt to meet the Synod's challenge in 2007 that significant effort and resources be allocated to the development of parish-based youth ministries.
Grants will only be made to parishes who agree to work with the requirements of the Ministry Council's Youth Ministry Development Program. This requirement will allow parishes to explore youth ministries knowing that they are not alone but linked to a diocesan mentoring and training. $28 000 a year has been allocated to this scheme.
- provide for cost of participation in the Youth Ministry Develop Training Program to a max of $1000;
- provide for the payment of an ministry allowance of stipend if appropriate to a maximum of $6000.
In most circumstances the Ministry Council will look to support projects that can operate for two years. The dollar for dollar partnership with the Diocese is expected to allow parishes to employ a Youth Ministry Worker or Youth Ministry Worker for approx two days per week. This will enable small, but hopefully the first, steps toward the development of youth ministry across our parishes.
Full details of the scheme are available in each parish and on the Diocesan website.