Diocese of Oregon: Youth Ministries

The Episcopal Diocese of Oregon includes 75 churches and five campus ministries. Our name is a little misleading — actually, the Diocese of Oregon is really the Diocese of WESTERN Oregon, and it ends at the Cascades.  (The other two-thirds of the state is served by the Diocese of Eastern Oregon.)

The Youth Ministries Commission (YMC) is a group of youth and adults from all over the diocese. Our goal is to serve Episcopalians in grades 6-12 and the fearless adults who work with them.

Some of the things we can do for you are:

If you are a clergy member or lay congregational leader:

• Help your church start or revive a youth group
• Help you recruit and hire a youth leader
• Work with you to figure out how best to serve teens in your community
• Keep you informed about upcoming youth events and leader trainings
• Make sure your church has safe and legal policies for youth work in place

If you are an adult who works with youth:

• Provide you with sample permission slips and other standard paperwork
• Hook you up with trainings and continuing education
• Let you know about great job opportunities in youth ministry
• Suggest books, videos, curriculum, and other resources for you
• Connect you with other Episcopal youth leaders in your area
• Offer you volunteer opportunities that will let you “get your feet wet” before you make a long-term commitment to youth work

If you are a youth in grade 6-12 (or age 11-18):

• Invite you to overnight retreats where you’ll meet other Episcopal youth from around the diocese
• Take you on national trips where you’ll meet other Episcopal youth from around the world!
• Offer you the opportunity for leadership on the Youth Ministries Commission or as a Counselor-in-Training at camp
• Share information about scholarships, summer camp, and more
• Help you figure out what to do with your life after high school