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ENGAGEMENT WITH CHILDREN, YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS

Conference Youth Collective

A question every church pastor and leader should be asking: How do we help students become grounded followers of Jesus and resilient leaders in a complicated world?

It Starts with Discipleship
The Conference Youth Collective (CYC) grew out of a simple conviction: in the midst of an ever-changing youth culture, we must continue to adapt the ways in which we disciple and equip students. It takes the place of the former Emerging Leaders group.

The CYC is a localized discipleship to leadership pathway for teenagers, creating opportunities for young people to develop practical discipleship habits and real-life leadership skills within the safety of Christ-centered community. It also creates a connectional pathway where churches can learn alongside one another, equip young people together, and strengthen the work already happening in local communities.

This is an invitation for your youth group and students to be part of something from the ground up, helping reimagine what discipleship and leadership development can look like for a new generation.

How it Works
Students will be equipped with the same discipleship to leadership tools and taught within their local church or hub, with opportunities to live out their faith in their churches, communities, and schools. Standing together while learning locally, the Collective invites young people into something bigger than themselves: a generation of students growing in faith, character, leadership, and purpose together.

We Provide the Pathway, You Lead the Journey
Everything you need to guide students through the Conference Youth Collective is provided, including session plans, leader resources, and ongoing support. The CYC is designed to be an opt-in, not an add-on. We encourage participating churches to incorporate the CYC pathway into existing rhythms of discipleship, community, and student ministry.

Churches that opt-in may serve as their own CYC hub or partner with another UM hub nearby. Small groups of youth will gather locally or regionally six times throughout the school year: September, October, November, January, February, and March. This includes the optional communal service opportunity of Project Feed on November 8 at UMC of Kent. Hubs are designed to create consistent spaces for collaborative learning and practical engagement within local contexts.

Love Boldly. Serve Joyfully. Lead Courageously
The CYC grows directly out of who we are as United Methodists. The guiding vision of The United Methodist Church calls us to form disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections. The CYC lives into that vision by inviting students to grow locally and connectionally rooted in their own churches and communities while learning alongside young people and leaders from across East Ohio. This is part of what makes us United Methodist: we are better together, and our connection is not simply something we belong to, it is something we practice.

A Connectional Pathway for Student Leadership
The Conference Youth Collective is open to all youth and includes a student CORE TEAM alongside Safe Sanctuaries trained mentoring adults. The CYC also builds on the connectional role of youth ministry within The United Methodist Church, strengthening youth ministry in local churches and across the Annual Conference.

Do you want your church to be a founding member of the Conference Youth Collective? Are your students interested in being part of this new initiative? Sign up using the link below.

Interest Form
CYC Flyer

Questions? E-mail Jennifer Dyer, CYC coordinator or e-mail Tim Beck, associate director of Engagement with Youth, Connectional Ministries/Ministry and Resource coordinator, Office of Discipleship Ministries for the Ohio Episcopal Area.