December 4, 2006

Dear friends in Christ:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come.

Jonette Knock, our Coordinator of Youth Ministries, has submitted her resignation and will conclude her service to the synod on December 31, 2006.  Jonette states, “I can no longer try to put in the time necessary to grow this ministry as well as work in the congregation full-time.”

In reviewing the past four years, Jonette says, “I feel that we made a great step when the students forged a working Mission Statement….  I also feel that we have a sturdy, comprehensive safety policy in place that will serve as a fine example for congregations in developing policies to attend to the safety of their student ministries.  We made good use of the time students spent in Youth Assembly each year, offering solid leadership training for those in attendance.  Our students also grew as they planned and presented interesting, informative workshops at the Congregational Resourcing Event.”

As Jonette has thanked us for the opportunity to serve, I hope you will join us in thanking Jonette for her efforts on our behalf.  She will be missed.

As we look to the immediate future, the January Ski Day at Chestnut Mountain has already been planned and we are set to go.  The LYO Board and I, together with others from our synod, will begin work on a new Youth Strategy, which will build on the Mission Statement.  The youth coordinator’s job description will be rewritten.  With Bishop Wollersheim, I will be seeking to increase the youth coordinator’s position from one-quarter-time to approximately one-half-time.  Over the next few years, it is my hope that this position will become part of our synod’s budget rather than being dependent upon designated funds.  I believe that increasing both time and funding will more accurately reflect our support of youth ministry.

We will also begin the search for a new Coordinator of Youth Ministries.  It is our current hope that this position can be shared with a congregation of the synod.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. 

Living in God’s amazing grace,

Pastor Jeffrey Clements

Assistant to the Bishop