Alberta and Northwest Conference

Alberta and Northwest Conference

Youth and Young Adult Ministry

Training Diploma Program

Youth and Young Adult Ministry Training Diploma Program (Y2MT) is a two-year, part-time training program to train people for specialized ministry with youth and young adults. Academic courses are offered by St. Stephen’s college and the Steering Committee of Y2MT, with field placement and practical experience arranged among the student, the coordinator, and the partner congregation. Diplomas are granted through St. Stephen’s College. Applications for the diploma program are available from Shauna Gibbons 780-435-3995 ext. 221. The next deadline for applications is May 30, 2008.

All Y2MT workshops are open to anyone of any age. Four workshops rotate on a two-year cycle. Those workshops are “Pastoral Care with Youth and Young Adults”, “Ethics in Youth and Young Adult Ministry”, “Music and Worship with Youth and Young Adults”, and “Spiritual Practices with Youth and Young Adults”. Every August, the Steering Committee offers an in-depth introductory workshop called “Principles in Youth and Young Adult Ministry”. In addition, the Steering Committee hosts a spring workshop aimed at meeting needs named by leaders, youth, young adults, and concerned church folk. For detailed information about these workshops, or to make a workshop request, please click on a specific workshop, or contact the program coordinator, Shauna Gibbons 780-435-3995 ext. 221.

About the Steering Committee: The intake of new students, creation of new programs, and oversight of the Y2MT program is maintained by a group of volunteers known as the Steering Committee. These dedicated individuals meet approximately 5 times a year to ensure the growing strength of training offered by Alberta and Northwest Conference in the area of youth and young adult ministry. Currently serving with the Steering Committee are Andrew Weiss (Chairperson), Rev. Hugh MacGregor, Rev. Erin Klassen, Beth Maitland, and Priscilla Haskin.

About the Coordinator: Shauna Gibbons coordinates Y2MT. Working out of the Alberta and Northwest Conference Office, her role is to facilitate the work of the Steering Committee by providing professional guidance & suggestions, administering the program, strengthening relationships with partners, promoting the program throughout the United Church of Canada, and most importantly, offering support and accountability to the students through regular check-ins and collegiums. Her background is in congregational youth and young adult ministry, where she has served the church professionally for over 13 years. Other related work Shauna has completed includes campus ministry peer leadership, international representative on 3 different young adult exposure tours, Design Team for Youth Forum at General Council 2003, as well as co-facilitating a mission trip to Cuba. In her words, “I am deeply blessed to be sharing in this ministry. I am passionate about a church that ensures appropriate and effective training for our youth and young adults. Without skilled leadership, youth ministry crumbles. Without effective support, young adult ministry disintegrates. I am excited to support this invaluable work and endeavor to better the Y2MT program with each day I work!” In addition to her passion for leadership development for youth and young adult ministry, Shauna is eager to create innovative worship experiences through music, drama, dance, and multi-media technology. Perhaps her greatest passion is her family, and the ability that this job provides for her to be at home with her son for most of the week!

About our Partners: Alberta and Northwest Conference is partnered with St. Stephen’s College and Naramata Centre to provide the best possible training for our students. To access course listing with either partner, or to find out more about their ministry in the United Church of Canada, please click on their links.

St. Stephen’s College