August is National Wellness Month
As summer is winding down, take some time to focus on your own self-care. We have resources to promote spiritual and mental well-being for you and your youth on our Pastoral Care Mental Health page here.
Our meditations are a great way to work on your wellness and spirit whether you do it on your own or with others, i.e. family, friends, youth group, or church. They can be found on our Quest for the Spirit page here.
August is National Back-to-School Month
As students and teachers start planning for their return to school, have you started planning for the youth program this fall? Are you hoping to start one? Do you need volunteers? Do they need to be trained?
We have a wealth of resources for youth ministry, including training modules, spiritual practices, confirmation, youth Bible studies, and more. See our resources below.
Youth Program Planning Resources
- Best Practice Videos for Starting a Youth Program
- New Youth Leader Crash Course
- Recruiting, Training and Supervising Youth Workers and Volunteers
- Promulgating and Implementing Church Safety Guidelines
- Parent-Guardian Meeting
- Confirmation Best Practices
CCE Offerings and Upcoming Events
Did you know that we have self-guided introductory classes led by YDS professors that you can access free of charge? We also have the Center for Continuing Education Lectures, YDS Public Lectures, Yale University Online Courses, and so much more, which can be found on our Learning Beyond the Walls page here.
Summer Study Keynote 2024
If you missed the Summer Study keynote lecture with Professor Volker Leppin on “The Mystical Church — A Vision for the Future?” you can watch it here.
From the YMI Director: The Word Should
Dear youth ministry friends,
“You know, Jill, the word “should” is a curse word in my house. We don’t use it.”
Mark Your Calendar For Our Fall 2024 Events!
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Psalms: An Online Bible Study with Dr. Joel S. Baden Dr. Baden will look at the Psalms from a few different angles: their cultural and historical origins, the various literary genres they include, the way that biblical poetry is constructed and communicates, and more. More information and registration at Psalms: An Online Bible Study. |
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Clergy Well-Being During a Time of Uncertainty: A Report From the Trenches with Dr. Frederick “Jerry” Streets Join the Rev. Dr. Frederick “Jerry” Streets for a conversation about his study on the state of clergy wellness, the protocols for clergy self-care, and the importance of clergy and congregations understanding and expanding the ways they support one another. More information and registration at Clergy Well-Being. |
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Unmasking Racism in Anti-Racism Education: Youth Ministry with Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown Join us for three sessions as we journey back to our roots and dig up the racism that is embedded in our existing anti-racism frameworks. Together we will explore decolonizing methods and inventory the historical seeds that continue to sprout as intended: to stunt our growth. More information and registration at Unmasking Racism in Anti-Racism Education. |
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Hope and Fear in an Election Year with the Rev. Dr. Allen Hilton The Rev. Dr. Allen Hilton will offer strategies for sanity and practices that maintain community – even when our nation and neighborhood are divided. He will draw on wisdom gleaned from years spent facilitating and mediating in Red-Blue contexts to help us navigate our own walk. More information and registration at Hope and Fear in Election Year. |
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Countercultural: The Important Work that Begins When Church Doesn’t Easily Fit into the Culture with the Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle Organizationally and economically congregations no longer fit with the American culture which puts future viability into question. That’s the good news. In this webinar we will explore the practical aspects of being countercultural and what our changed cultural purpose as communities of faith may be. More information and registration at Countercultural. |
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Social Media Smarts: Helping Youth Use New Media in Positive Ways for Good Mental & Spiritual Health with the Rev. Dr. Angela Gorrell Rev. Dr. Gorrell will explain how youth are spending their time online (according to them!) the most important possibilities and pressing challenges of new media and concrete things adults can teach youth (specific do’s and don’ts for their mental well-being and living out their faith as they engage with technology). More information and registration at Social Media Smarts. |
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Connect with Yale Youth Ministry Institute
Connect with the Center for Continuing Education and Yale Bible Study
