Anglican Youthworks
Encyclopedia
Anglican Youthworks, otherwise known simply as Youthworks, is the youth and education department of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney
, Australia
. It exists to preach the Gospel
of Jesus Christ to the young people of Sydney
and beyond in partnership with the churches and schools of the diocese
.
It is one of the largest resources for youth ministry
and childrens ministry outside of the U.S.A. and employs close to 200 staff in its three main areas of publishing, training and outdoor centres with operations overseen by CEO Zachary Veron.
The Anglican Youth Department focus had been in youth ministry
and Christian camping, while the Anglican Education Commission’s key activities were publishing
religious education materials, advocacy
to the government, children’s and adult education.
The new organisation brought together ministries to children and youth in different contexts – church, school
and at camp
. Anglican Youthworks is a major division of the Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney. The charter and framework was set out in a document known as an ordinance
.
books A Spectators Guide to World Religions and a A Spectators Guide to Jesus were produced. Ken Moser and Dr Paul Barnett have also published books through Youthworks. The Media division are the key developer of the online youth magazine Fervr and online parenting magazine Growing Faith.
through training courses and through Certificate and Diploma courses at Youthworks Training College. They also run numerous annual conferences similar in nature to Katoomba Christian Convention
such as TWIST Music Conference (in partnership with Emu Music), Youth Ministry Conference and Leaders in Training. They also run Safe ministry courses for youth and children’s workers throughout the Anglican Diocese of Sydney. As well as youth and children's ministry advisors Youthworks recruits Christians into the profession of teaching, runs a Year 13 program as an alternative to a Gap year
and trains people for ministry on TAFE and school campuses. Youth ministry and children's ministry intensive courses are also run at Youthworks Training College that focus on core skills and philosophy for ministry to children and young people.
Horizon Education school camps are run at Youthworks conference centres across New South Wales
including the flagship site Waterslea on the Shoalhaven River
and Port Hacking Conference Centre (Chaldercot, Deer Park, Telford and Rathane) on the Port Hacking
River, at Warumbul
. Other services include the Challenge program for youth at risk, Youthworks Holiday Camps (formerly Camp Howard) and HSC Study Conferences.
Anglican Diocese of Sydney
The Diocese of Sydney is a diocese within the Anglican Church of Australia. The majority of the diocese is Evangelical and low church in tradition and committed to Reformed and Calvinist theology....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It exists to preach the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
of Jesus Christ to the young people of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and beyond in partnership with the churches and schools of the diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
.
It is one of the largest resources for youth ministry
Youth ministry
Youth ministry, also commonly referred to as Youth group, is an age-specific religious ministry and is the way in which a faith group, or other religious organization involves and engages with the young people who attend its place of worship, or live in its community...
and childrens ministry outside of the U.S.A. and employs close to 200 staff in its three main areas of publishing, training and outdoor centres with operations overseen by CEO Zachary Veron.
History
The Anglican Department of Youth and Education was established in 1919, separate from the Anglican Board of Education. The Anglican Board of Education changed names in 1994 to become the Anglican Education Commission shortly before it combined with the Anglican Youth Department and the Anglican Education Commission to become Anglican Youthworks.The Anglican Youth Department focus had been in youth ministry
Youth ministry
Youth ministry, also commonly referred to as Youth group, is an age-specific religious ministry and is the way in which a faith group, or other religious organization involves and engages with the young people who attend its place of worship, or live in its community...
and Christian camping, while the Anglican Education Commission’s key activities were publishing
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
religious education materials, advocacy
Advocacy
Advocacy is a political process by an individual or a large group which normally aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions; it may be motivated from moral, ethical or faith principles or simply to protect an...
to the government, children’s and adult education.
The new organisation brought together ministries to children and youth in different contexts – church, school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
and at camp
Summer camp
Summer camp is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as campers....
. Anglican Youthworks is a major division of the Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney. The charter and framework was set out in a document known as an ordinance
Ecclesiastical ordinances
Ecclesiastical ordinances are the bylaws of a Christian religious organization, especially that of a diocese or province of a church. They are used in the Anglican Communion, particularly the American Episcopal Church and Roman Catholic Church....
.
Media
Media division is headed by Marshall Ballentine-Jones and developing printed materials as well digital content for children, youth and families. It produces a range of school scripture (SRE) material called Connect, Sunday School material called Kids at Church as well as commentaries and evangelism material. Its published resources have grown since 2004, when the popular John DicksonJohn Dickson (author)
John Dickson is an Australian writer, historian and Senior Research Fellowin the Department of Ancient History at Macquarie University. He is co-founder and director of the Centre for Public Christianity, a media company that seeks to "promote the public understanding of the Christian faith"...
books A Spectators Guide to World Religions and a A Spectators Guide to Jesus were produced. Ken Moser and Dr Paul Barnett have also published books through Youthworks. The Media division are the key developer of the online youth magazine Fervr and online parenting magazine Growing Faith.
Training
Its training division equips people to teach the BibleBible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
through training courses and through Certificate and Diploma courses at Youthworks Training College. They also run numerous annual conferences similar in nature to Katoomba Christian Convention
Katoomba Christian Convention
Katoomba Christian Convention is an interdenominational ministry providing evangelical Bible preaching to Christians.Conventions are held in KCC's 2300 seat auditorium at Katoomba, in the Blue Mountains approximately west of the Central Business District of Sydney, Australia.At present there are...
such as TWIST Music Conference (in partnership with Emu Music), Youth Ministry Conference and Leaders in Training. They also run Safe ministry courses for youth and children’s workers throughout the Anglican Diocese of Sydney. As well as youth and children's ministry advisors Youthworks recruits Christians into the profession of teaching, runs a Year 13 program as an alternative to a Gap year
Gap year
An expression or phrase that is associated with taking time out to travel in between life stages. It is also known as sabbatical, time off and time out that refers to a period of time in which students disengage from curricular education and undertake non curricular activities, such as travel or...
and trains people for ministry on TAFE and school campuses. Youth ministry and children's ministry intensive courses are also run at Youthworks Training College that focus on core skills and philosophy for ministry to children and young people.
Outdoor Centres
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
including the flagship site Waterslea on the Shoalhaven River
Shoalhaven River
The Shoalhaven River is a river rising from the Southern Tablelands and flowing into the ocean near Nowra on the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia.- History :...
and Port Hacking Conference Centre (Chaldercot, Deer Park, Telford and Rathane) on the Port Hacking
Port Hacking
Port Hacking is an Australian estuary, located in Southern Sydney, New South Wales and fed by the Hacking River and several smaller creeks, including Bundeena Creek and The Basin. It is a ria, a river basin which has become submerged by the sea...
River, at Warumbul
Warumbul, New South Wales
Warumbul is a locality in the Royal National Park on the outskirts of southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Warumbul is located about 1.5 km southwest of Lilli Pilli on the southern side of Port Hacking....
. Other services include the Challenge program for youth at risk, Youthworks Holiday Camps (formerly Camp Howard) and HSC Study Conferences.