Presbyterian Youth Connection
Encyclopedia
The Presbyterian Youth Connection is for all Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Youth and Adults. “Youth” is loosely defined as young people between the ages of 12 and 18. It is a common identity, theology, and structure for youth ministry across the Presbyterian Church and is based on a model that envisions youth and adults working together towards common ministry concerns and goals. It was founded at Presbyterian Youth Triennium and the General Assembly meeting in July 1995. It is the first youth ministry
organization for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
The Presbyterian Youth Connection grew out of an overture from congregations in the Wyoming
presbytery asking for a way to connect young people to each other across the Church. The General Assembly approved the overture and directed the National Presbyterian Youth Ministry Council to begin plans for a new youth ministry organization. What developed was a triennial meeting that models the General Assembly of the PC (USA). Parliamentary procedure is used during all work sessions. Participants meet in various places around the country and, during the course of each meeting, elect two co-moderators to serve over the next three years.
List of Co-Moderators of the Presbyterian Youth Connection Assemblies of The Presbyterian Church (USA)
is made up of several different symbols. The “hands” signify the partnership between local congregations, presbyteries and synod
s/region
s, and are surrounded by a circle representing the General Assembly. The hands reach towards one another and towards the central dove, which is the Holy Spirit
.
The Presbyterian Youth Connection Mission Statement is:
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...
organization for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
History
The Presbyterian Youth Connection grew out of an overture from congregations in the Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
presbytery asking for a way to connect young people to each other across the Church. The General Assembly approved the overture and directed the National Presbyterian Youth Ministry Council to begin plans for a new youth ministry organization. What developed was a triennial meeting that models the General Assembly of the PC (USA). Parliamentary procedure is used during all work sessions. Participants meet in various places around the country and, during the course of each meeting, elect two co-moderators to serve over the next three years.
List of Co-Moderators of the Presbyterian Youth Connection Assemblies of The Presbyterian Church (USA)Presbyterian Church (USA)The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
| Number and Year | Place of Meeting | Co-Moderator | Co-Moderator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st PYCA, 1997 | Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania | Kelli Rudolph | Andrew Yeager-Buckley |
| 2nd PYCA, 2000 | University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland | Leslie Chaggaris | Adam J. Copeland |
| 3rd PYCA, 2003 | Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, Kentucky | Nathan Ballentine | Patricia Massey |
| 4th PYCA, 2006 | Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham, Alabama | Nancy Cooper | Casey Leach |
Logo
The Presbyterian Youth Connection logoLogo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
is made up of several different symbols. The “hands” signify the partnership between local congregations, presbyteries and synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
s/region
Region
Region is most commonly found as a term used in terrestrial and astrophysics sciences also an area, notably among the different sub-disciplines of geography, studied by regional geographers. Regions consist of subregions that contain clusters of like areas that are distinctive by their uniformity...
s, and are surrounded by a circle representing the General Assembly. The hands reach towards one another and towards the central dove, which is the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
.
Intentions and Mission Statement
The five intentions of the Presbyterian Youth Connection are:-- To call young people to be disciplesDisciple (Christianity)In Christianity, the disciples were the students of Jesus during his ministry. While Jesus attracted a large following, the term disciple is commonly used to refer specifically to "the Twelve", an inner circle of men whose number perhaps represented the twelve tribes of Israel...
of JesusJesusJesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
ChristChristChrist is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
. - To respond to the needs and the interests of young people.
- To work together, youth and adults, in partnership.
- To be connected to the whole church, community, and the world.
- To include all young people, reaching out, and inviting them to belong to the community of faith.
The Presbyterian Youth Connection Mission Statement is:
- As youth and adults,
- We respond to God’s call through
- The Holy Spirit
- To be connected to each other, and the world
- So that our lives proclaim with joy that Jesus Christ is Lord!