Children & Youth Ministry
There are opportunities for children and youth to connect across the diocese throughout the year. We work frequently with our fellow Episcopalians across the state as well as the ELCA to provide opportunities for formation and fun for our youngest members.
Upcoming Events:
Children, Youth & Young Adult Newsletter
Opportunities for Youth Workers
We hold regular training events for formation staff and volunteers.
Check out the most recent CYAYA newsletter for upcoming opportunities
If there is a specific training opportunity that you are interested in being offered, email McKenzie Knill at mknill@eastmich.org to connect.
Training Events
We hold regular training events for formation staff and volunteers.
There are no events currently scheduled. If there is a specific training opportunity that you are interested in being offered, email McKenzie Knill at mknill@edwm.org to connect.
Free Children & Youth Curriculum Resources
A priority of the department of Children, Youth and Young Adult Formation in the Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan is to be a resource for our congregations and all of the folks who work with and support the formation of young people within our dioceses.
One of the ways that we hope to be a resource is through offering access to copyrighted curriculums with diocesan licenses available at no cost to congregations as well as various free collations of resources and curriculums.
To access the paid and various unpaid materials, please contact your regional youth missioner or McKenzie Knill at mknill@edwm.org to get the password!
Diocesan & Regional Support for Children & Youth Ministry
The Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan have been broken down into four youth regions to encompass the area that four regional youth missioners serve. In all but one grouping, the youth regions include congregations and ministries from both dioceses! Click here to view the breakdown.
Each regional youth missioner is charged with:
- Communicating and collaborating with leaders and families to increase and empower local efforts with youth within and beyond the existing community.
- Develop additional on-the-ground support for our local congregations in the area of youth ministry appropriately contextualized to the area in which they serve.
- Their specific duties are flexible and depend on the needs of the congregations in their region and may include resource sharing, congregational and/or regional events, volunteer recruitment, and more. Whether your community has a robust youth program or hasn’t for years, these youth missioners are here to support you.
McKenzie Knill (she/her)
Director of Children, Youth and Young Adult Formation;
Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan
mknill@eastmich.org | mknill@edwm.org
Jeff Brown (he/him)
Regional Youth Missioner for the Central Region
Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan
jbrown@eastmich.org | jbrown@edwm.org
The Rev. Radha Kaminski (she/her)
Regional Youth Missioner for the Northern Region
Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan
rkaminski@eastmich.org | rkaminski@edwm.org
Beckett Leclaire (they/them)
Regional Youth Missioner for the Eastern Region
Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan
tleclaire@eastmich.org | tleclaire@edwm.org
The Rev. Joel Turmo (he/him)
Regional Youth Missioner for the Southern Region
Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan
jturmo@eastmich.org | jturmo@edwm.org
Christian Formation for Adults
Academic Classes
In addition to local formation for ordained ministries, the Academy for Vocational Leadership offers courses in Scripture, Church History, and Homiletics to anyone in the Dioceses of Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and Michigan.
EfM – Education for Ministry
EfM is a 36-session program designed for lay persons by The University of the South’s School of Theology. Participants study the Hebrew Scriptures, the New Testament, Christian History, and Modern Theology and Ethics, and learn how to think theologically by practicing theological reflection within their small group.
To join a group or ask questions, please contact Marissa Lee, EfM Diocesan Coordinator.
Email: leemarissa@icloud.com
Free Adult Curriculum Resources
We recommend several programs for use in congregations and other faith communities made available through the Episcopal Church and other related organizations.
Becoming Beloved Community
Becoming Beloved Community helps us to understand and take up the long-term commitments necessary to form loving, liberating and life-giving relationships with each other and to grow as reconcilers, justice-makers, and healers in the name of Christ. Learn more.
Way of Love
Presiding Bishop Curry has invited the whole church to take up The Way of Love, a “rule of life” focused on practices for Jesus-Centered Life. More information at the link including resources for small groups, Advent Curriculum, and more. Learn more.