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DHM Youth Ministry Commission Announced

DHM has great hopes, dreams and plans for youth ministry in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ):

  • Increased emphasis on nurturing faith development and spirituality
  • Great youth participation at general church events
  • Common themes and leader development at regional and district camps and conferences and other events
  • Developing a deeper appreciation of what it means to be a disciple of Christ through strengthening congregational youth ministries and providing more support to local youth leaders
  • Calling on young persons to make life long commitments to the church, and encouraging them to listen to God's calling into Christian vocations.

These are just a few of the hopes and possibilities. In a move designed to meet the goals of its Vision Report and strengthening youth ministries, Disciples Home Missions has created a Youth Ministry Commission of persons who have deep knowledge of, and passion for, youth ministry in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). They will work in partnership with the General Youth Council. This new Commission will allow DHM to expand its work throughout the life of the church and in partnership with those who share this commitment.

Serving on the 2004 General Youth Council are:

  • Johanna Hamilton, Burleson, Texas;
  • Andrew Howard, Rossville, Kan.;
  • Robert Johnson, Cummings, Ga.;
  • Sonia Lauer, Eugene, Ore.;
  • Eric Maneely, Roseville, Calif.;
  • Chris Miller-McLemore, Brentwood, Tenn.;
  • Kate Motter, Lenexa, Kanas;
  • Laura O'Donnell, Zionsville, Ind.;
  • C. C. Penrod, Mogadore, Ohio;
  • Russell James Prime, Digby, Nova Scotia;
  • Wanda Rogers-Redd, Martinsville, Va.;
  • Abigail Nichole Staples, Martinsville, Va.;
  • Sondra Tilsley, Denver, Colo.; and
  • Kathryn Welch, Catonsville, Md.

In 2002 DHM embraced the Vision Report calling on the organization to both focus its life around ministries to serve congregations, and do so with as many denominational and ecumenical partners, as is practicable. The goals of its ministries are to fall within the areas of congregational transformation and leader development.

The eleven members of the Youth Ministry Commission were announced as part of the DHM report at the Charlotte General Assembly. Of that number four serve in congregational ministries with youth.

They are:

  • Julie Brown, Crestwood Christian Church, Lexington, Ky.;
  • Phillips seminarian, Greg Bunton, First Christian Church, Edmond, Okla.;
  • Dee Moore Ledford, First Christian Church, Livingston, Tenn.; and
  • Lee Yates, First Christian Church, Maryville, Mo.

Also serving are four persons active in middle judicatory ministries related to youth ministry. They are:

  • Ruth Fletcher, Regional Minister of Montana;
  • Jesse Kerns, Associate Regional Minister of Virginia;
  • Wanona Redd, Youth Sponsor of the Piedmont District of North Carolina and Virginia; and
  • William Spangler-Dunning, Associate Regional Minister in the Upper Midwest Region.

Serving from the general church is New Church Ministries consultant, Nadine Burton. Prior to coming to the Indianapolis post Burton was Minister of Christian Education, Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, Memphis, Tenn. Besides Bunton, two seminarians are serving on the commission. They are:

  • Kyung Lee, a third year student at Vanderbilt Divinity School, Nashville, Tenn.; and
  • Silvia Tiznado, a second year seminarian at the Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, Calif.

The Rev. Arnold C. Nelson Jr.,  president of Disciples Home Missions, is a native of Clarksville, Tenn., and is a member of Southport Christian Church, Indianapolis, Ind.
 

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