Young Adult Vocation Project

The spiritual vision of young adults invites us to engage, to listen, and to risk

The Church needs to see campus ministry and young adult ministry as the most important evangelism and mission area there is. It is where our culture is the most dynamic, most committed, most culturally diverse. —The Episcopal Church

The Young Adult Vocation Project is designed to generate new models of ministry with college students and young adults ages 18–30. The Episcopal Church, our Diocesan Strategic Plan and the College and Young Adult Commission have set challenging mission priorities and goals. These goals call us to a new focus and to new ways of doing ministry as we engage the next generation of spiritual leaders.

Research across denominational lines asks us to wake up to a movement that is happening among young adults—a yearning for a faith to believe in and live for. The spiritual vision of young adults invites us to engage, to listen, and to risk. This generation is more focused on action than on statements of faith, insisting that church be more than a place we go together. Church must be something we do together.

Students on mission in Rio Verde, Brazil—Church must be something we do together

The Episcopal Church has made important strides toward inclusion of its children and adolescents in liturgy and decision-making – in some cases, granting attendance and voice at vestry meetings and diocesan conventions. Now young adults, these people are ready to invite those older than themselves to a shared journey and mutual exchange of gifts. The Young Adult Vocation Project engages young and old(er) to move from intergenerational tolerance to intergenerational reconciliation and shared ministry.

Our diocese has historic commitments to vocation care and leadership development. These traditions are coming alive by means of the Brother Skiles Internships, through communities of young adults brought together by the Moveable Feasts initiative, and through vocation-centered programs yet to be created.

The Project Steering Committee believes that a focus on vocational discernment for young adults in contexts throughout our diocese will serve as a catalyst for a deeper exploration of call and faithful response in action for the baptized of all ages.

For more information, contact Rev. Beth Turner, Missioner for Young Adult Vocation, yavocation@gmail.com or 828-406-1332.

Click here to read about Rev. Beth Turner, the Missioner for Young Adult Vocation.

Click here to read more about the Brother Skiles Internships.

Click here to read more about Moveable Feasts.