CCYM – Conference Council on Youth Ministries
Upper New York Conference
What is CCYM? The Upper NY CCYM is a place where teens can grow in their discipleship and leadership abilities. We hold “training camp” every June/July where we experience together what it means to be the body of Christ, and plan our activities and meetings for the year. We plan and host two Fall Gathering events in November, and UP!WORD in April. We raise money for the Youth Service Fund, and distribute that money to worthy applicants.
Who’s involved? CCYM is open to youth between grades 7 and 12 who are baptized or confirmed members of their church (per The United Methodist Book of Discipline). Generally, youth are elected to CCYM representation through their District Council on Youth Ministry. There are about 65 youth from our Upper New York Conference on CCYM: 4 – 6 from each District, depending on the size of the District. There are adults from every District, and adult CCYM coordinators, who help supervise and guide the youth in their decision-making process.
What do we do? Training Camp is held every June, beginning the last Sunday afternoon of the month and continuing through Thursday. In 2014, Training Camp will be at Camp Aldersgate (north of Boonville) June 29 at 4pm – July 3 at 10am. The cost is about $200.
Overnight planning meetings are held in September and January, usually at Camillus UMC on a Friday- Saturday. Tentative dates are September 12 -13, 2014 and January 23 – 24, 2015. There is no cost for these.
Fall Gatherings take place on weekends in November. Plans for 2014-2015 call for both an Albany and a Rochester event. Both will be at churches. We encourage youth to lead at one or the other, but not necessarily both! Each event runs Thursday – Saturday. (Yes, that means missing a day of school.) Cost would be about $50 per event. Tentative dates are November 13 - 15 (Albany area) and November 20 - 22 (Rochester area).
UP!WORD takes place on a weekend in April. Tentative dates Thursday, April 23 – Sunday, April 26, 2014. (Again, a day of school will be missed for the event.) The cost is about $150.
NOTE: COST SHOULD NEVER PROHIBIT AN INTERESTED YOUTH FROM JOINING CCYM! THE LOCAL CHURCH, THE DISTRICT OFFICE, AND CCYM SHOULD ALL BE CONTACTED TO HELP AND SUPPORT A YOUTH WHO WISHES TO PARTICIPATE IN A CONFERENCE LEADERSHIP POSITION.
CCYM youth are expected to also participate actively in their District Council on Youth Ministries, and are also encouraged to take leadership roles by serving on other Conference Committees where youth representation is sought and desired. Opportunities to participate at a Jurisdictional level are also available.
How do I join? The commitment to join CCYM has many components – it is a spiritual decision that has impact on family time and finances, and such a decision should not be undertaken lightly. Youth who are interested in serving on CCYM should give it their prayerful consideration, and speak with their pastor as well as their parents regarding the decision, before submitting the application. The CCYM leadership encourages the local church to support their youth through prayer, spoken word, and financially where possible.
Interested? Please complete the form on the following page, and send it to Rev. Brian Fellows, 555 Sayles Street, Oneida, NY 13421. The Mohawk District Council on Youth Ministries may ask to meet with the youth before rendering their decision. Questions may be directed to Rev. Brian, Mohawk District Youth Coordinator, at 315-363-1921 or .
CCYM Application 2013-2014
Name:______
Address:______
City, State, Zip:______
Telephone number(s):______
Email______
Grade (in the fall) ______Church ______Pastor ______
Please answer the following questions:
Before applying, I asked for God’s guidance in prayerYesNo
In my local church, I am active in our ministry to youthYesNo
I have enclosed a recommendation from my church’s pastor YesNo
or youth leader
I have been baptized/confirmed in my churchYesNo
Before applying, I got my parent’s consentYesNo
On the back of this page or a separate sheet, please answer the following questions:
1. Why do you want to be a member of the Conference Council on Youth Ministry?
2. What does being a “servant of God” mean to you?
3. Have you shared your faith with others?
4. What do you do to keep spiritually alive?
Covenant
I will do my best to attend every meeting and every event, and will give my best energy. I will keep my spirit alive by worshiping every week and praying every day. I will step down from CCYM if I am unable to keep my commitments.
Signature:______
Parent’s Signature: ______
Return your recommendation and this application to:
Rev. Brian Fellows, Mohawk District Youth Coordinator,
555 Sayles Street, Oneida, NY 13421
315-363-1921