Called to Youth Ministry

December 16, 2011 3 Comments

I have been discussing this for some time with many people, and it is time that I take some action to make this a reality. I currently serve as the Youth Ministry Coordinator for the Southern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ. In that role, I help facilitate Conference wide activities for Youth; serve as an Advisor to the Youth RoundTable (YRT); consult with Local Church Youth Ministers/Workers/Directors; and visit churches throughout the Conference to champion Youth activities. I do believe that my work with Youth represents a call to ministry, and I am in the process of applying to the Southern Association of the SCNC-UCC to be considered a Candidate for Commissioning as a Youth Minister.

During the recent United Church of Christ General Synod #28 in Tampa, FL, I had the opportunity to chat with a very old and dear friend Rev. Susan Henderson who served as the Interim Conference Minister in the New Hampshire Conference when I lived there. I explained to Susan that I was in discernment to be a Commissioned Minister to Youth; her response was: “No you’re not; you already know that; you need to let others know so that they can complete their discernment about you.”

Even though my ministry is with the Conference, I will be working with my local church, Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Carlsbad, and with the Southern Association through the discernment process.

Sometimes, all we need to do to start is to start…

Filed under Faith Practices, SCNCUCC Youth Activities

About Neal Washburn
Neal grew up in Greenfield, Massachusetts and was a member of First Congregational Church in Greenfield. He was also a youth member of the Massachusetts UCC United Church Youth Council. Neal spent many years working with the Mass Conference Outdoor Ministries. Neal and his wife Pamela moved to Southern New Hampshire, became a member of First Church Nashua, and again spent many years serving with the New Hampshire UCC Conference Outdoor Ministries as a counselor, unit leader, and member of the OM Board of Directors. Professionally, Neal is an Information Systems Engineer with the MITRE Corporation. In 2004 Neal, Pam, and their children Whitney, Evan and Annalise relocated to Southern California so Neal could support the local MITRE office in San Diego. Neal and his family joined the First Congregational Church of Escondido and Neal became involved with Christian Education teaching Confirmation Classes. In 2005 Neal became a volunteer counselor at Pilgrim Pines working with the Conference Youth Ministries Camp (CYMC). Soon after, Neal became one of the adult advisors to the Conference’s Youth Roundtable. Neal has been a counselor and dean at Junior High JANboree and FEB Camp; and a counselor and co-director of CYMC. In September of 2008, Neal became the Youth and Young Adults Ministries Coordinator for the Southern California Nevada Conference of the UCC.

3 Responses to Called to Youth Ministry

  1. Patty says:
    December 16, 2011 at 12:39 pm

    That is just awesome! What a full circle that is. I wish you all the blessings and joy and strength that will come with this journey to put a period on the end of a very long sentence!

    Reply
  2. Susan Andresen says:
    December 16, 2011 at 2:12 pm

    I love it Neal! You’d have my vote for certain. :)

    Reply

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