Metro D.C. Synod Youth + Family Ministry
Table of Contents
TOWN HALL Zoom and Materials
Upcoming Metro D.C. Synod Y+F Events
Conference Play+Pray Events
The Metro D.C. Synod Youth + Family Committee invites the middle and high school youth of the Metro D.C. Synod to join this year's Play + Pray events. Each conference will have an event local to them that all youth are invited to with costs covered by Youth + Family. That's right, come play, eat, join in fun and fellowship, and it is completely free. We even want you to bring a friend!
October 19th - Maryland Conference 1-3pm @ Bowlero College Park
January 18th - Fairfax Conference 2-5pm @ Team Tactics (3045 Golansky Blvd, Woodbridge, Virginia, 22192)
February 15th - DC Conference 2-4pm @ Kraken - Bryant Street (514 Rhode Island Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002) Roller Skating and PickleBall
March 9th - Virginia Conference 2-4pm @ Bowlero Sterling (46940 Woodson Dr, Sterling, Virginia 20164)
April 12 - Montgomery Conference 2-6pm @ Monster Minigolf (9116 Gaither Road, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877)
May 17th - Potomac Conference 1--3pm @ Bowlero Annandale (4245 Markham St, Annandale, VA 22003 )
GOOD TROUBLE: Being Bold and Boundless
The Metro D.C. Synod Racial Equity Team and Youth + Family Committee are partnering to present “Good Trouble: Being Bold and Boundless”—a series of youth and young adult events focused on educating participants about racial injustice in our country. This series will center on recognition and repentance, leading to reconciliation in ways that are relevant to each age group.
Each event will feature engaging, interactive activities that incorporate racial education, followed by lunch fellowship and a discerning discussion on how participants can apply what they learn to boldly and boundlessly support racial justice.
All Events: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM EST In-person with a hybrid Zoom option available for those unable to attend in person
Saturday, March 8th - Middle School Event - Christ Lutheran Church (5101 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20011)
Saturday, March 29th - High School Event - St. Luke Lutheran Church (9100 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910)
Saturday, May 17th - College/ Young Adult Event - Emmanuel Lutheran Church (2589 Chain Bridge Rd, Vienna, VA 22181)
Congregation Grants
The Metro D.C. Synod Youth + Family Committee is pairing with the New and Renewing Mission Table to offer Partnership Grants to any congregation that would like to pair with at least one other congregation to hold a youth event. Applications can be found here:
Request Gathering Remix Materials and Congregational Visits
We have purchased large group access to the Gathering Remix. We also would like to come meet with the youth in your congregation to share our current opportunities for engagement. If you would like to receive access and/or request a visit please complete this form.
Synod Y+F Update Zoom Meeting
Couldn't make it or had problems with the Zoom password?
Here is a link to the slideshow and a copy of the zoom presentation.
Commonly Asked Questions
What are Joint Synod Events?
The Delaware-Maryland/Metro D.C. Synods hold events for Middle School and High School, 3rd-5th grades, and potential Middle School leaders. These are open to any youth within the two synods who is interested in joining an event filled with fun, fellowship, and faith.
What is LYO?
LYO stands for Lutheran Youth Organization. This is a group of high school youth who apply and are chosen to be leaders for all Joint Delaware-Maryland/Metro D.C. Synod events. The develop as leaders and create content for the three joint synod events. LYO created events are open to all youth in all congregations in the two synods.
Who can attend a Conference Play+Pray?
Anyone and everyone in the age demographic. You do not have to attend a congregation in that conference to sign-up. You are not limited to signing up for just one. You can also bring a friend or two along.
What is the cost for all this?
All Metro D.C. Synod events are free for all participants this year. Costs vary for joint events and are posted on the event page but are kept as low as possible. Both synods believe that cost should NEVER be a factor, so we also have scholarships available.
What happens during the bishop transition?
The Synod Council voted to continue the joint events with DE-MD Synod through the 2025-2026 school year to make sure there was no break in youth activities as the next administration determines their priorities. So you can expect at least 3 LYO planned events next year. The Youth+Family Ministry Team will continue to meet to determine how to implement the ideas of the next administration.
What else?
We also provide grants to any congregation that wants to team with another congregation. Check out our grant information to get $100 for the initial conversation with any other congregation and up to $1000 for whatever ideas come out of that initial conversation.
Committee
The Committee is currently comprised of youth- Amelia, Breeze, Cora, Izzie, Nolan, and Ren, lay leaders Alyssa Cobb, Bailey Heath-DeLuca, Valerie Mayer, Carrie Pritts, and Katharyn Wheeler and pastors Grace Casola and Eric Randolph. This group represents 5 conferences. We do not yet have representation from the Potomac conference.
During the 2023 Synod Assembly, Resolution Number: 2023 - 003 was approved to establish a Metro D.C. Synod Youth + Family Ministry Committee. This committee will consist of at least three rostered ministers, three lay youth workers, and three youth/young adults, one each from Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. We will also be attentive to other representational principles, including diversity aspirations as outlined in the Synod Constitution (Section 6.04). Members will be appointed by the Synod Council. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact Katharyn Wheeler at kwheeler@metrodcelca.org.
You can view the overview of responsibilities of the committee in the document below.
