Youth Ministry Jobs and Training

Some links will take you off of the ELCA site. Providing a link does not imply that an organization is affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Contact the following organizations for information on events, program content, schedules, and costs.

Youth ministry positions

Looking for a position in youth ministry or to post an open position for your congregation? Go to the ELCA Youth Ministry Network "placement" Web site. You can also use the ELCA's on-line Career Opportunities listing. Fulltime and year-round outdoor ministry positions can be found at www.elca.org/camps/careers.

Understanding vocation

• Calling Congregations Grants (The Fund for Theological Education). Grants of $5,000 to $12,000 are available to help congregations cultivate a strong sense of Christian vocation among young people. For more information email: calling@thefund.org. Application deadlines are October 15 and March 15 through 2009.
• ELCA Youth Ministry What Other Youth Ministry Leaders Are Reading page
• Vocation & Education unit of the ELCA

Training and certification centers/organizations

• Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN (major in youth and family ministry)
• Bethany College, Lindsborg, KS (concentration in youth ministry)
• California Lutheran University (minor in youth ministry)
• Center for Youth Ministries of Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, IA (training and certification programs for youth ministry)
• Charis Ecumenical Center, Concordia College, Moorhead, MN (seminars for ministry)
• Dana College, Blair, NE (major in youth ministry)
• ELCA Youth Ministry Network (support, training and networking for adult leaders)
• Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, Austin, TX (certification program in Youth Ministry and Christian Education)
• Faith Inkubators (training in Christian education models for youth and families)
• Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN (Master of Arts in Youth and Family Ministry)
• Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (Youth in Mission ministry)
• Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, PA (Youth Ministry Certification Schools)
• Midland Lutheran College, Freemont, NE (major in youth ministry)
• National Youth Leadership Network (programs for young leaders with disabilities)
• Peer Ministry Training Center (peer ministry training for youth and adults)
• Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ (PCUSA) (master and doctoral programs in youth ministry)
• Search Institute (resources and training)
• Texas Lutheran University, Seguin, TX (youth ministry concentration)
• Trinity Lutheran College, Issaquah, WA (training and majors in Christian education and youth and family ministry)
• Wartburg College, Waverly, IA (concentration in youth and family ministry)
• Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, IA (master with concentration in Youth, Mission and Culture)
• Youth & Family Institute (training and certification programs for youth ministry)
• Youth Leadership (training in youth ministry, certification program, consulting and speaking)

Leadership training events and opportunities

• California Lutheran University (workshops and training events for congregations)
• Center for Global Education at Augsburg College (travel seminars)
• ELCA Outdoor Ministries (work/leadership experiences for youth and young adults)
• ELCA Outdoor Ministries (contact your local camp for leadership training programs)
• ELCA Outdoor Ministries leadership development events (conferences and annual school for developing professional skills)
• ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza (annual training and continuing education event for adults working with youth)
• Youth Ministry Certification Program (18 month, mentored training program in youth and family ministry, sponsored by Youth Leadership) 
• Florida-Bahamas Synod leadership development events (youth and adults)
• Gathering in the East (ELCA regions 7, 8 and 9) (training and networking for leaders in youth and family ministry)
• Hein-Fry Lecture Series (annual ELCA event) A 3-year sequence of lectures entitled “Hearing the Word”   
• Leadership Labs (youth): Northern Illinois, Metropolitan Chicago, and Central/Southern Illinois Synods. Augustana College in Rock Island, IL.
• Life Long Learning Opportunities (young adults and adults) (Searchable ecumenical index of continuing education programs. A ministry of the ELCA and other ecumenical partners.)
• Princeton Forums on Youth Ministry (PCUSA) (Annual continuing education conferences for young adults and adults. Two locations.)
• SALLT (Service and Learning Leadership Team. Service-learning training and opportunities for youth in Region 1.)
• Youth and Family Ministry Certification School, Bethany College, Lindsborg, KS (3-week course for youth workers and college students)
• Youth Ministry Intensives (Youth Leadership 3-day intensive training for youth workers)

See what leaders in youth ministry are reading and browsing.