By Pastor Bill Bixby, director, Theological Education with Youth

Twelve youth disciples of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod went deeper and farther in faith in the two summer retreat events of Theological Education with Youth (TEY) this summer.

Real transformation and fresh motivation for serving emerged following the two-week Summer Theological Academy, held July 2 to July 16 at Muhlenberg College, and the one-week Crossroads Event, held June 19 to June 25 and hosted at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. For the second year in a row, all 12 participants received scholarship support for growth in faith from the synod, coordinated through the synod’s Leadership Development Ministry Team.

In the Crossroads Event, seven youth from Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod — Nathan Derr (Friedens, Oley), Sierra Fogal (Christ, Jim Thorpe), Heather Miller (St. John, Slatington), John “Gabe” Newman (St. Paul, Easton), Karen Ward (Trinity, Pottsville), Samantha Wertz (Trinity, Pottsville), and Jonathan Wolff (Holy Spirit, Emmaus) — took part in a lively community comprised of 24 youth from eight synods across Regions 7 and 8, ELCA, and in four immersions for ministry exploration and dialogue on vocation.

Creative encounters were offered on advocacy in conjunction with the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in PA, on urban hospitality and justice ministries hosted at Luther Place in Washington, DC, on international relief and development hosted at the Lutheran Center in Baltimore, MD, and on lifecare communities at the Lutheran Retirement Village in Gettysburg. Highlights included a team presentation on “Advocacy in a Real World Congregation” by a contingent of lay ministers and community activists from Union Evangelical Lutheran Church, York; a homelessness simulation (staffed in part by persons who had formerly been homeless) at Luther Place; a fair trade chocolate exercise and a community gardening project in Baltimore, and preparing health kits at the Lutheran Retirement Village, concrete signs of love bound for persons served through Lutheran World Relief.

Comments from youth participants reflect new insights about vocation and public witness. “I was surprised at how many different ways there are to combine your faith and your work;” said one participant. Another remarked, “I was surprised to learn about the great number of ways that people can help or serve in the church without being pastors. I learned that I have a voice, and things I say matter.”

Crossroads Event youth have continued to reflect on and share their transforming experiences in sermons and in congregational newsletters, at congregation council and youth group meetings, and in a special presentation at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. A number of them will also participate in future TEY events as co-leaders. Many echoed this comment of one participant who went farther in faith: “It’s a life-changing and eye-opening experience that I would recommend to anyone.”

At the Summer Theological Academy, the accent was on theological exploration in creative courses, including a study of the book of Exodus and Christian identity for all 17 youth and 10 staff, as well as three elective courses on worship, practicing theology in your own voice, and the faiths of our neighbors in a multicultural world.

Servant learning and neighborhood ministry were experienced in new partnerships with St. Stephen and Christ Lutheran Churches, Allentown. Academy youth scholars and staff were invited to a deeper understanding of urban ministry issues and theological foundations for contemporary mission, led by Rev. Maritza Torres Dolich of St. Stephen, and by AiM Leesa Wimmer and the Rev. Sam Zeiser of Christ. At St. Stephen, academy youth joined a diverse group of young people and adults for a day of sprucing up and planting in the community park and play area adjacent to St. Stephen. At Christ, academy youth were carefully oriented, prepared, and sent with outreach folks of the congregation for neighborhood visitations with invitations to participate in VBS and a community picnic.

Life at the academy also included Morning and Evening Prayer each weekday, held in Muhlenberg’s Egner Chapel, small reflection groups for processing all the discoveries and new ideas of the academy, and opportunities for creative expression in song and music, dance and fabric art.

Presentations, testimonies and new forms of ministry continue for these participants as well. One Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod youth, Drew Chaveas (Allegheny, Mohnton), is now leading a youth Sunday school focus on Exodus, and two synod youth, Jennifer Andrews (St. John, Nazareth) and Katie Kane (Zion, Brodheadsville), are initiating ministry leadership projects in their home congregations. In addition to those three youth, two other Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod youth — Amanda Bernecker (Trinity, Pottsville) and Amanda Tompkins (St. Paul, Tannersville) — participated in the academy.

The Summer Theological Academy is a profound experience of going deeper in personal faith and in faith-seeking community. Comments from two participants capture its depth and dynamic power:

“ It forces you to dig deep in your faith and helps you realize what you truly believe. It shakes your foundation a little also. It introduces new views and prospects of faith that help you to remold your theology.”

“ Uplifting, awesome, faith-challenging, memorable, outstanding, worthwhile. I would do it again any day.”