Certificates in Youth and Children's Ministry
2020 Certificate Program Info: Tuition is $1,275, which includes training for certification and lodging/meals for residency component.
These programs are designed for those who are actively engaged in the practice of youth ministry or children’s ministry and feel called to deepen their own understanding of the practice of that ministry. The program will equip participants with foundational learning, rooted in the practical application to their specific ministry context. This program is designed to provide an overview of core biblical, theological, Episcopal, and practical knowledge that will be applied directly to the practice of ministry in the students' context.
Thanks to a new partnership with the Department of Faith Formation of the Episcopal Church, we can now offer this program at a reduced cost for each participant!
REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO EITHER PROGRAM:
- The completed online application with your $50 application fee. (Once accepted the $50 fee will be applied to your total cost of $1,275)
- Two letters of reference from a Christian Formation colleague, a supervisor in your ministry setting, teacher or mentor email to [email protected]
- Personal statement describing learning goals as well as the reasons such a program would benefit you and the church emailed to Randall Curtis at [email protected]
- Please apply as soon as possible. Once the above materials have been received they will be emailed to the faculty and an acceptance email will be sent within two weeks.
- Final Deadline is August 1 for applications or when space is full. (space is limited to 30 students).
- Practicing in a parish or youth program or children’s ministry in a paid or volunteer capacity
- Commitment to attend the week-long intensive as well as significant online work before and after the week-long intensive
PAYMENT DATES:
75% of the full payment must be received before attending the in-person event in September. The full amount is due by December 31, 2020
REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM:
- The program runs August 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020
- Attend the residential Program: September 27th-October 2nd at the San Pedro Spiritual Development Center in Winter Park, Florida.
- Complete online courses before the residential program (2-4 hours/week)
- Completion of Ministry Statement and Ministry Plan for their primary ministry context after the residential program
COST: THE TOTAL COST OF $1275 INCLUDES
- Full lodging and food at the residential program
- $100 discount to the 2021 Forma Conference which will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico and one-year membership to Forma.
- A one-year membership to Forma
The formation of a community of learners, who will practice and model Youth and Family Ministry not just for the duration of the program, but beyond it into and throughout their professional lives, is central to the program.
For questions about the Certificate in Youth Ministry Program contact Randall Curtis at [email protected]
For the Certificate in Children’s Ministry Program contact Jamie Martin-Currie at [email protected]
SCHEDULE AND MATERIALS
The final book list, schedule and syllabi for the 2019 class will be finalized by April 15th, 2019. Below is the previous years model for reference. They will be very similar.
2020 Book List Youth Ministry Academy
2020 Children's Ministry Academy Book List
2020 Youth Ministry and Children's Ministry Certificate Syllabus
FACULTY
Randall Curtis
Randall is the Ministry Developer for Young Adult and Youth Ministry in the Diocese of Arkansas. He is the coordinator of the Certificate Ministry Program handling the application process, online platforms, and is the faculty member who focus on ministry development. Randall has over 20 years of experience in Episcopal youth ministry working at churches in West Missouri, North Carolina, and West Tennessee. He served as the Forma president 2012-2014.
Jamie Martin-Currie
Meet Jamie Martin Currie (she/her/hers), a seventh generation Texan who grew up in Houston and its suburbs before attending University of North Texas in Denton. As soon as she graduated with a degree in theater and dance, she moved to Manhattan to study at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater. There she performed in numerous off-Broadway musicals, and starred in an “Unsolved Mysteries “episode that was nominated for an Emmy.
Jamie’s first memory of church is wearing a required white doily on her head, her mother serving as the Sunday school musician, and older sisters working in the nursery. Jamie has deep Episcopal roots: her grandparents were married at Christ Church Cathedral, Houston and the cross on top of Palmer Memorial, Houston is in honor of her grandfather.
While pursuing an M.S.Ed. in NYC, Jamie taught two-year-olds and their caregivers at private schools, a museum, and a reformed synagogue on the upper west side. She was church shopping when an Episcopal colleague invited her to Evensong at St. Bartholomew’s on Park and 50th and her ministry began. After a brief tour and brunch with the new associate with four young children, she was hired to take over the nursery, run the singles group, and create a summer camp. When rector Bill Tully and associate Jay Sidebotham hired Jamie to serve as the Director of Religious Education, thankfully she stumbled upon the National Association of Episcopal Christian Education Directors (NAECED), which later became Forma. That was over twenty years ago.
In 2005 Jamie moved back to Houston to serve as the Lay Minister for Christian Education at St. Martin’s (the largest Episcopal parish in the country) where she directed three hours of year- round Sunday morning formation for toddlers through twelfth grade. She worked closely with Jerome Berryman (who created Godly Play), his wife Thea, and daughter Colleen as they led Godly Play classes every Sunday morning. In 2008, Jamie started The Family Table service at St. Martin’s, which has now grown out of two sanctuaries.
The Diocese of Texas called Jamie as the Missioner for Christian Formation in 2011 where she supported the formation ministries of 155 parishes. During that time she served as the president of Forma and after completing the Youth Certificate Program, created the children’s track. After nine years on Bishop Doyle’s staff, she is now partnering with Episcopal Relief and Development on the ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE campaign, coaching graduate students for the Center of Youth Ministry Training (CYMT), assisting parishes with a “Review and Restart” process, and loves working from home.
Victoria Garvey
An
educator for most of her life -- a perspicacious 1st grade teacher had her
coaching others when she was 6 -- Victoria Garvey has a passion for learning
and teaching, and unsurprisingly, for the Church. In her professional career
she has taught at nearly every level from 2nd graders through graduate school,
but she has spent most of that teaching time at one of our seminaries
[Seabury-Western in Evanston, IL] where she taught biblical languages and
biblical theology, her doctoral area. Most recently, those passions for
learning/teaching/Church were fed in her position as Bishop’s Associate for
Lifelong Christian Formation in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago where she even
got paid for doing what she loves. These days, she serves on two faculties for
the wider church, consults with a couple of dioceses concerning congregational
vitality and she continues to speak locally, nationally and occasionally,
internationally, facilitates workshops, leads retreats and in her spare time,
serves the wider church as board member and committee member of several
churchwide commissions and here at home as four-time deputy to General
Convention.
Jenifer Gamber
Jenifer serves as Associate Rector and Day School Chaplain at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Washington, DC, where she shares her love for Jesus and invites all people to life in Christ. Mother of two adult children, Jenifer and her husband, Ed, share a home with a feisty West Highland Terrier. She is the author of several book including My Faith, My Life, Call on Me: A Prayer Book for Young People, and Common Prayer for Children in Families. In her free time, she leads evensong at the Washington National Cathedral, reads, and walks city streets in search of friendly dog parks.
Meredith Scott
Meredith is Director of Youth Ministry, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Greensboro, North Carolina. She specializes in building “Volunteer Hearts.” By leading youth through volunteer/leadership programs, she walks with them on their spiritual journey as they create a foundation that finds great joy and peace in serving others, living as Christ lived.
Leads annual pilgrimage for both youth and adults, Camino de Santiago, Spain & St. Cuthbert’s Way, Scotland, as well as annual mission trip,Glory Ridge, providing unique experiences to love the gift of the present and to strengthen spiritual formation.While serving others and making work worship.
Mother to son Jack (15) and daughter, Grace (13) and to multiple youth members in the EYC program, ranging in age from 10 to 18. Wife of the wonderful J. Scott, married 21 years. Caretaker for two precious Boston Terriers, Bruno and Daisy. Loves to travel, paint, read and spend time with family and friends. She owns MBScott Fine Art, painting in mixed mediums, specializing in angels. She is a life-long learner open to discovery and adventure through spiritual journey and conscious appreciation of God's gift of life.
Randall Curtis
Randall is the Ministry Developer for Young Adult and Youth Ministry in the Diocese of Arkansas. He is the coordinator of the Certificate Ministry Program handling the application process, online platforms, and is the faculty member who focus on ministry development. Randall has over 20 years of experience in Episcopal youth ministry working at churches in West Missouri, North Carolina, and West Tennessee. He served as the Forma president 2012-2014.
Jamie Martin-Currie
Meet Jamie Martin Currie (she/her/hers), a seventh generation Texan who grew up in Houston and its suburbs before attending University of North Texas in Denton. As soon as she graduated with a degree in theater and dance, she moved to Manhattan to study at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater. There she performed in numerous off-Broadway musicals, and starred in an “Unsolved Mysteries “episode that was nominated for an Emmy.
Jamie’s first memory of church is wearing a required white doily on her head, her mother serving as the Sunday school musician, and older sisters working in the nursery. Jamie has deep Episcopal roots: her grandparents were married at Christ Church Cathedral, Houston and the cross on top of Palmer Memorial, Houston is in honor of her grandfather.
While pursuing an M.S.Ed. in NYC, Jamie taught two-year-olds and their caregivers at private schools, a museum, and a reformed synagogue on the upper west side. She was church shopping when an Episcopal colleague invited her to Evensong at St. Bartholomew’s on Park and 50th and her ministry began. After a brief tour and brunch with the new associate with four young children, she was hired to take over the nursery, run the singles group, and create a summer camp. When rector Bill Tully and associate Jay Sidebotham hired Jamie to serve as the Director of Religious Education, thankfully she stumbled upon the National Association of Episcopal Christian Education Directors (NAECED), which later became Forma. That was over twenty years ago.
In 2005 Jamie moved back to Houston to serve as the Lay Minister for Christian Education at St. Martin’s (the largest Episcopal parish in the country) where she directed three hours of year- round Sunday morning formation for toddlers through twelfth grade. She worked closely with Jerome Berryman (who created Godly Play), his wife Thea, and daughter Colleen as they led Godly Play classes every Sunday morning. In 2008, Jamie started The Family Table service at St. Martin’s, which has now grown out of two sanctuaries.
The Diocese of Texas called Jamie as the Missioner for Christian Formation in 2011 where she supported the formation ministries of 155 parishes. During that time she served as the president of Forma and after completing the Youth Certificate Program, created the children’s track. After nine years on Bishop Doyle’s staff, she is now partnering with Episcopal Relief and Development on the ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE campaign, coaching graduate students for the Center of Youth Ministry Training (CYMT), assisting parishes with a “Review and Restart” process, and loves working from home.
Victoria Garvey
An educator for most of her life -- a perspicacious 1st grade teacher had her coaching others when she was 6 -- Victoria Garvey has a passion for learning and teaching, and unsurprisingly, for the Church. In her professional career she has taught at nearly every level from 2nd graders through graduate school, but she has spent most of that teaching time at one of our seminaries [Seabury-Western in Evanston, IL] where she taught biblical languages and biblical theology, her doctoral area. Most recently, those passions for learning/teaching/Church were fed in her position as Bishop’s Associate for Lifelong Christian Formation in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago where she even got paid for doing what she loves. These days, she serves on two faculties for the wider church, consults with a couple of dioceses concerning congregational vitality and she continues to speak locally, nationally and occasionally, internationally, facilitates workshops, leads retreats and in her spare time, serves the wider church as board member and committee member of several churchwide commissions and here at home as four-time deputy to General Convention.
Jenifer Gamber
Jenifer serves as Associate Rector and Day School Chaplain at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Washington, DC, where she shares her love for Jesus and invites all people to life in Christ. Mother of two adult children, Jenifer and her husband, Ed, share a home with a feisty West Highland Terrier. She is the author of several book including My Faith, My Life, Call on Me: A Prayer Book for Young People, and Common Prayer for Children in Families. In her free time, she leads evensong at the Washington National Cathedral, reads, and walks city streets in search of friendly dog parks.
Meredith Scott
Meredith is Director of Youth Ministry, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Greensboro, North Carolina. She specializes in building “Volunteer Hearts.” By leading youth through volunteer/leadership programs, she walks with them on their spiritual journey as they create a foundation that finds great joy and peace in serving others, living as Christ lived.
Leads annual pilgrimage for both youth and adults, Camino de Santiago, Spain & St. Cuthbert’s Way, Scotland, as well as annual mission trip,Glory Ridge, providing unique experiences to love the gift of the present and to strengthen spiritual formation.While serving others and making work worship.
Mother to son Jack (15) and daughter, Grace (13) and to multiple youth members in the EYC program, ranging in age from 10 to 18. Wife of the wonderful J. Scott, married 21 years. Caretaker for two precious Boston Terriers, Bruno and Daisy. Loves to travel, paint, read and spend time with family and friends. She owns MBScott Fine Art, painting in mixed mediums, specializing in angels. She is a life-long learner open to discovery and adventure through spiritual journey and conscious appreciation of God's gift of life.
Council Chair
Bronwyn Clark Skov serves as the Officer for Youth Ministries for The Episcopal Church. She is passionate about lay leadership, mentoring young people in their Christian journey, and empowering adults who work with youth. Currently she is the primary coordinator for the triennial Episcopal Youth Event and the General Convention Official Youth Presence. In her spare time she volunteers in her home parish and is an active member of the National Ski Patrol. She works from her rural southern Minnesota home where she lives with her recently retired spouse, a dog, a cat, two goats, and four fish. 
