NEXT GENERATION MINISTRIES COUNCIL

The Next Generation Ministries Council report to the 42nd General Assembly of its work during 2021-2022, plus recommendations for consideration by the Assembly.

Use these quicklinks to navigate to a specific section of this report:

Summary of Work
Summary of Recommendations
Work of the Committee
Recommendations (Detailed)
Committee Members
Meeting Dates

Megan DeHaven

Chairman
Presbytery of the East

Greg Aydt

Co-Chairman
TE, Presbytery of the West

SUMMARY OF WORK

1. The Next Generation Ministries Council hosted 28 NextGen ministry workers for our first NextGen Leadership Summit to encourage and equip them, and develop networks at the Presbytery level.

2. We provided follow up support to each of the Summit attendees to assist in developing networks in Presbyteries.

3. We began planning for our second NextGen Leadership Summit to be held in October 2022.

4. We have worked to collaborate with other leaders of strategic priorities to contextualize initiatives with a Next Generation Ministries mindset.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

The Next Generation Ministries Council has no recommendations for the 42nd General Assembly.

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WORK OF THE COMMITTEE

NEXTGEN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT

Acting upon a motion approved by the 39th General Assembly, the Next Generation Ministries Council planned, invited, and hosted 28 NextGen ministry workers at our first Leadership Summit in October 2021 in Orlando, Florida. This Summit was created in order to model and cultivate NextGen networks at the Presbytery level. Everyone at the Summit was refreshed by worship, energized by preaching, equipped through idea sharing, and connected to the EPC and their Presbyteries. But most of all, we are seeing NextGen Presbytery Networks develop from this Summit.

Behind this is a belief in the power of connectionalism in Presbyterianism. Great things happen when God puts us side-by-side. We believe that for presbyters at Presbytery meetings and General Assembly. We hope to bring the efficacy of connectionalism to the much-needed area of Next Generation Ministries in the EPC. For this, we are incredibly grateful for Presbyteries and local churches sending their NextGen workers to this Summit to kickstart this worthwhile endeavor.

FOLLOW-UP

Continuing this work means the Council has followed up with support for NextGen workers and budding Presbytery networks. We hope to see more of these NextGen Presbytery Networks so that the work of NextGen Ministries can benefit from the bottom-up dynamic of the EPC. We have begun planning and inviting key individuals to our second Summit in October 2022 in order to continue connecting NextGen workers within Presbyteries.

COLLABORATION

The Next Generation Ministries Council has collaborated with strategic priorities leaders to help contextualize the initiatives of the EPC for Next Generation Ministries. This is important work to help our denomination continue to develop effective biblical leaders, as well as make sure our churches are best equipped to reach out to and disciple young people and families.

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