Youth currently in grades 9, 10 and 11 are invited to apply to attend a Provincial Youth Event to be held March 8-10, 2019 at Waycross Camp and Conference Center in Indiana. The focus of the event is on leadership. This event will include folks from the dioceses of Province V, which are the diocese found in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and eastern Missiouri. The cost is $100 for the event with  travel costs provided by the Diocese of Fond du Lac youth budget. 

Diocesan Youth Ministry Coordinator, Erin Wolf, notes that space is limited to FIVE students and ONE additional adult chaperone. If you our someone you know might have interest, please submit an application no later than Sunday, January 6, 2019. Those selected will be notified shortly thereafter with further information regarding registration and the weekend itself.

The application is found here.

Grace and peace: After prayerful discernment and conversation with Bishop Matt Gunter, the Diocesan Youth Ministry Coordinator, and adult leadership concerning Happening and New Beginnings, a few new changes will be put into place starting in the 2017-2018 school year. At this time, Happening will become an annual FALL event for high school students (grades 9-12), and New Beginnings will become an annual SPRING event for Middle School students (grades 6-8). 

There has been growing interest in both building up the New Beginnings program for middle school students as well as providing continued leadership opportunities for high school students. A large part of the New Beginnings program is designed to be run by those in grades 9-12 with both lay & ordained adults supervising and supporting. It is the hope of youth leaders within the diocese that this adjustment in the calendar will help build up and strengthen both programs.

If anyone has any questions regarding these changes to the youth ministry calendar, you may contact our Diocesan Youth Ministry Coordinator, Erin Wolf, at ewolf@diofdl.org. Please continue to keep these ministries and all who minister within in prayer as they begin this new school year together.

​The Rt. Rev. Matthew Gunter, Bishop of the Diocese of Fond du Lac, the Episcopal Church in northeast Wisconsin, is pleased to announce the hiring of Erin Wolf as Diocesan Youth Ministry Coordinator (DYMC). The DYMC gives direction to and supervises the diocesan youth ministry program in a manner consistent with the mission and ministry of the Diocese of Fond du Lac. Wolf has been Interim in this position since June 2016 and will continue as Director of Youth Ministry at All Saints Episcopal Church, Appleton a position held since 2012.
 
“We interviewed strong candidates for the position,” Bishop Matt shared with the Executive Council, “but Erin’s strong skill set, background and experience made the decision easy for the committee. We look forward to her continuing to keep youth ministry strong in this diocese, as it has been for many, many years.” Committee members included Bishop Matt; Matthew Payne, Diocesan Administrator; CeCe Schertz, St. Thomas, Menasha; and the Rev. Amanda Sampey, St. James, Mosinee.
 
Wolf holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Cardinal Stritch University and was a participant in the Religious Scholars Vocation Program. With over a decade of youth ministry leadership, she has served congregations in the Episcopal and Lutheran Church. A self-described “cradle Episcopalian” she has been a leader in Happening for High School Youth and served as counselor, musician, session director and camp director at the Diocesan Summer Camp.
 
“My interim has given me unique insight into the needs of individual congregations of the diocese,” Wolf shared with the interview committee, “as well as ideas for engaging youth within going forward.” The primary duty of the DYMC is to support, train and recruit volunteers for youth ministry activity, including appropriate screening. The secondary duty is to be “in charge” of diocesan youth ministry activity, events and programs, implementing them with the assistance of volunteers. The DYMC is responsible for assuring diocesan policies and procedures are observed.
 
Wolf begins the new position August 1, 2017.

Preparations are underway for a major event this summer: the national Episcopal Youth Event (EYE). The General Convention in 1982 voted to create a triennial event that allowed high school students (completed grades 9-12) and adults from all over the Episcopal Church come together for several days of worship and service. EYE 2017 will be held July 10-14, 2017 at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, OK. Follow the hashtag #eye17 on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat for event updates.

Please keep this year's delegation from the Diocese of Fond du Lac in your prayers: 
Students: Emma Armstrong (Trinity, Oshkosh), Sierra Edwards (St. Thomas, Menasha), Megan Gramins (St. Thomas, Menasha)
Adults: Amy Heimerl (Ascension, Merrill), Erin Wolf (All Saints, Appleton), Bishop Matt Gunter.