Diocesan Youth Ministry

Upcoming Events

The Diocesan Youth Ministry Leadership Team exists to strengthen, support, and shape youth ministry across the diocese. This team collaborates to plan key diocesan youth events, develop new initiatives, and ensure youth voices are meaningfully represented in diocesan life.

We aim to gather approximately 12 members, ideally including one adult and one youth from each neighborhood. If a neighborhood does not submit applicants, positions may be filled from the wider diocese to ensure a full and effective team. Members serve for one year and may reapply annually.

Our hope is that each person on the Leadership Team might choose one Youth Ministry Focus Area that they contribute to in a year. This might include Fall Retreat, Mission Trip, Confirmation Retreat, Mental Health, etc. If a person does not have capacity for the larger leadership team, they may still join one of these Youth Ministry Focus Teams by emailing heather@indydio.org.

Expectations & Commitments: Applicants should be prepared to:

Attend regular team meetings (proposed: monthly virtual meetings + 1–2 in-person gatherings annually)
Actively contribute to one major diocesan initiative
Be active in their local parish/congregation
Collaborate across generations (youth and adults)
Uphold diocesan safeguarding policies and Episcopal values

Estimated time commitment:

1 hour/month for meetings
Additional time depending on Youth Ministry Focus Team

Click here for a flyer to share with interested people.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY!

In the Episcopal Church, the canonical age for Confirmation is 16. Special permission may be given for younger youth who have demonstrated maturity in their faith; in our diocese, we believe that our Diocesan Youth Confirmation curriculum helps equip high school students to thoughtfully discern whether they are ready to take this step. Youth who are ready for Confirmation may do so on their next Bishop’s visit or at one of the below dates:

Regional Confirmation Service at Christ Church Cathedral, May 16, 11:00am – 12:30pm – Register Here

Northern Regional Confirmation Service at St. Christopher’s Carmel, June 25, 7:00pm – 8:30pm – Register Here

Southern Regional Confirmation Service at St. Paul’s Jeffersonville, June 28, 1:00pm – 2:30pm – Register Here

We plan to have another Diocesan Youth Confirmation Retreat in March of 2027. Congregations who’d like to use our curriculum to prepare their youth should contact heather@indydio.org.

All current 6th through 12th graders in the 2025-2026 academic year are invited on our annual Diocesan Youth Mission Trip to Detroit, MI July 5th-10th, 2026. Participants will work with service partners connected to local Episcopal churches. We will stay at Christ Church Cranbrook, located in the north suburbs of Detroit. Service activities will be a mix of social and physical, with opportunities to experience the rich culture of Detroit.

Registration is due June 1. Space is limited to 30 youth and 12 adults. Registration for youth is just $300, our lowest price for the mission trip ever!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Click here for a folder of resources to advertise to your youth, including a Flyer, Postcard, and Social Media Square.

2026 Medical Forms & Waivers

The below forms are required for every youth and adult who attend an overnight activity or trip with the diocese. It is required that every participant has an updated form for each calendar year. If you have updates in medical information, including medications, please submit a new form for our records.

Resources for Congregational Leaders

What is Youth Ministry University?

Youth Ministry University (YMU) is part of Diocesan Youth Ministry’s five-year vision to train and equip parishioners, staff, and volunteers from congregations of any size or location with the theological and practical tools needed to grow competence, capability, and confidence in parish-based youth ministry.

YMU is designed to help congregations move from ideas to action—with support, structure, and accountability along the way.

How the Cohort Model Works

Each participating congregation forms a cohort of at least three people. Together, the cohort will identify a shared goal related to ministry with young people.

Examples include:

Launching a youth ministry from scratch
Strengthening or restructuring an existing program
Integrating youth more fully into the life of the congregation

You do not need to have your goal identified before registering.
We will name the goal together during the Spring Launch Retreat and begin creating a plan.

What’s Included

1. Coaching
Over the course of the year, the cohort lead will meet with Heather at least every other month for one-on-one coaching. These sessions help keep the cohort focused, supported, and moving toward their goal.

2. Learning Modules
Each participant commits to attending a minimum of four workshops (via Zoom) throughout the year.

Workshops are selected by the cohort during the launch retreat
Topics are tailored to your congregation’s needs
Outside specialists may be invited as facilitators

3. Optional Congregational Support
Cohorts may also request additional support, including:

Congregational Assessment: a 4-hour interactive process to identify needs and design ministry experiments
On-site support from Heather for special events or milestones (launching a new youth group, intergenerational events, etc.)
Custom workshops, vestry conversations, or leadership sessions as needed

Program Timeline & Process

Spring Launch Retreat: April 25 | 9:00am–4:00pm St. Francis & The Fields Episcopal Church
Ongoing Learning Modules
- Monthly via Zoom
- August through March
- Dates and times selected by cohort participants at the Spring Retreat
Bi-Monthly Coaching
- Cohort lead meets with Heather every other month
- Focused on goal-tracking, troubleshooting, and next step
Closing Retreat (TBD)
- Targeting April 2027
- Date chosen collaboratively
- Includes reflection, celebration, and a graduation ceremony

Next Steps

Gather at least two other leaders from your congregation
Each participant must complete an individual registration
You may register together or invite others to register separately

Bonus: Congregations that complete Youth Ministry University become eligible for Mission Strategy Grants through the diocese.

Important Dates

Registration deadline: April 12
Spring Launch Retreat: April 25
Zoom Modules: August–March

Questions? Contact Heather Campbell, Diocesan Youth Minister heather@indydio.org

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Each semester, I invite youth leaders, clergy, and other youth ministry volunteers to have dinner with me as a way of growing community and connecting! RSVP by emailing heather@indydio.org

Next Date: April 12th, 5-7pm at Creative Chaos (RSVP by emailing Jackson Chamberlain, chamberlain@indydio.org)

Click here to view the list of neighborhoods.

As part of our five-year vision, we created a database of resources for youth leaders to use in their churches. This library consists of resources that we’ve collected from across the internet, as well as curated ourselves.

CLICK HERE FOR ACCESS TO THE FAITH FORMATION LIBRARY

Have a resource you would like to share with the diocese? Need a resource created? Email Heather to request or include a resource.

Looking to energize your youth ministry or spark new conversations in your church? Heather Campbell, Diocesan Youth Minister, would love to spend time with your community. A visit might include:

Worshiping with your Congregation on a Sunday morning
- Preaching during a Sunday service—either following the lectionary or with a youth-centered message
- Leading or joining youth or adult formation sessions
- Hosting a post-service workshop for the whole church, parents, or youth leaders
- Attending a special Sunday like Youth Sunday, Grad Sunday, or Back-to-Church Sunday
Joining in for a youth group gathering or event
Participating in an intergenerational, all-church, or family event
Sitting in or leading a component of a vestry meeting, youth ministry team, or other leadership gathering
Facilitating a Congregational Assessment through Youth Ministry University: A 4-hour process (split across two sessions if needed) that helps your congregation reflect on and plan for vibrant ministry with young people—complete with tangible, practical next steps.

Links:

👉 Click here to view a “menu” of opportunities, including a list of suggested workshops
📧 Cick here to email Heather to schedule a visit or start the conversation

Diocesan Youth Ministry Five-Year Vision

Youth Ministry Vision Summit Participants

In October of 2023, 40+ people from across the diocese, consisting of youth, youth leaders, clergy, and lay leaders met to determine the mission and five-year vision for Diocesan Youth Ministry. This vision summit culminated over a year of research, listening sessions, and censuses collected by the Youth Ministry Renovation Team.

Our Diocesan Youth Ministry Vision includes a mission statement, values, and Five-Year Goals, which focus on Youth Faith Formation, Youth Confirmation, Youth Organization Partnerships, Youth Leader Formation, Youth Ministry Investment, and the Christian Parenting & Caregiving Lilly Grant.

To read more about our vision, download our Diocesan Youth Ministry Vision Document by clicking here.

To view our progress on our goals as of Diocesan Convention in November 2025, click here.

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