News For and About Diocesan Youth

Youth Action Council sets dates
Patricia Tanzer Askew, Youth Ministries Facilitator for the Diocese of East Tennessee, recently announced the following meeting dates for the Youth Action Council (YAC) for remainder of 2001.

• April 28
• June 9
• July 28
• September 8
• October 27
• December 1

The YAC meetings are open meetings and anyone with an interest in the work of the youth of the diocese is encouraged to attend as an observer.

Council members are expected to attend all the meetings. Anyone who misses two meetings without contacting Askew will no longer be a part of YAC. She can be reached by eMail patricia@etdiocese.net or phone at 423-886-6538.

Plans for Province IV Youth Event Set

The Design Team for the Province IV Youth Event for 2001has announced that plans are going forward for the trienniel event for youth and adults who work with youth. PYE will be held at the Summit Conference Center in Brown Summit, NC, August 9-12.

The theme for the event is “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.” It is open to those who will be rising 10th graders through rising college freshmen this summer in the twenty dioceses making up Province IV of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America.

The Design Team -- Paul Canady, Nancy Carter, Erik Eastham, Julia Paluch, Kim Smith and Jessica Stewart -- reported, “We spent last weekend at The Summit putting the finishing touches on what we know will be a great event. God has truly blessed us with a very talented design team, and without a doubt, God has been a part of every step of this process. We are hoping and praying that EVERY diocese in our province will be represented.”

Registration forms were sent to all diocesan coordinators at the end of January. The deadline is July 2.

Camp BJ, No One Pays; No One Paid

Camp Billy Johnson is a special summer camp where no one pays, no one gets paid, but everyone profits. Named for the late Rev. Bill Johnson of Knoxville, whose love for young people and concern for spiritual development inspires the its efforts, the camp is run by the youth of Tennessee under the auspices of the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee.

Each summer since 1979, Camp BJ has raised funds for, planned and staffed the camp. Renting the facilities of DuBose Conference Center, the camp invites children whose parents would otherwise find it difficult to provide such an outing.

Friends -- individuals and organizations -- provide money ($125 sends one child to camp for a week) or supplies (first aid kits, craft materials) and services (driving children to camp).

The camp is always looking for people to assist. Any teenagers interested in being a counselor at Camp BJ should contact Michael Elliott, Co-Coordinator, at 1302 Lawrence Road, Chattanooga, TN 37405-3115; 423-265-8770; eMail campbillyjohnson@worldnet.att.net
Website http://campbilly johnson.home.att.net.

Kanuga Offers Young People’s Conferences

The theme of the Junior Conference is “The Peaceful Kingdom” based on Isaiah 11:6, “. . .and a little child shall lead them.” The participants will talk about peace and feeling peaceful and what their roles is when it comes to making peace happen. The Kanuga announcement said, There are times in our lives when we don’t understand the craziness and chaos of our world. There are also moments when we struggle with all the changes affecting us as individuals. Through music, worship and games, we will find our roles as peacemakers in God’s Kingdom.”

John Leach, Director of Youth Ministry, Church of the Holy Communion, Memphis; and Mary Henry Hawes, Director of Youth Ministries, Christ Church, Raleigh, are the coordinators. The Rev. Sanford Key, St. Alban’s Chapel, The Citadel, Charleston will serve as chaplain. The conference musician is Sam Hensley, Greensboro, a middle school youth group leader and long-time Kanuga performer.

The Senior Young People’s Conference will focus on “With Many We Are One!” There are 2.5 million Episcopalians, 75 million Anglicans and 2 billion Christians worldwide. Together we are all the one Body of Christ. Individually, each of us is the unique creation of God with gifts and talents to give to the world. With I Corinthians 12 as the starting point, SYP 2001 will explore how each of the many fit together as one Body.

The keynoter for the conference is the Rev. Brian Prior, Church of the Resurrection, Spokane, Washington. Coordinators are the Rev. David Hall, St. Thomas Church, Huntsville, Alabama, and Ellen Hamilton, Youth Ministries Director, St. John’s Church, Ellicott City, Maryland. Fran McKendree, Hendersonville, well known international performer, songwriter, recording artist and program leader will be the musician.

The cost of the conferences is $335 per person with a $50 discount for second and subsequent siblings registered.For more information and to register, contact Kanuga Conferences, Inc. P.O. Box 250, Hendersonville, NC 28793-0250; phone: 828-692-9136; fax: 828-696-3589; eMail: info@kanuga.org; Website: www.kanuga.org.