Education for Parish Youth Workers

Now accepting applications for classes starting in the Fall 2008

• St Stephen's Diploma Course with a concentration in Youth Ministry
  The St Stephen's Course of Study offers a Concentration in Youth Ministry leading to a certificate
• The Master of Arts in Applied Orthodox Theology with a concentration in Youth Ministry
  Students that successfully complete the Youth Ministry Concentration Certificate will be eligible to apply for the Master Degree Program through the Antiochian House of Studies and the Balamand University

For an application and course book contact:

St Stephen's Studies
Antiochian House of Studies
385 Ivy Lane
Bergenfield, NJ 07621-1607
Tel. 201-569-0095
theoedu1@aol.com

St. Stephen's Youth Ministry Concentration Course of Study

St Stephen’s Program of Studies Youth Ministry Concentration

The St. Stephen’s Program is a graduate-level directed-reading course of studies in Applied Orthodox Theology. Successful completion of the program leads to a certificate in Applied Orthodox Theology. This paper outlines the Youth Ministry concentration of the Program.

Youth Ministry Concentration Overview

The Youth Ministry concentration in the St Stephen’s Program comprises 15 directed-reading courses, three projects, and three weeks of residency (one week each year). Each entering Class completes the coursework, projects, and residency on the same trimester schedule (two long sessions and one residency) during the course of the Program. Each Fall session includes three directed-reading courses; each Spring session includes two reading courses and one directed-project course; and each Summer session includes one week of residency in the Antiochian House of Studies.

Directed-Reading Courses

The directed-reading courses for the Youth Ministry concentration are identical to those in the standard Applied Theology concentration of the St. Stephen’s program, with the exception of four courses, which specifically focus on preparing the student for Youth Ministry. The directed-reading courses are offered in the Fall and Spring trimesters. In general, the coursework includes:

• Reading the Required Texts for each course and additional recommended reading, which often is relevant across multiple courses.
• Successful completion of the required Exam Papers (typically three for each course) at the end of the semester.
• Students without sufficient background in the subject may find it necessary to undertake some amount of remedial reading in order to establish an appropriate basis and context in which to understand the required readings.

The specific directed-reading courses for the Youth Ministry concentration are presented in a later section of this proposal. The detailed curricula for each of the four courses that are specific to the Youth Ministry concentration will be provided in a separate document. There is no change to the curricula for the other fifteen courses.

Directed-Project Courses

The St. Stephen’s Program directed-project courses are offered in the Spring trimesters (Sessions II, IV, and VI). The directed-project courses for the Youth Ministry concentration differ from the standard Applied Theology concentration in that their required focus is Youth Ministry. They generally will address a particular need in this area. The Youth Ministry Project courses include:

• A Project Proposal (abstract), which the student submits at the beginning of the Spring trimester before undertaking the project to: the Chair of the Department of Youth Ministry for acceptance of relevancy and, upon acceptance by the Youth Ministry Chair, to the Project Mentor for approval.
• The directed Project itself.
• A Project Paper with supporting detail.

Residency

The required residency courses are offered in the Summer trimesters (the last week of August or the first week of September). All students in the St. Stephen’s Program are required to attend one week of residency in the Antiochian House of Studies each year (alternating week one or week two). Students in the Youth Ministry concentration will attend the second week of the House of Studies each year and will also attend an intensive Saturday session at the beginning of the week.

Master’s Degree Program

Students who successfully complete the St. Stephen’s certificate program and who satisfy the other prerequisites, may apply to enter the Master’s Degree Program, leading to a Master of Arts in Applied Orthodox Theology. Upon successful completion of the Youth Ministry concentration of the St Stephen’s program, students may apply for acceptance into the Master’s Degree Program in Applied Orthodox Theology with an Emphasis in Youth Ministry.

The Master’s Degree Program with the Youth Ministry concentration focuses on a practical need in Youth Ministry and, in general, includes:

• Presentation of a Thesis Proposal (abstract)
• Two Trimesters (Fall and Spring) of thesis research and preparation.
• Completion and defense of the Master’s Thesis.

Examples of Youth Ministry Projects

• Extended Teen Ministry Outreach project, including preparing teens, implementing project and debriefing teens
• Designing, building and training a Parish Youth Ministry Team
• Developing and implementing a Teen Weekend Retreat
• Developing and teaching a Semester Course in Moral and Ethical Issues Confronting Orthodox Youth to teens (for at least a 4 month period)
• Designing, implementing and evaluating a Youth Group Calendar of Events
  (for at least a 6 month period)
• Teaching teens Orthodox Liturgical Music, performed and useable in an Orthodox setting (quality recording of the event required)
• Developing a web-based Youth Ministry Program
• Developing a CD-based Youth Ministry Teaching Tool for teens
• Developing and implementing a Teen Bible Study Program
• Dealing with Teen relationships – to the Church, parents, and each other