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New Youth Ministries Center Dedicated
CHICAGO, IL (October 14, 2002) - Glenn R. Palmberg, president of the
Evangelical
Covenant Church (ECC), was among the speakers at the open house and
dedication of the new Center for Youth Ministry Studies at North Park
University held Friday afternoon.
The open house and dedication, which drew more than 50 people, was one
of
many activities as part of the university's Homecoming celebration this
weekend. North Park University, North Park Theological Seminary and the
Department of Christian Formation are sponsoring institutions.
Dr. John Phelan, president and dean of North Park Theological Seminary;
Mark Olson, North Park's dean for enrollment and director of church
relations; and Marti Burger, director of youth and family ministries in
the
Department of Christian Formation, also spoke about their hopes for the
center. Burger described the center as an ideal place for the training
of
youth pastors and the future leaders they mentor.
Jim Dekker, who in July began work with Ginny Olson as center
co-directors,
believes North Park's collaborative effort with the ECC makes the center
truly special.
"What really intrigued me was the idea that it was a three-partner
endeavor," Dekker said. "Rarely do you find a university, a seminary and
denomination partnering to create a center like this. It's a great
opportunity for us to be involved in . . . the formation of youth
ministry."
The Center for Youth Ministry Studies is a natural step for a program
that
has already become an effective training ground for the denomination.
North
Park has long offered a major and minor in youth ministry at both the
university and seminary. And Covenant resources have been made available
to
the schools for years.
Dekker believes the additional denominational support through the center
will help North Park keep in touch with what is going on in the field
through church youth pastors and consultations and through educational
opportunities. The center plans to offer some research projects to find
out
about the latest youth ministries curriculum and youth ministry trends,
among other things. Palmberg believes the center will only enhance the
future of Covenant youth ministry.
"Our success (in ministering to children and teens) has only increased
our
need for youth
ministry," Palmberg stated before closing Friday's dedication. "This is
an
enormous step to fill that need."
For more information on North Park's Center for Youth Ministry Studies,
call Kara Hendrickson, the center's operations coordinator, at
773-244-5207
or email her
at khendrickson@northpark.edu. More about the center can be found at
www.northpark.edu/cyms.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
