By: Heather Campbell, Diocesan Youth Minister
From November 22-24, the Diocesan Youth Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis welcomed 80 youth and 28 adult leaders to Waycross Camp and Conference Center for the first Diocesan Youth Fall Retreat in five years. This gathering brought together participants from across the diocese, creating a vibrant, diverse representation of the kingdom of God.
The retreat, themed “Recreate,” celebrated the return of a cherished tradition while introducing fresh elements that engaged participants in innovative and creative ways. The weekend featured a mix of experienced youth leaders, clergy, Waycross counselors, and even former attendees who returned to guide this new group of youth.
Throughout the weekend, we focused on how we were created in God’s image to take care of creation and all that is in it, including one another. Elliott Fortner, a youth from St. John’s, Crawfordsville, delivered an inspiring homily based on the Parable of the Talents, emphasizing how small actions can have significant impacts on our environment. Youth participated in all aspects of worship gatherings, including leading games, reading scripture, and leading liturgy. Bishop Jennifer joined us throughout the weekend and led us in Holy Communion, using bread our youth created during Choice Time.
To inspire youth to think about joining God in God’s ongoing creative work, we introduced several creative elements to the retreat. One of these elements is a unique take on Lectio Divina, referred throughout the weekend as “Crafty Lectio Divina.” This activity integrated scripture readings, music, and hands-on crafts. For instance, while reflecting on the creation story, participants etched designs on black scratch paper. Another session, inspired by the concept of unbreakable unity, saw youth crafting friendship bracelets to symbolize their reflections.
The retreat also introduced “Craftivism” stations, where participants used art as a form of activism. Our team researched the eight top activism topics that youth are engaged in and gave a crafty way to engage with them. Youth tackled topics like LGBTQ+ inclusion, racial justice, and mental health by creating buttons, positivity rocks, and advocacy signs. Worship throughout the weekend combined traditional hymns, Waycross favorites, and bilingual offerings in English and Spanish.
As the retreat concluded, parents were greeted with Waycross Cookies and Conversation Cards. These tools sparked meaningful discussions on the drive home, with many parents sharing that their youth were eager to talk about their experiences and faith.
As we reflect on the last 18 months since revitalizing Diocesan Youth Ministry, we note that we went from having 13 on our first mission trip to 118 at the retreat! We believe that the success of this weekend is a celebration of the entire diocese’s work and feedback as we intentionally build the new model for Diocesan Youth Ministry. The countless hours of listening sessions, censuses, interviews, and vision summits are already paying off. We are so excited about what the future of Diocesan Youth Ministry holds, and we are grateful to be building it as a diocese, together.
