Gearing up for the 40th anniversary of The Episcopal Church’s largest international youth gathering, the youth ministries office announces planning team members for the 2023 Episcopal Youth Event (EYE). The team—which includes youth representatives from every province— held its first meeting Oct. 27.
Drawing hundreds of young people, EYE23 will be held July 4-8 at the University of Maryland in College Park, in partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.
EYE—typically held every three years but canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic—is geared toward Episcopal youth in grades 9-12 during the 2022-23 academic year and their adult mentors.
“The Episcopal Youth Event is unique in the life of the church in that it is planned by youth for their peers,” said Canon Myra Garnes, officer for youth ministries. “We look forward to working with this new team to plan an event that highlights the church as well as communities in metro D.C. and metro Baltimore.”
Registration for EYE23 will open Jan. 6, 2023. EYE attendees participate as part of a delegation. In 2023, delegations will be welcome from dioceses as well as “open delegations” from other Episcopal entities, including parishes and schools. Watch for information online here or on Facebook.
Youth Planning Team Members: - Umalkhar Abdi, Episcopal Diocese of Virginia
- Lauren Alleyne, Episcopal Diocese of Long Island
- Benisha Brudy , Episcopal Diocese of Missouri
- Yojani Daniela Hedman Cardona, Episcopal Diocese of Honduras
- Eleanor Graham, Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee
- Devyn Hubbs, Episcopal Church in Colorado
- Thomas Lockner, Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania
- Nasaryn Lopez, Episcopal Diocese of Texas
- Jonah Mackenzie, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
- Gracen Miller, Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina
- Elijah Portillo, Episcopal Diocese of Texas
- Rebecca Wallace-West, Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts
Adult Mentors:- The Rev. Amanda Akes-Cardwell, Episcopal Diocese of Washington
- Caleb Nelson Amaker, Episcopal Diocese of Washington
- The Rev. Margaret Foote, Episcopal Diocese of California
- The Rev. Nelson Mendoza, Episcopal Diocese of New York
- Caren Miles, Episcopal Diocese of California
- The Rev. Landon Moore, Episcopal Diocese of Long Island
- Kate Riley, Episcopal Diocese of Maryland
- The Rev. Karen Schlabach, Episcopal Diocese of Kansas
- Wanda Norris, Episcopal Diocese of Chicago
- Marcia Quintanilla, Episcopal Diocese of Texas
The following are serving in specialized roles on the Planning Team:- The Rev. Vincent Black, Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, is serving as planning team chaplain.
- The Rev. Rich Clark, Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida, is serving as event team coordinator.
- Easton Davis, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, is serving as communications consultant.
- The Rev. Julia Domenick, Episcopal Church in Colorado, is serving as wellness team coordinator.
- Ashley Graham-Wilcox, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, is serving as event coordinator.
- Lauren Wainwright, Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, is serving as event team coordinator.
Department of Faith Formation Staff:- The Rev. Shannon Kelly, director and officer for Young Adult & Campus Ministries
- Canon Myra Garnes, officer for Youth Ministries
- Bronwyn Clark Skov, program manager, Safe Church/Safe Communities
- Wendy Johnson, program manager, Episcopal Service Corps
- David Stickley, associate
The planning team will incorporate research and recommendations from an EYE/EJE assessment report completed by Ministry Architects in 2021.
Additional information:- EYE orientations for adult leaders will be hosted on Zoom Nov. 15 and 17 (English) and Dec. 8 (Spanish). Registration information is forthcoming.
- Applications are open now for volunteers (age 19 and older) to serve on dorm, medical/wellness, chaplain, and communication teams as part of the EYE Event Team. Learn more and apply by Dec. 16.
Emails can be sent to EYE@episcopalchurch.org. |
