Youth Resources

Youth Leadership Opportunities

Conference Youth Council (CYC) Application

Below you will find descriptions of various leadership roles for youth in our conference. If you have questions about any of these roles, please email the Chairperson of the Conference Committee on Youth Ministry (CCYM), Rev. Heather Wong at hwong@nccumc.org.

Leadership Opportunities for All Youth Present at ACS (Annual Conference Session for Students):

• Participate in Legislative Affairs. Voice your beliefs regarding current issues. Bring these topics and what you learned home with you!
• Serve as an advocate for Conference Youth Ministry in your local church and district: You are encouraged to attend district events, visit youth groups in your district, and be a representative for the work of Conference Youth Ministry.
• Seek one of the leadership positions listed below:

---

CCYM (District Representative, High School)

Responsibilities

• Attend CCYM Meetings: In September, January and March, you are expected to attend the Conference Council on Youth Ministries meetings at the Methodist Building.
  • You will serve as a representative from your district.
  • You will have a voice in decisions about youth ministry in the NCCUMC.
  • You will also serve on the Nominations Committee that determines the slate of nominees for Kaleidoscope and Breakaway.

Process for election:

• We will meet in district groups on Friday of ACS.
• The members of your district will elect you to serve on CCYM.

---

Conference Youth Council (CYC)

Responsibilities

• Attend CYC Planning Retreat: This is a weekend event usually held in early August. Attendance is mandatory for all CYC members. The purpose of the retreat is to plan for the year’s Conference Youth Events, including theme selection and staff selection.
• Attend CCYM Meetings: Attend the CCYM meetings held at the Methodist Building in Garner in September, January and March. You will have a voice in decisions about youth ministry in the NCCUMC.
• Staff Conference Youth Events: At the CYC Retreat, youth staff will be selected for the various Conference Events throughout the year (Pilgrimage, Kaleidoscope and Breakaway).  You will be expected to attend this event and serve in a leadership role at the event. You will be a part of the Design Team for these events, which might include additional meetings to plan for the events.

Process for election:

• An application for all positions on the CYC will be available prior to Kaleidoscope.
• For Kaleidoscope and Breakaway where Jr. High Reps and Freshman Reps are elected, those who serve as CCYM Middle School Reps and High School Reps serve as the Nominations Committee for the current year.  Application deadlines for these positions will be determined by the CCYM Chair.  A Nominations meeting date will be determined and the applications will be reviewed in an anonymous manor to determine the slate. 
• For ACS where the Executive Officers, High School District Reps, Members at Large and Designated Observers are elected/selected by the Nominations Committee that is determined at the ACS Monday caucus. The Nominations Committee will review the applications that are submitted. After the election, the newly elected officers for the upcoming year (begins August 1 and runs through July 31 of the ensuing year) will form the new CYC. All will be recognized during the Saturday morning closing session as a new CYC representative.

---

Resolutions Committee at ACS

Responsibilities:

• Attend CCYM Meetings: In September and January, you are expected to attend the Conference Council on Youth Ministries meetings at the Methodist Building. You will serve as a representative from your district for the Resolutions Committee.
• During ACS, you assist with Legislative Affairs. This includes writing resolutions for youth to discuss and vote on, meet during free time to work on future resolutions, brainstorm topics for future resolutions, and work with the LAP to keep Legislative Affairs running smoothly.

Process:

• If you would like to join ResCom during the week of ACS, the Legislative Affairs Person would be happy to have you! Simply attend one of the ResCom meetings in the Garber lobby during free time each day.
• We will meet in district groups on Friday. During this time, you can volunteer to be a district representative on Resolutions Committee for the upcoming year.

Communications Committee

Responsibilities:

• Aid the Secretary in Conference Youth Communications: Contribute to Conference-wide communication which may include the Newsletter or other communications per the leadership of the Conference Youth Secretary.
  • This may include writing announcements, devotions, or prayers to be published. This may include contributing to publicizing Conference Youth Events.
• Attend CCYM Meetings: In September and January, you are expected to attend the Conference Council on Youth Ministries meetings at the Methodist Building. You will serve as a representative from your district for the Communications Committee.
  • During these meetings you will attend a breakout session meeting with Communications Committee, led by the Secretary.

Process:

• We will meet in district groups on Friday. During this time, you can volunteer to be a district representative on Communications Committee.

YSF Task Force

Responsibilities:

• Attend CCYM Meetings: In September and January, you are expected to attend the Conference Council on Youth Ministries meetings at the Methodist Building. You will serve as a representative from your district for the Youth Service Fund Task Force.
  • During these meetings you will vote on YSF Grants and allot YSF funds.
  • During these meetings you will also have a chance to design, collaborate on designs, or vote on designs for YSF apparel and merchandise.
• Work the YSF Table at Conference Youth Events: You will sell YSF merchandise and collect money to aid the Treasurer at events you are present at (such as Pilgrimage, Breakaway, and ACS). You are required to actively fulfill your role of YSF Task Force by being present at the table per the request and scheduling of the Treasurer.
• Additional YSF Task Force Responsibilities: Assist the Treasurer in advertising YSF merchandise at Conference Youth Events.

Process:

• We will meet in district groups on Friday. During this time, you can volunteer to be a district representative on YSF Task Force.

---

Nominations Committee (at ACS)

Requirements:

• Each District will have two representatives (preferably the current High School Reps from CYC and CCYM) who do not intend to run for office. You must be a member of a United Methodist Church and a current high school student.
• If you are a graduated senior, you may serve on NomCom as an additional voice from your district, but you cannot vote during the meetings.

Responsibilities:

• Elect a chair of the committee to facilitate the meetings. The facilitator must be a senior or someone not pursuing a CYC office.
• Meet during free time (on Monday and Tuesday) to determine the slate of candidates who will run for Conference Youth office.
• The applications will be reviewed in an anonymous manner to determine who will be on the slate.  

---

NCCUMC Youth Officers

President

Throughout the year:

• Be an active member of a local Methodist Church
• Attend meetings for the Boards on which you serve: Board of Episcopacy, Board of Laity, Conference Connectional Table, Annual Conference Planning Team
• Attend CCYM Meetings
  • Serve as the facilitator of the meetings
• Represent Conference Youth Ministry everywhere you go!

CYC Retreat:

• Attend the CYC Retreat in early August
• Prepare a message for Saturday night worship
• Meet with the Overall Dean for the upcoming Global Vision and the LAP and choose two additional high school CYC members to be Youth Staff for this event. 

Pilgrimage:

• Attend Pilgrimage: be prepared to introduce yourself, describe your office,
  • give announcements,
  • promote Conference Youth Ministry
  • give benediction
  • Lead the rainstorm (with Pilgrimage Youth Staff) & Rick Moser Dance
  • Serve Communion on Sunday Morning

Global Vision:

• Serve on the design team along with the LAP and two other CYC High School Reps
  • Attend event;
  • Give a devotion during Global Vision
  • Expect to have conference calls or planning meetings. These are essential!

ACS:

• Serve on the Design Team
  • Expect to have conference calls AND planning meetings.
• Chair Legislative Affairs
• Expect to have conference calls or planning meetings. These are essential! 

Vice President

Throughout the year:

• Be an active member of a local Methodist Church
• Visit local churches and districts to spread the message of Conference Youth Ministry
  • Be prepared to share an “elevator pitch” on all of the events
  • Be familiar with the dates of the events and how people can register
• Be creative in spreading the news of Conference Youth Events
• Attend meetings for the Boards on which you serve: Christian Formation Team
• Attend CCYM Meetings
  • Attend breakout session with District Youth Coordinators to learn about the events of each district
• Represent Conference Youth Ministry everywhere you go!

CYC Retreat:

• Attend CYC Retreat in early August
• Prepare a morning devotion

Pilgrimage:

• Attend Pilgrimage: be prepared to introduce yourself, describe your office,
  • give announcements,
  • promote Conference Youth Ministry,
  • run the Conference Events table
• Lead the rainstorm (with Pilgrimage Youth Staff) & Rick Moser Dance
• Serve Communion on Sunday Morning

Annual Conference:

• Reserve a Display Table and organize the information on the table to publicize Youth Events

ACS:

• Serve on the design team
  • Expect to have conference calls AND  planning meetings. These are essential!
• Emcee the candidates’ speech ceremony

Secretary

Throughout the year:

• Be an active member of a local Methodist Church
• Run the Conference Youth Events Newsletter
  • In charge of creating and editing
• Be creative in spreading the news of Conference Youth Events
• Attend meetings for the Boards on which you serve: NCCUMC Communications Committee
• Attend CCYM Meetings
  • Run the Communications Committee breakout session
    • Assign tasks for the upcoming newsletter
    • Brainstorm how to communicate news for Conference Youth Ministry
    • September Meeting: Work on sending Resolutions passed at ACS (if needed)
• Represent Conference Youth Ministry everywhere you go!

CYC Retreat:

• Attend CYC Retreat in early August and
• Prepare a morning devotion

Pilgrimage:

• Attend Pilgrimage: be prepared to introduce yourself, describe your office,
  • give announcements,
  • promote Conference Youth Ministry,
  • Set up Conference Youth Events table (this information can be used at Annual Conference the following summer)
• Lead the rainstorm (with Pilgrimage Youth Staff) & Rick Moser Dance
• Serve Communion on Sunday Morning

ACS:

• Serve on the design team
  • Expect to have conference calls & planning meetings. These are essential!
• Take minutes during Legislative Affairs
  • Submit minutes to NCCUMC leadership after ACS
• Lead CommComm during Free Time to work on sending resolutions/preparing resolutions for sending before the week is over

Treasurer

Throughout the year:

• Be an active member of a local Methodist Church
• Be creative in spreading the news of Conference Youth Events and Youth Service Fund (YSF)
• Attend meetings for the Boards on which you serve: Missions
• Attend CCYM Meetings
• Work closely with the YSF Advisor (adult from the Conference Youth Operations Team)
• Run the YSF Task Force breakout session:
  • September meeting:
    • Prepare the YSF Task Force for the work that is ahead
    • Be prepared to answer any questions 
  • January CCYM meeting:
    • Work through and discuss grant applications → vote on grant applications
    • Present grant applications to the CCYM body to be voted on & approved
    • Complete the design YSF apparel
    • Brainstorm how to creatively advertise YSF
    • Determine which member of CYC will represent the YSF Task Force at Kaleidoscope and Breakaway.   
• Keep records of YSF activities, inventory and financial recorde (with YSF Advisor)
• Know where YSF apparel is stored and how it is being transported
• Represent Conference Youth Ministry everywhere you go!

CYC Retreat:

• Attend CYC Retreat in early August
• Prepare a morning devotion

Pilgrimage:

• Attend Pilgrimage: be prepared to introduce yourself and describe your office
  • give announcements
  • promote Conference Youth Ministry (be sure that a slide has been prepared to promote grant applications)
  • run YSF table
• Lead the rainstorm (with Pilgrimage Youth Staff) & Rick Moser Dance
• Serve Communion on Sunday Morning
• Creatively and succinctly explain what YSF is & how people can support YSF
  • Be sure that a slide have been prepared to promote grant applications 
• Run YSF Table
  • Ensure YSF Task Force knows when they should be working the table
• Communicate with YSF Advisor about merchandise, cash box, iPad/card reader, etc

ACS:

• Serve on the design team
  • Expect to have conference calls AND planning meetings. These are essential!
• Creatively and succinctly explain what YSF is & how people can support YSF 
• Run YSF Table
  • Ensure YSF Task Force knows when they should be working the table
• Communicate with YSF Advisor about merchandise, cash box, iPad/card reader, etc

Legislative Affairs Person (LAP)

Throughout the year:

• Be an active member of a local Methodist Church
• Be creative in spreading the news of Conference Youth Events
• Attend meetings for the Boards on which you serve: Board of Church and Society, NCCUMC Resolutions Committee
• Attend CCYM Meetings
  • Run the Resolutions Committee breakout session
    • September Meeting:
      • Reflect on Legislative Affairs that July & brainstorm ideas for the future
    • January Meeting:
      • Brainstorm resolution ideas
        • Contact people who aren’t present but who might want to write a resolution
      • Give Resolutions Committee your deadline for resolutions before ACS
      • Start assigning resolutions
• Represent Conference Youth Ministry everywhere you go!

CYC Retreat:

• Attend CYC Retreat in early August
  • Prepare a morning devotion

Pilgrimage:

• Attend Pilgrimage: be prepared to introduce yourself,
  • describe your office,
  • give announcements,
  • promote Conference Youth Ministry,
  • help with Conference Events Table
• Lead the rainstorm (with Pilgrimage Youth Staff) & Rick Moser Dance
• Serve Communion on Sunday Morning

Global Vision:

• Serve on the design team,
  • attend the event, and
  • give a devotion during GV
  • Expect to have conference calls or planning meetings. These are essential!

ACS:

• Serve on the design team
  • Expect to have conference calls AND planning meetings. These are essential!
• Have as much ready before ACS as possible for Legislative Affairs
• Run Legislative Affairs during ACS
  • Ensure people can participate, have questions answered
  • Ensure there is enough material for each day
• Run Resolutions Committee during free time & after Vespers