About Us

Youth and Family Ministry in the Grand Canyon Synod seeks to nurture faith, foster community, and equip young people and their families to live out their baptismal calling in daily life. Rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, this ministry supports congregations with resources for faith formation, intergenerational relationships, leadership development, and meaningful service opportunities.

Here is where you will find links for educational opportunities, registration forms, other youth leaders and all the things related to seeing people under the age of 25 flourish in their spiritual relationship.

Latest news & Resources

  • Grand Canyon Youth Ministry Survey
    The Synod Youth Advisory Team invites all congregations to complete a brief survey about youth, children, and family ministry in your context. Help us build a synod-wide picture of what’s happening with young people—from Pre-K to post-high school—and share contact information so we can connect, support, and grow together. Take the survey today!

  • Building Safer Congregations: Creating Your Own Safe Church Policy

    Every congregation in the Grand Canyon Synod is encouraged to create written Safe Church guidelines to protect children, youth, and vulnerable adults. This blog post outlines who should be on your policy-writing team, what legal and insurance steps to follow, and includes dozens of helpful links, resources, and sample policies from across the ELCA.

  • TENx10: A National Effort to Make Faith Matter for 10 Million Teens

    Young people are leaving the church at an alarming rate—but it doesn’t have to be this way. The Grand Canyon Synod’s Youth Advisory Team highlights TENx10, a national collaboration led by Fuller Youth Institute, offering free, research-based tools to help youth leaders, pastors, and congregations reimagine faith formation. Visit TENx10.org to access resources, take a 2-minute quiz, and join this movement to help faith matter more to the next generation.

  • View all things Youth and Young Adult in our blog here.

Synod Youth Advisory Team (SYAT)

Meet the team of passionate people who love Jesus and love God’s child from the smallest to the tallest.   

We believe that faith is shaped through relationships—at home, in the congregation, and in the wider community. Our ministry resources and empowers leaders, families, and young people under the age of 25: 

  • Faith Formation: Encouraging spiritual growth through worship, Bible study, confirmation, and lifelong discipleship. 

  • Intergenerational Connection: Strengthening bonds between young people and the wider church community. 

  • Leadership Development: Equipping youth and adults for leadership in the church and world. 

  • Service and Justice: Engaging in service projects, advocacy, and mission experiences that reflect Christ’s love. 

  • Support and Resources: Offering guidance for congregations and families to navigate the joys and challenges of faith formation in today's world. 

From the Grand Canyon Synod Constitution:

†S6.04.01. It is the goal of this synod that at least 10 percent of the voting members of the Synod Assembly, Synod Council, committees, and organizational units of this synod be youth and young adults. The Synod Council shall establish a plan for implementing this goal. For purposes of the constitution, bylaws, and continuing resolutions of this synod, the term “youth” means a voting member of a congregation who has not reached the age of 18 at the time of election or appointment for service. The term “young adult” means a voting member of a congregation between the ages of 18 and 30 at the time of election or appointment for service.

†S10.01. The Synod Council, consisting of the four officers of the synod, 10 to 24 other members, and at least one youth and at least one young adult, shall be elected by the Synod Assembly.

S10.01.05. The youth representative on the Synod Council shall be elected for a term of two years and may be reelected to a second term if qualified under S10.01.06.

S10.01.06. The youth representative on the Synod Council shall be a person who has not passed her or his 18th birthday at the time of election, and who shall be residing within the territory of the synod during the term of office.