Discovery helps young people explore careers in ministry
By Annette Bender
Megan Watson is the first to sign up for Discovery, Holston's retreat for young people exploring ministry. Why? She felt the call to ministry after she was baptized in the eighth grade - after the Rev. Amy Probst became her pastor at East Ridge United Methodist Church in Chattanooga District.
"I didn't know that females could be pastors. That was cool," says 17-year-old Watson.
At first, she resisted the tug toward full-time ministry, says Watson. "I wondered, 'Am I making this up?' But the more I fought, the more I felt like God was calling me to do this."
Recently, Watson was accepted at Emory & Henry College, where she will attend in fall 2005. She plans to study religion and Spanish, then attend Candler School of Theology. Organizers definitely want Watson and other young adults and senior-high youth who are convinced of their call to attend Discovery. The event will be held March 4-6 at Camp Wesley Woods in Townsend, Tenn.
But they hope others will consider participating in the event as well. "This retreat is for young people considering vocational ministry, whether that be as laity or clergy," said the Rev. Dan Gray, Holston coordinator of youth ministries. "But the young person does not need to have a commitment to vocational ministry to come to the event. This is an opportunity to explore and discover God's call on one's life.
"While we hope that God's call will become clearer for most participants, it is OK to come to the retreat and leave with the understanding that God is not calling you to vocational ministry," he said.
Sponsoring the event are the Holston Conference Young Adult/Campus Ministries, Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM), and the Board of Ordained Ministry.
Holston Conference is striving to "create a culture of the call" in order to address a potential clergy shortage, according to the Rev. Grady Winegar, conference secretary and administrative registrar to the Board of Ordained Ministry.
"We're not getting as many kids who are attending seminary straight out of college, who can have that full 40-year career in the ministry," he said. "We're trying to create a 'culture of the call' at every level of the church life as it relates to young people."
Young people should be exposed to the concept of a career in ministry through church camps, Resurrection, youth events, Sunday school, conference colleges, Wesley Foundations, Discovery events, and through daily interactions with their pastors, Winegar said.
"Fifty years ago, I was encouraged to respond to God's call at every point in my church life. We need to create that environment for our best and brightest today."
Early bird registration and full payment of $75 for Discovery must be postmarked by Feb. 9. Cost includes two nights housing, Saturday meals, Sunday breakfast and program. Space is limited to 60. For more information, visit holstonyouth.com, send email, or call the youth office at (423) 928-2156.
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