How to Create a Youth Group Steering Committee Pt 1

A youth group steering committee is a group of volunteers who help to plan and execute the ministry's activities. The committee is made up of a variety of people, including youth, parents, and church leaders.

Why create a steering committee?

There are many reasons to create a steering committee for your youth group. Here are a few of the benefits:

• Increased support: A steering committee can provide you with much-needed support. They can help you plan and execute activities, and they can also provide you with feedback and ideas. This group will be advocates for the youth ministry in their other social circles and church committees.

• Greater diversity: A steering committee can help you to bring a greater diversity of perspectives to your youth group. This can help you to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all youth. You will be actively engaged with both parents’ voices and youth voices in the planning and structure of your ministry.

• Increased accountability: A steering committee can help you to stay accountable to your youth group. They can help you to make sure that your activities are meeting the needs of your youth, and they can also help you to make sure that you are using your resources wisely.

How to create a steering committee

Here are a few steps on how to create a steering committee for your youth group:

1. Identify potential members: The first step is to identify potential members for your steering committee. You can do this by talking to youth, parents, and church leaders.

   Each situation is different and may require more people, but a good make-up of this group would be:

   • 1 younger youth

   • 1 older youth

   • 1 parent of a younger youth

   • 1 parent of an older youth

   • 1 vestry or board member  (not a parent of youth)

   • You

2. Send out an invitation: Once you have identified potential members, send out a personal invitation to them. The invitation should include information about the purpose of the steering committee, the time commitment required, and how to RSVP. Also, the invitation should say why you and the church leaders thought of them.

3. Hold an orientation meeting: Once you have a group of people who have RSVP'd, hold an orientation meeting. This meeting will give everyone a chance to get to know each other and to learn more about the steering committee.

4. Start planning!: Once the orientation meeting is over, it's time to start planning! The steering committee can answer the question “What are your hopes for this ministry?” and then brainstorm activities that can get to the answers to that question.

More tips for creating a successful steering committee

• Make sure the committee is diverse: A diverse committee is more likely to be successful. Be sure to include youth, parents, and church leaders from different backgrounds.

• Set clear expectations: Make sure everyone on the committee knows what is expected of them. This will help to avoid any confusion or conflict.

• Celebrate successes: Be sure to celebrate the successes of the committee. This will help to keep everyone motivated and engaged.

For more information about starting one of these Committees, contact Randall Curtis at rcurtis@episcopalarkansas.org.

You have gotten a group together now what do you do? See Part 2.