06.06.2014
New Dublin & Glendalough Youth Council Established
The new Dublin & Glendalough Youth Council (DGYC) has met for the first time and its members are starting work on shaping a vision for the future of Youth Ministry in the United Dioceses.
DGYC has been set up following a review of 3Rock Youth which was carried out during 2013/14 after 10 years of Youth Ministry. The review included a consultation process with clergy and youth leaders and further feedback was sought from all nine Rural Deaneries. The results of that wide consultation will shape the goals of the new DGYC.
Among the initial priorities of the diocesan youth council is to engage a Diocesan Youth Officer and that position is now being advertised. The aim of that role will be to build up faith, discipleship and leadership in the young people of Dublin and Glendalough.
One of the clear outcomes of the review process was that different parts of the dioceses had different Youth Ministry needs. While some areas with larger parishes had full time paid youth workers, others had no facilities for Youth Ministry at all, therefore their requirements from the new diocesan youth council would be vastly different.
As a result of recommendations from the review, Youth Ministry will operate on a devolved basis with individual Rural Deaneries, or clusters of parishes, deciding what will work best in their areas. They will be supported in their endeavours by the Diocesan Youth Officer.
The members of the Dublin & Glendalough Youth Council are: the Revd Niall Sloane (chairperson and Rector of Holy Trinity, Killiney), the Revd Lesley Robinson (Rector of Clontarf), Graham Jones (Head Gardner (CEO) of Solas Project), Sam Stott (Youth Worker, Rathmichael). David Caird (Lay Hon Sec Diocesan Councils) and Lynn Glanville (Diocesan Communications Officer). Archdeacon David Pierpoint (Dublin) and Archdeacon Ricky Rountree (Glendalough) act as consultants to the council.