2024 ADOTS Synod & Conference: Reaching Youth in the 21st Century
This year’s ADOTS Synod and Conference took place from November 7-9, 2021, at Christ the King Anglican Church in Hoover, Alabama. It was a beautiful weekend filled with worship, ordinations, fellowship, and teaching. Here is a roundup of info from this year’s event:
Thursday, November 7, 2024
The day began with a wonderful Mission Roundtable with Canon George Ivey, followed by Deacon’s Day activities. Deacon Shojil Abraham, Assistant Deacon to Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos and General Secretary of Youth Ministry in the Northeast American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, hosted an informative Youth Ministry seminar for all clergy and laity. The day ended with a beautiful Ordination service where Timothy Ijeh from Good Samaritan Anglican Church in Buford, Georgia, and Ethan Sindler from Anglican Church of the Redeemer in Chattanooga, Tennessee, were ordained. Thanks be to God!
Friday, November 8, 2024
Our second day of the 2024 Synod & Conference began with morning prayer, followed by our clergy gathering with Archbishop Foley Beach and Bishop Frank Lyons. While clergy was gathered at Christ the King, their spouses enjoyed a beautiful brunch and meaningful fellowship together. After midday prayer, everyone gathered to enjoy a delicious lunch while Canon Chris Sorensen and Deacon Daniel Gamble hosted an informative conversation that covered a host of topics including meaninful engagement with newcomers, church mission statements, and practical pathways to new membership. Afterwards, clergy gathered for deanery meetings, while lay attendees heard from Sheryl Shaw from New Wineskins, who hosted a wonderful roundtable titled “Coming Together to Send the Next Generation to the Least Reached.” The annual Synod business meeting followed, where the following elections were made:
Standing Committee (Clergy):
- Fr. Daniel Adkinson – St. Thomas – Athens, GA
- Fr. Chris Findley – St. Patrick’s – Murfreesboro, TN
Standing Committee (Laity):
- Joe Mendez – St. Barnabas – Newnan, GA
- Nancy Mitchell – Anglican Redeemer – Chattanooga, TN
Ecclesiastical Court (Clergy):
- Fr. Geoff Hatley – St. Andrew’s – Madison, AL
Ecclesiastical Court (Lay):
- Warren Auld – Holy Cross Cathedral – Loganville, GA
- Jonathan Stewart – Mission Chattanooga – Chattanooga, TN
Committee on Constitutions and Canons (Lay)
- John Henry Theiss – Holy Cross Cathedral – Loganville, GA
Nominating Committee (Clergy)
- Ben Williams – Mission Saint James – Jackson, TN
Finance Committee (Lay)
- Karen Fisher – Christ the King – Hiawassee, GA
Following the business meeting, attendees gathered for a beautiful Eucharist, followed by a delightful dinner featuring entertainment from Hoover High School’s talented a cappella groups, Grace Note and Ten Bucs Worth.
Saturday, November 9, 2024
After gathering for morning prayer on the final day of the 2024 Synod & Conference, Canon Jessica Greiner, Canon for Youth and Family Minstries, hosted an engaging and interactive panel discussion on Reaching Youth in the 21st Century with:
- Fr. Zack Clemmons, Curate & Youth Minister – Christ the King in Hoover, Alabama
- Courtney Allen, Pastor of Family Ministries – Mission Chattanooga in Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Deacon Shojil Abraham, Assistant Deacon to Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos and General Secretary of Youth Ministry in the Northeast American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
- Tracie Ryall, Youth Minister – Holy Cross Cathedral in Loganville, Georgia
Following the panel discussion, attendees attended the following workshops:
- O Faithless Generation? Understanding the Religiosity of Gen Z and the Polars – Hosted by Dr. Daniel N. Gullotta (Ph.D., Religious Studies, Stanford University)
- Preparing Youth for Confirmation – Hosted by The Rev. Alex Banfield Hicks, MA (Oxon), M.Std., P.G.C.E., M.Div.
- Parish Ministry to University Students – Hosted by Fr. Jason Leonard, Tracie Ryall, and Josh Hudson
- How to Establish a Prayer Station – Hosted by Fr. William De Arteaga
- Making Church a Place of Flourishing for Special Needs Kids and their Families – Hosted by Deacon Amy Atchison
- Delete Yr Account: Technological Counter-Discipleship for Youth (and Adults) in the 21st Century – Hosted by Fr Jarrod Hill of the Anglican Church of the Redeemer in Chattanooga and Fr. Zack Clemmons of Christ the King Anglican Church
- Practical Youth Ministry – Hosted by Canon Jessica Greiner, Canon for Youth and Family Ministries
The day ended with afternoon prayer and a farewell lunch in the afternoon.