NEXT GENERATION MINISTRIES COUNCIL

SUMMARY OF WORK

1. The Next Generation Ministries Council continued with follow up support for previous Summit attendees to empower Next Gen workers, provide resources for their ministry work, and to build longer term connections by encouraging the development of networks at the Presbytery level.

2. We hosted 63 Next Gen workers at our Next Gen Ministry Leadership Summit at Central Presbyterian in Clayton, MO to accomplish this task.

3. We began planning for our fifth Next Gen Leadership Summit to be held in Spring 2026.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

The Next Generation Ministries Council has no recommendations for the 45th General Assembly.

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WORK OF THE COMMITTEE

NEXTGEN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT

Acting upon a motion approved by the 39th General Assembly, the Next Generation Ministries Council planned, invited, and hosted over 63 NextGen ministry workers coming from 12 Presbyteries at our fourth Leadership Summit in April 2025 in Clayton, Missouri at Central Presbyterian. This Summit was created in order to model and cultivate NextGen networks at the Presbytery level. Everyone at the Summit was refreshed by worship and prayer, equipped by preaching and through idea sharing, and connected to the EPC and their home Presbyteries. But more than simply being a conference, after four Summits we are seeing great steps at the Presbytery levels of NextGen Presbytery Networks with three of our Presbyteries already establishing standing Next Gen Committees on the Presbytery level for the purpose of mutual edification, idea sharing, and joining arms in ministry to children, youth, college, and families. In addition we are seeing Next Gen workers cultivate structures and opportunities to work together even when no formal standing committee exists.

Behind this desire is a belief in the power of connectionalism that is part of our firm foundation as Presbyterians. Great things happen when God puts us side-by-side. As a denomination we believe this in as presbyters at Presbytery meetings and at General Assembly. Now we are bringing the gift of connectionalism to the much-needed area of Next Generation Ministries in the EPC where many serve in un-ordained roles and do not benefit from the presbytery support that Teaching and Ruling Elders receive. For this, we are incredibly grateful for Presbyteries and local churches for funding and sending their NextGen workers to the Summit to continue investing in this worthwhile endeavor and for presbyteries taking this call seriously by starting up standing committees as well as designating presbytery gatherings for Next Gen Workers to gather.

FOLLOW-UP

Continuing this work means the Council has followed up with support for NextGen workers and budding Presbytery networks. We hope to see even more of these NextGen Presbytery Networks so that the work of NextGen Ministries can benefit from the gifts of our connections to one another throughout the EPC at the Presbytery level. We have begun planning for our fifth Summit in Spring 2026 in order to continue connecting NextGen workers within Presbyteries and are working on a new rotational basis for hosting the Summit to better enable Next Gen workers from all around the country to take part.

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RECOMMENDATIONS (DETAILED)

The Next Generation Ministries Council has no recommendations for the 45th General Assembly.

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COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Stephanie Poblenz (Co-Chairman)
TE, Presbytery of the Midwest

Cole Lescher
TE, Presbytery of Mid-America

Faith Hampton
Presbytery of the Central South

Daniel Kish
TE, Presbytery of the Central South

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MEETING DATES

October 9, 2024: Video Conference
November 6, 2024: Video Conference
January 22, 2025: Video Conference
March 27, 2025:Central Presbyterian Church (St. Louis, MO) 

Stephanie Poblenz Co-Chairman
June 2025

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