Covenant News

New Youth Ministries Center Dedicated

CHICAGO, IL (October 14, 2002) - Glenn R. Palmberg, president of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), was among the speakers at the open house and dedication of the new Center for Youth Ministry Studies at North Park University held Friday afternoon.

The open house and dedication, which drew more than 50 people, was one of many activities as part of the university's Homecoming celebration this weekend. North Park University, North Park Theological Seminary and the Department of Christian Formation are sponsoring institutions.

Dr. John Phelan, president and dean of North Park Theological Seminary; Mark Olson, North Park's dean for enrollment and director of church relations; and Marti Burger, director of youth and family ministries in the Department of Christian Formation, also spoke about their hopes for the center. Burger described the center as an ideal place for the training of youth pastors and the future leaders they mentor.

Jim Dekker, who in July began work with Ginny Olson as center co-directors, believes North Park's collaborative effort with the ECC makes the center truly special.

"What really intrigued me was the idea that it was a three-partner endeavor," Dekker said. "Rarely do you find a university, a seminary and denomination partnering to create a center like this. It's a great opportunity for us to be involved in . . . the formation of youth ministry."

The Center for Youth Ministry Studies is a natural step for a program that has already become an effective training ground for the denomination. North Park has long offered a major and minor in youth ministry at both the university and seminary. And Covenant resources have been made available to the schools for years.

Dekker believes the additional denominational support through the center will help North Park keep in touch with what is going on in the field through church youth pastors and consultations and through educational opportunities. The center plans to offer some research projects to find out about the latest youth ministries curriculum and youth ministry trends, among other things. Palmberg believes the center will only enhance the future of Covenant youth ministry.

"Our success (in ministering to children and teens) has only increased our need for youth ministry," Palmberg stated before closing Friday's dedication. "This is an enormous step to fill that need."

For more information on North Park's Center for Youth Ministry Studies, call Kara Hendrickson, the center's operations coordinator, at 773-244-5207 or email her at khendrickson@northpark.edu. More about the center can be found at www.northpark.edu/cyms.

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