The primary purpose of Formation Lab is to help congregations move past prescriptive, outdated models of youth ministry that often separate youth from the vital faith practices they need to embrace God as the center of their lives in today’s world. In Formation Lab, the ELCA and the Youth Ministry Network will create and nurture adaptive youth ministry models that allow congregations to discern and implement what innovation looks like in their own context while uniting them around a shared understanding of future ministry.
The Formation Lab project is directed by Catherine Anderson. For 17 years, Catherine served as the synod minister for discipleship and Christian community in the Northeastern Minnesota Synod of the ELCA. Before that, she served as a congregational youth minister. Catherine lives in Duluth, Minnesota. She can be reached at Catherine@elcaymnet.org
The ELCA Youth Ministry Network strengthens and empowers adult leaders of children, youth and family ministry in service to Christ.
