745. 1. In each annual conference there shall be a conference Council on Youth Ministry composed of both youth and adults. Its purpose shall be to strengthen the youth ministry in the local Churches and districts of the annual conference. For administrative purposes the council shall be related to the annual conference council on ministries. (See 1311 for the National Youth Ministry Organization Convocation and the National Youth Ministry Organization Steering Committee.)
2. Membership--No more than one-third of the membership of the council shall be adults, one of whom may be the conference lay leader or his/her representative. It is recommended that the council be composed of 50 percent racial and ethnic group members. (It is suggested that members at large may be added toward achieving 50/50 ethnic/white membership in a manner to be determined by the conference council on youth ministry.) Where ethnic or language conferences overlap nonethnic conferences, provision shall be made for the inclusion of members of the ethnic or language conferences and vice-versa. Those serving on the conference council on youth ministry shall be members (full or preparatory) of The United Methodist Church.
3. Responsibilities--a) To initiate and support plans and activities and projects that are of particular interest to youth.
b) To be an advocate for the free expression of the convictions of youth on issues vital to them.
c) To support and facilitate, where deemed needed, the formation of youth caucuses.
d) To cooperate with the boards and agencies of the annual conference, receiving recommendations from and making recommendations to the same.
e) To recommend to the annual conference committee on nominations qualified youth for membership on boards and agencies.
f) To elect and certify annual conference representatives to the jurisdictional youth ministry organization convocation and the National Youth Ministry Organization Convocation in keeping with the provisions of 632 and 1301.2a.
g) To receive and set the policy and criteria for its portion of the Youth Service Fund (1310). No more than one-third shall be used for administrative purposes; at least one-third shall be used for projects within the geographic bounds of the annual conference; and at least one-third shall be used for projects outside the geographic bounds of the annual conference.
h) To establish the policy for Youth Service Fund education and be responsible for its promotion throughout the annual conference, in cooperation with the National Youth Ministry Organization Steering Committee.
i) To establish a project review committee as an advisory committee with regard to the use of the Youth Service Fund receipts for projects. It is recommended that the committee be composed of at least 50 percent racial and ethnic group persons.
j) To participate with the appropriate conference agencies in the nomination of the conference coordinator of youth ministry, who shall serve as its advisor.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
1992 Book of Discipline: ¶ 745
1996 United Methodist General Conference