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Bishop’s Youth Ministry Committee

Mission & principles

The Bishop’s Youth Ministry Committee’s mission is to empower youth and those who work with youth in the Diocese of Toronto to connect with their faith, their communities and each other.

Our core principles are:

  1. Empowering
  2. Enabling
  3. Engaging – Bringing
  4. Formation – Building
  5. Connecting – Relationships

BYMC chair

The Rev. Brian Suggs is the chair of BYMC. He brings with him his experience of being an area youth ministry coordinator before he was ordained. Brian is currently the associate priest at All Saints, Kingsway.

Trent-Durham

Cormac Culkeen is the Area Youth Coordinator for Trent-Durham. Cormac works to strengthen networks of young people in the area and help them get involved with social justice issues.

York-Credit Valley

Youth are not only the future of our Church – they’re also the present. In York-Credit Valley, we’re committed to helping teens grow into committed followers of Jesus Christ.

Connie Kendall is the YCV Area Youth Ministry Coordinator.

York-Scarborough

Ian Physick

Greetings! I’m honoured to be working as one of the area youth ministry coordinators for York-Scarborough. Working with young people has always been a passion of mine. In my full-time work, I’m employed as a child and youth worker for various organizations in the Toronto area. I’ve worked primarily with young people in residential care (group homes), as well as in the youth criminal justice sector.

Being a cradle Anglican (and the son of an Anglican priest) I was fortunate to be raised within a rich faith tradition steeped in history, and one that allowed for a myriad of opinions and expressions. Another aspect that excited me (and continues to excite me) is the fact that the Church is so active in social justice, echoing the call to “seek and serve” all persons and to be active witnesses to Christ in the world.

I’ve also been fortunate to come across many helpful and influential people in the Church. I was a member of St. Margaret in-the-Pines from 2008-2015. I was blessed to have the opportunity to serve in youth ministry there, and to be part of an inviting congregation that encouraged my own growth as I developed a greater understanding of the wider church structure. I now worship at St. Peter, Scarborough, where I serve as the youth group leader. I’ve been blessed once more to be part of a church that is actively seeking to make a real difference in the lives of so many young people.

My particular hope and aspiration is to connect churches in York-Scarborough in a meaningful way so our various youth groups and ministries feel an encouraging and growing sense of togetherness. We have been blessed with the greatest message on earth: the redemptive and life-changing power of God Incarnate, Jesus Christ! I would also like to thank those volunteers who spend countless hours working with our young people – without your dedication and perseverance, my job would be ever more challenging.

In Christ,
Ian Physick

 

Sarah Mair

Sarah currently serves as a youth ministry leader at St. Paul, L’Amoreaux in Scarborough. She believes that discipleship is central to the development of young people’s faith and seeks to help youth ministry leaders cultivate rich relationships with youth and their families in the church and in the wider community. Sarah has worked closely with young people in a variety of settings as a community development social worker and has provided support for peer educators. She has also worked as a trainer for new staff in corporate settings. Her passion lies in social justice and advocacy.

As area coordinator, Sarah hopes to support youth ministry leaders and ministries through creative collaboration and engagement. She stands in faith that this can be accomplished by tapping into the redemptive and transformative power of God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

York-Simcoe

Sarah Layman is the area youth coordinator for York-Simcoe.