Current Conferences
2012 Youth Conferences at Montreat
Space still available in all weeks!
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- Download the Montreat Room Assignment Form
- Download the Additions & Cancellations Form
- Download the Back Home Group Devotional Guide
- Download the Covenant and Medical Form
“Perfectly Imperfect”
This conference is designed for high school students and their adult leaders
We will come together as a community of faith in this sacred place. Free of distraction, we will focus on the God who accepts us just as we are. While we have fun with friends, we will celebrate God through meaningful, creative and interactive worship. Youth will be inspired and challenged to affirm and deepen their sense of Christian identity.
The Montreat Youth Conferences are designed for high school students, entering freshmen through graduated seniors. A Youth Conference is a unique gathering of young people from all over the country for a week of study, worship, and recreation. Activities include morning energizers, music, keynote, small group meetings where the conference theme is explored, afternoon recreation activities, and evening worship. Follow the link for more information on becoming a Small Group Leader.
Considering a Mission Trip?
Add a Montreat Summer Mission Experience to your Youth Conference week! Build in a meaningful community helping project for a fraction of what a separate mission trip would cost. Your youth group can make a real difference in the world, while the Youth Conference is making a difference for them!
Questions about adding a mission experience? Contact Aimee Wallis Buchanan director of Asheville Youth Mission.
Youth Conference Dates with Flyers to Download
Key Leadership for Youth Conference Weeks I & II
Keynoter: Lolimarta Ros Reiter, is Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Seffner, Florida. Loli has ministered alongside youth in the church, at camp, at school, and at a variety of conferences. While she loves living in Florida for its beaches, its lack of snow, and being able to get “chicharones” pretty much anywhere you go, her toes are looking forward to a chilly dip in the creek and her spirit looks forward to sharing in God’s presence at Montreat with you.
Preacher: John Bell comes from Scotland where he is a Presbyterian pastor working for an ecumenical organization called The Iona Community. He travels all over the world conducting retreats and speaking at conferences on matters of scripture, worship and spirituality. He does not have a cell phone, driving license or camera, nor does he engage with Facebook, Twitter or keep a blog. He has never eaten a Big Mac and never intends to.
Recreation Leader: Berry French is a native North Carolinian and an avid traveler. He loves meeting and being with people from around the globe. He’s been to five continents. Berry has a recreation degree from UNC-CH (Go Tar Heels!) and a divinity degree from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA. He loves the outdoors, the church, bluegrass music, backpacking, sunshine, water, and laughter.
Recreation Leader: Laurie Taylor Weicher is Associate Pastor at Wayne Presbyterian Church outside Philadelphia, PA. When she’s not hanging out with fun young people, she likes to run and do anything outside. She also loves hanging out and laughing lots. She is so excited about recreating with you all at Montreat this summer!
Music Leader: Pete Feltman is a graduate of San Francisco Theological Seminary and is the music director at Mission Bay Community Church in San Francisco and Fruitvale Presbyterian Church in Oakland. He is a multi-instrumentalist, percussion enthusiast, and singer/songwriter. Pete believes that music is the lifeblood of any culture and encourages everyone to sing from their heart!
Key Leadership for Youth Conference Weeks III & IV
Keynoter: Casey Thompson is Pastor at Wayne Presbyterian Church in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Casey has had a varied career, including stints as a semi-professional juggler, magician’s assistant, youth minister, and George Washington impersonator (it’s a major plus that no one knows what George sounded like). If he has any regret in life, it is that he hasn’t created a dance crew to dominate America’s Best Dance Crew. As he doesn’t actually dance, it’s a small regret.
Keynoter: Shelli Latham, of West Chester, PA, is Associate Pastor for Preaching and Outreach at Westminster Presbyterian Church, where she is constantly challenged and inspired by the abundant mercy and creative power or our God. She thinks church should be a place where youth are seen and heard, dancing and laughter are abundant and enthusiastic, and people aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. Prefers to eat dessert first at church potlucks. Is a master packer and especially loves to load up her handy backpack for mission adventures in our beautiful, broken world. Looking forward to the adventure of MYC.
Preacher: Cleophus J. LaRue is Princeton Theological Seminary’s Francis Landey Patton Professor of Homiletics. He received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Baylor University, his M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees from Princeton Seminary. He specializes in the theory and method of African American preaching and worship. An ordained minister in the National Baptist Convention of America, LaRue is the former pastor of two churches in Texas as well as the former interim pastor of churches in Harlem and Jamaica Queens, New York.
Receation Leader: Rodney Norris is the Associate Pastor for Youth and Young Adults at Fort Hill Presbyterian Church Clemson, SC. Rodney as served as the youth minister at Fort Hill for the past 11 years and has loved every minute of it. He never misses a chance to come to Montreat. This conference will make 12 in a row. He has served at the co-director the Montreat Middle School Conference and is a co-director for Montreat Weeks 1 and 2 in 2013. In his spare time he loves to play golf and jump on the trampoline.
Receation Leader: Lindsay Layendecker of Jacksonville, FL, is a middle school teacher and writer who attends Ft. King Presbyterian Church. Lindsay has been attending Montreat for the past 15 summers, doing everything from participating as a conferee to co-directing the Middle School Conference with her BFF, Neeley Rentz Lane! Lindsay enjoys many things, but nothing more than laughing. She will laugh with you, laugh at you, but mostly laugh at herself. Lindsay can’t wait to laugh with everyone during 2012 Youth Conferences!
Music Leader: Eric Timothy Nanz of Leesburg, VA is a guitar instructor at The Catoctin School of Music. As a former Montreat youth conferee and summer staffer, he holds a special fondness for the life-changing experiences found only behind the Montreat gates. His hobbies include trail running, eating Garden Salsa SunChips, and turning guitar amplifiers up to 11.
Key Leadership for Youth Conference Weeks V & VI
Keynoter: Reggie Weaver is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, a small, multicultural congregation in the city’s Woodlawn community. He is a graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary. Before moving to Chicago, he served as a resident at Second Presbyterian Church of Indianapolis. Reggie has had an active engagement in the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A), particularly in the areas of youth and young adult ministry and peacemaking.
Keynoter: Corey Nelson serves as Associate Pastor for Mission at the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest, Illinois, about 30 miles north of Chicago. A former Young Adult Volunteer in Northern Ireland and Ghana, Corey continues to work with local and international mission partners and loves to weave global and multicultural themes through worship. In his spare time, Corey plays the African djembe and the piano (though rarely at the same time), tries to keep his dog, Mandy, out of the chocolate and drinks way too much fair-trade coffee.
Preacher: Margaret Aymer of Decatur, GA is Associate Professor of New Testament at the Interdenominational Theological Center. Before becoming a professional geek, Margaret started her ministerial career as a youth director! In her spare time, Margaret rings handbells and sings second soprano. She is co-author of a forthcoming book African American Biblical Interpretation: An Introduction.
Recreation Leader: Stuart Hill lives in Greensboro, NC, where he is the chorus teacher at Northern Guilford Middle School. Stuart has been coming to Montreat conferences in various ways for more than ten years and is excited to return as a recreation leader this year! He loves energizers, and is proud to have recently mastered “Wavin’ Flag.” When Stuart isn’t teaching, he loves writing music, running, cooking, and traveling. Claims to fame include seeing Brad Paisley in a Starbucks one time and being mistaken for a Gap employee multiple times.
Recreation Leader: Megan Bannerman, a lifelong Montreater, has spent every summer of her life in this beautiful cove. She has traveled extensively but the mountains always call her back. Megan has led recreation for Triennium and Middle School Conferences, and enjoys calling barn dances, carrying on the tradition of her grandfather and aunts. She loves dogs and Disney movies. When she isn’t photographing weddings, engagements or children, you can find her hiking some of her favorite trails or spending time with her family.
Music Leader: John Lee of Minneapolis, MN is Parish Associate and Worship Director for Church of all Nations. He has led music for various youth conferences and General Assembly. He was born in Indiana to Chinese parents who emigrated from Taiwan. John is an accomplished musician and worship leader who has led all over the country. He describes himself as Midwestern honest and no-nonsense, California dreaming and creative, and Minnesota nice.
Special Incentive for Early Registration
If you send us your registration form on or before December 1st, you will receive free youth conference t-shirts equal to the number of conferees registered by December 1st!
Comprehensive Rates Including Conference, Room, & Meals
Rates below include conference fee of $245, housing in Assembly Inn, Winsborough, or Glen Rock Inn, meals in the Galax Dining Room (Sunday supper through Saturday breakfast), plus a $5 community services fee per person for public services provided by the Town and the fire district. Beginning January 16th, the conference fee increases by $10 per person per month.
Comprehensive Rates for Weeks I & VI: (Download a rate sheet)
Winsborough
—Triple Occupancy, Connecting Bath: starts at $512 per person (limited number of rooms available)
—Double Occupancy, Connecting Bath: starts at $562 per person
Glen Rock Inn
—Triple Occupancy, Connecting Bath: starts at $522 per person (limited number of rooms available)
—Double Occupancy, Connecting Bath: starts at $577 per person
Assembly Inn
—Triple Occupancy, Connecting Bath: starts at $532 per person (limited number of rooms available)
—Triple Occupancy, Private Bath: starts at $572 per person
—Double Occupancy, Connecting Bath: starts at $592 per person
—Double Occupancy, Private Bath: starts at $652 per person
Comprehensive Rates for Weeks II, III, IV & V: (Download a rate sheet)
Winsborough
—Triple Occupancy, Connecting Bath: starts at $512 per person (limited number of rooms available)
—Double Occupancy, Connecting Bath: starts at $562 per person
Glen Rock Inn
—Triple Occupancy, Connecting Bath: starts at $522 per person (limited number of rooms available)
—Double Occupancy, Connecting Bath: starts at $577 per person
Assembly Inn
—Triple Occupancy, Connecting Bath: starts at $552 per person (limited number of rooms available)
—Triple Occupancy, Private Bath: starts at $592 per person
—Double Occupancy, Connecting Bath: starts at $622 per person
—Double Occupancy, Private Bath: starts at $682 per person
Conference-Only Rates
Rates below include the conference fee (starting at $245) plus a $5 community services fee per person for public services provided by the Town and the fire district. Room & meals are not included. These rates are for groups staying in Private Housing as well as Montreat College dormitories. (These rates do NOT apply to groups staying in Assembly Inn, Winsborough, or Glen Rock Inn. Please refer to comprehensive rates above.)
Conference-Only Rates for All Weeks:
—On or before January 15th: $250 per person
—Between January 16th and February 15th: $260 per person
—Between February 16th and March 15th: $270 per person
—Between March 16th and April 15th: $280 per person
—After April 15th: $290 per person
Registration Form for Groups
Group leaders must register their youth groups as a block using the 2012 Youth Conference Registration Packet. Each conference is limited. All registrations will be processed in the order received. There will be no registrations by phone. Questions about registering your group? Contact the registrar, chandlerg[at]montreat.org or call 800.572.2257, ext. 335.
Is this your first time bringing a group to Montreat? Contact Susie Burns to walk you through the process at 800.572.2257 ext. 334 or email her at susieb[at]montreat.org.
Registration Form for Individuals NOT Coming with a Group
Individuals NOT coming with a group may register for weeks I & VI only using the 2012 Youth Conference Registration Packet for INDIVIDUALS. Space is limited. All registrations will be processed in the order received. There will be no registrations by phone. Questions about registering as an individual? Contact the registrar, chandlerg[at]montreat.org or call 800.572.2257, ext. 335 .
Commissioning Service Liturgy
In response to requests, we’ve developed brief liturgy for a short service for commissioning the young people and adult leaders who are heading to a Montreat Youth Conference this summer!
- Download a pdf that you can print quickly and fill in the blanks on the go!
- Download a document that you can edit yourself.
Pre-Conference Meeting Planning
Download the Pre-Conference Session
Being part of the Montreat Youth Conference requires preparation, planning, packing, and prayer. We have prepared a Pre-Conference session for you to use with your group. You may download it to help you prepare your group for Montreat.
General Information for All Youth Conferences
- Leader Chats: Some youth leaders have been bringing groups to Montreat Youth Conferences for years. Learn about their processes, fundraising efforts and more in this series of leader chats and audio interviews.
- Eligibility: The Montreat Youth Conferences are designed for high school students, entering freshmen through graduated seniors, and for their group leaders. All groups must include at least one adult for every six young people. Adults must be housed with their youth.
- Housing: There are numerous housing options to meet the needs of various size groups, including Assembly Inn, Winsborough, and Glen Rock Inn, which include meals in the Galax Dining Room in the Assembly Inn. Another housing option within a five minute walking distance is Montreat College, which offers dorm rooms and meals in Howerton Cafeteria. Prices for Assembly Inn, Winsborough, Glen Rock Inn, and Montreat College dorms are listed in the registration packet. Private housing is also an option with housing accommodations and meal arrangements made between the church and the private cottage owner. A special meal package is available for individuals and/or groups who would like to purchase lunch or supper at the Galax Dining Room in Assembly Inn. You may request a private cottage list by emailing carolo[at]montreat.org. For more information concerning private housing, download helpful hints.
- Conference Schedule: A Youth Conference is a unique gathering of young people from all over the country for a week of study, worship, and recreation. A typical day at Youth Conference includes morning energizers, music, keynote, small group meetings where the conference theme is explored, afternoon recreation activities, and evening worship, as well as other options (Wednesday afternoon is free). Registration will begin at 3:00 PM on Sunday. The conference will run from Sunday supper through Saturday breakfast. Sample schedule
- Opportunities for College Students: You have an opportunity to participate in the Youth Conference as a member of the Collegiate Work Crew. We are looking for college students who want to attend the conference with their church groups. You will have the chance to help the conference planning team during the week. You will work behind the scenes, learn the ropes, and get a close-up look at what is involved in running a Youth Conference. Look for more Work Crew information in your Back Home packet. No application is necessary; just make sure that you are registered as a part of your church group.
- Small Group Leaders: If you are 21+, a member of a denomination in the Reformed tradition, and are interested in applying to be a small group leader for the Youth Conferences, call 800.572.2257, ext. 327, or download a Small Group Leader Application. You may be both a small group leader and a back home leader if there is another adult with your home group attending the conference. Your registration fee is waived, and your room, board, and travel are covered! All small group leaders must be members of congregations that are members of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (for a listing of member churches, go to World Alliance of Reformed Churches).
- Scholarships: Limited scholarship funds are available for this conference.
- Opportunities for Younger Children: Learn more about the Clubs & Child Care program. Pre-registration is required. Enrollment is limited.
- Planning Teams: Be part of the planning for a future Montreat Youth Conference. Apply now!
- Cancellation Policy: See the registration packet for cancellation details.
Additional Youth Conference Resources
- If you would like the “2012 Youth Conference Registration Packet” mailed to you via U.S. mail, please email carolo[at]montreat.org or write Montreat Conference Center, P.O. Box 969, Montreat, NC 28757, or call 800.572.2257, ext. 338.
- Have you heard about the Morgan Endowment for Youth?
- Check out resources from past youth conferences.
Check out other opportunities for youth and young adults offered by the Center for Youth & Young Adult Ministry
