2 Oklahomans elected to Jurisdictional Youth Team
Two Oklahomans join the South Central Jurisdictional Youth Team (JYT) as a new quadrennium begins for United Methodists in the eight-state region.
Lizzie Stafford, a youth member of Coweta UMC, was elected secretary for the team. Diana Northcutt of Oklahoma City was named co-adult JYT coordinator. Rev. Northcutt is director of Local Church Youth Ministries for Oklahoma Conference.
JYT consists of two youths and the annual conference youth coordinator, who is an adult, from each of the 15 conferences in the South Central Jurisdiction. Two of the coordinators, a woman and man, co-chair the team. Youth members are in grades seven through 12 and serve one-year terms.
Elections were held in the summer at McMurray University, Abilene, Texas, during the Jurisdictional Youth Ministry Opportunity (JYMO), an annual camp. From Oklahoma Conference, Stafford, Northcutt, and Alyssa Baker from Church of the Good Shepherd, Yukon, attended the 2008 event.
"Lizzie is a remarkable young lady," Northcutt said. "She is excited about possible changes. As soon as we got back, she went to D.C. for a leadership conference."
Northcutt said she expects changes in youth ministry structures and more youth involvement in the overall jurisdictional leadership during the next four years. The team’s duties are described in the Book of Discipline. JYT trains young people for Church leadership roles, such as service on an annual conference’s Council on Youth Ministry (CCYM).
"The United Methodist Church has opened up many doors for me, strengthening my faith and also my character," Stafford said.
She completed Confirmation at age 12. At the Coweta church, she presents the Children’s Moment during worship, chairs the Youth Council, and serves on the Finance Committee and church Council. She is an Advanced Lay Speaker.
Stafford has participated four years in Oklahoma CCYM. She is vice president of Muskogee District CYM. She had been an Annual Conference at-large youth delegate.
She said, "Serving as JYT secretary, I hope to enable everyone to be well informed, taking efficient minutes and helping each person to be heard. I hope the team can help students strengthen their CCYM."
Developing a strategic plan for the JYT is among her specific goals.
Northcutt said her ministerial calling has always been to youth ministry; she has worked in that field for 39 years.
