The Sierra Pacific Synod Youth Committee (SPSYC) is a youth-led, adult-assisted ministry of the Sierra Pacific Synod. 
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In September of 2016 the Sierra Pacific Synod lived into a new conference configuration of our territory. This new configuration has spurred many changes in our governing documents and the way we operate. Some of the changes are: 
  • A one year term of service instead of 2 for all members
  • Adults are all assistants and not representatives of their conference and do not have vote on the committee
  • While priority is given to youth who are from under-represented communities, positions are not limited by age, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or ability. 
  • Youth Member positions are made flexible so that all interested youth can hopefully serve. 
  • SPSYC activities and events are not limited to retreats but open to other possibilities. 
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Click the territory of the Sierra Pacific Synod to see a map of the 9 Conferences

Our New Constitution

The one position on the committee that is not elected by the youth is the Synod Council Youth Representative. This person is elected at the Synod Assembly each year and serves both on the Synod Council and SPSYC. ​

Serving on the Committee

Students who would like to serve on the committee must be in grades 9 through 11. 
We encourage you to check out the constitution and covenant and to talk and pray with friends, family, & your church. 

One of the was that SPSYC leads this church is by raising up leaders from historically marginalized or under-represented communities. Therefore, the first 9 Youth Members that are elected are people who publicly identify as a person of color, or as LGBTQ+, or as having a primary language other than English, or as differently-abled (cognitively, physically, or emotionally). 

The other 18 Youth Member positions on the committee are drawn from the 9 conferences of the Sierra Pacific Synod. The hope is to elect 2 youth from every conference, giving priority to youth who come from different congregations within that conference. However, we know that each year there might not be youth from multiple congregations in every conference, or any youth at all from any given conference. Therefore, we pray that all interested youth seek a position on the committee, and we lean on the movement of the Holy Spirit in our elections to raise up the leaders that God calls each year. ​

Those youth who have served a year or more on SPSYC are able to serve in the position of President, Vice President, or Secretary. These three positions make up the executive committee and they are the leaders who convene, facilitate, and operate all the SPSYC activities. 

Adults are needed to assist the committee.
​Learn more about that here. 

All members of the committee abide by the same covenant. Read the covenant here. 
The Sierra Pacific Synod Youth Committee is continually evolving and being shaped by the members who come in an out of the group. We know that the Holy Spirit works in unexpected ways through all people and we open ourselves to that movement. That's why we're always eager to have people add to our group not only in number, but in gifts and in with uniqueness. We hope that you'd consider how God is calling you to partner with us in ministry!