THE CONFLUENCE empowers high school youth to discover how they are uniquely gifted to create a more just and sustainable world by exploring the intersections of their story, God’s story, and the world’s story. Join us for a weeklong residential experience during which we will:

• Build intentional community
• Develop meaningful relationships
• Practice vocational discernment
• Engage in theological inquiry
• Explore spiritual practices
• Learn through experiences and relationships in the Twin Cities

Open to all youth who have completed 9th–12th grades.

COST: The cost is $400/participant. Participants are responsible for transportation to and from Augsburg University.

�鶹ԭ�� SCHOLARSHIP: Students who decide to attend Augsburg University as a full-time student will receive a minimum $22,000 Augsburg scholarship for up to four years.

Here’s what 2024 participants had to say about The Confluence: 

God has called me to hear and amplify the voices of people around me so they can be heard. God has allowed me to have an open mind and respect those around me, which will help me help God mend the universe. The Confluence has taught me about my faith and about who I am. It has shown me the lives of other people and has impacted me in massive ways. In listening to and lifting up the stories of others, I will ensure that every voice contributes to God’s mending of the universe.

– Vera Bezemer

While I was at The Confluence the things I learned about my story were that God’s wonderful plan is through self-learning and understanding beauty. First of all, I had a strong feeling of direction and purpose, I’ve also discovered tenacity and inner strength. My faith has helped me go through life’s obstacles and come out stronger by providing consolation and support. Finally, I’ve grown more capable of interacting and communicating with others. This new journey with God gave me the possibility to be empathetic and compassionate toward both myself and others.

– Gabriel Niola

The Confluence me inspiró y me abrió los ojos a un mundo de posibilidades en la cual tuve la oportunidad de conocer a nuevas personas y nuevas culturas se que tal vez Dios me está llamando a reparar este universo por que hay personas que lo necesitan. Necesitan mi ayuda porque hay personas malas que discriminan o hacen el mal lo cual yo debería de intervenir y hacerles entender que podemos vivir en un mundo donde las personas no sean maltratadas por su color su religión … Y pienso que puedo ayudar a este universo a ayudar a incluir a todas las personas y hacer entender que las personas ”con más poder” no pueden abusar de los demás.

The Confluence inspired me and opened my eyes to a world of possibilities in which I had the opportunity to meet new people and new cultures. I know that maybe God is calling me to repair this universe because there are people who need it. They need my help because there are bad people who discriminate or do evil, which I should intervene and make them understand that we can live in a world where people are not mistreated because of their color, their religion … I think I can help this universe to help include all people and make it understood that people ”with more power” cannot abuse others.

– Daykell Navarro 

QUESTIONS?

Gretchen Roeck, Program Director

roeck@augsburg.edu

612-330-1412

FIND OUT MORE: 

The post Announcing our 2025 Confluence Dates: June 22nd-June 27th, 2025! appeared first on Bernhard Christensen Center for Vocation.

Apply Now! Invite your youth to join us at The Confluence, June 23rd-28th, 2024

Written by Gretchen Roeck

Do you know a high school student who is trying to figure out who they are and what kind of life they want to live? Invite them to attend The Confluence!��

The Confluence at Augsburg University is a week where high schoolers are invited to explore their vocation — that space where their personal story, God’s story and the world’s story converge. 

Invite the youth you know to our weeklong, on-campus, summer program for high school students who have completed 9th-12th grades. 

Students will learn through:

– vocational discernment

– meaningful peer relationships  

– experiential learning with local leaders and organizations in the TwinCities

– personal reflection and discernment

– small group conversation led by current Augsburg student mentors

– spiritual practices and daily worship

– theological inquiry and study with Augsburg professor, Dr. Jeremy Myers. 

We hope to reach curious youth who want to live purposefully in relationship with their neighbors, orientated to God’s vision of a just and sustainable world for all. Questions and doubts are welcome. 

Cost: $400/participant. Participants are responsible for transportation to and from Augsburg University. 

Apply now at: /confluence/join-us-this-summer/

Application Deadline: May 15th

Augsburg Scholarship Opportunity:  Students who attend The Confluence and decide to attend Augsburg University as a full-time student will receive a minimum of $20,000 applied to their financial aid package for up to four years.

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Please contact Gretchen Roeck, Program Director

roeck@augsburg.edu

612-330-1412

augsburg.edu/confluence

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Gretchen Roeck is passionate about inviting youth to engage, critically examine and discern their gifts and call in the world. She loves empowering youth and young adults to be leaders in their own lives and communities. She dreams of building communities of people who are fully alive, connected and invested in one another’s flourishing. 

Gretchen joined the Christensen Center for Vocation team in January 2024 as the Program Director for The Confluence. The Confluence is CCV’s summer institute for high school students, offering youth an opportunity to engage in vocational discernment by exploring the ways their own story merges with God’s story and the world’s story. Gretchen is excited to be a part of the CCV team and their work to inspire and equip people of faith to creatively orient their lives and work around Jesus’ call to be neighbor. 

In addition to her work with The Confluence, Gretchen is a Priest in the Episcopal Church in Minnesota. She leads Children’s Ministry at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in St. Paul, and is the chaplain at Circle of the Beloved, an intentional living community for young adults in North Minneapolis. Gretchen spent the last five years serving as the Priest and Internship Director at the University Episcopal Community, a campus ministry for young adults across the Twin Cities. Her ministry has been focused on children, youth and young adults –inviting them into a relationship with God, fostering their personal growth, walking alongside them and guiding young people in their spiritual and vocational journeys. She is committed to building and sustaining safe, inclusive and welcoming communities that lead towards health and wholeness for individuals and their broader communities. 

Creating safe, supportive and loving spaces extends into Gretchen’s personal life. She is the mother of two fun and creative boys, Elliott and Abraham, ages 10 and 6. Together they share a home in Minneapolis with Brigid the dog, and George and Molly, the cats.

The post Introducing our new Program Director for The Confluence: Gretchen Roeck! appeared first on Bernhard Christensen Center for Vocation.

Making new connections and building on those relationships can be really exciting but also really scary. I got the opportunity to make new connections with high school youth at the 2023 Augsburg Youth Theology Institute: The Confluence! This program was filled with connections between our story, God’s story and The World’s story. We learned about our own spiritual gifts, practiced vocational discernment and heard stories from the neighbors in our community. Many memories, laughs, smiles, and even cries were shared. All of these things influenced why I chose to be a mentor this year. Having these connections with people who come from all over is a really important part of who we are. We get to hear each other’s stories, learn from them and grow because of them.

This weeklong program had a lot to offer to young people. However, as this week progressed there were some challenges that arose for us mentors. “Having the energy, the patience, and the positive attitude around the participants was the most challenging part” (A 2023 Mentor). But not only were there challenges, there were exciting moments. A fellow mentor said, “It was exciting to see the participants interact with guest pastors, speakers and teachers. Their curiosity was so inspiring and fun to watch.” As mentors, we realized that it was truly amazing to get to know each other and all the participants. We were able to create a relationship with everyone at this program. By having our own small groups, we got to know and understand participants at a deeper level spiritually and we were able to help each other grow in our faith”.             

This week has helped all of us mentors in different ways. For some, it gave them a purpose and education that made them feel like they can make a difference in the community. For others, it helped gain a sense of their vocation and how that might impact what they pursue in the future. In our own ways, we were able to gain more experiences that contributed to a sense of our vocations. Being a mentor made a lot of us step out of our comfort zone and into a leadership role. Many of us realized how important being a leader can change a person in the community. 

All of these participants had something in common. They all wanted to be the readers and listeners in our neighborhood to hear the stories our communities had to offer. We all have a different story, but it’s up to us if we want to tell it or not. Each of us can be the author, but not everyone wants to be the reader. It takes curiosity, motivation, and even experiences to bring us to our communities in our neighborhoods. 

I am so glad I got to be a part of this amazing program and walk alongside these young people as we all discover our vocation and dive deeper into our own faith. As mentors, we will take this experience with us wherever we go and continue to make connections with those around us. We will grow not only individually, but as community members in our neighborhood.

The post The Confluence 2023 Mentor Experience appeared first on Bernhard Christensen Center for Vocation.

THE BEGINNING…

The first version of what is known now as AYTI, began in 2009 when Augsburg University received its first grant from the Lilly Endowment. With over 100 schools across the country leading theological education and vocational discernment experiences for high school students, we are grateful to hold this history of commitment to vocational discernment with young people. 

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And today, the Augsburg Youth Theology Institute (AYTI) is an annual summer program for high school students (9th-12th grades). This experience aims to offer young leaders an opportunity for place-based vocational discernment around a theological and leadership focused theme. Students who attend AYTI take their questions and curiosity to the public square to learn, listen, pray, and play on the Augsburg campus, in the neighborhood, and in the city. Participants engage in daily reflection with a theologian, community based learning, small group relationship building, and worship. This commitment to wonder about how God is calling us to the common good for the sake of the world, is the reason why high school students leave AYTI inspired to be God’s hands and feet in the world. 

THE INSTITUTE…

On the ground, AYTI is a place where staff and college mentors work diligently to create an inclusive and welcoming space for high school students to get really curious about all their big questions about God. And these days, and especially in these last few pandemic filled years, our young people have had a lot of big questions about God, the church and our call to be neighbor, racial injustice and how they should respond, mental health needs and the struggle to connect, a sense that they don’t belong, death and dying, health and living. 

We are so grateful to be a community that welcomes these kinds of theological questions!��

• AYTI is a community that makes claims about God – we live our theology. 
• AYTI is a community that believes our vocation is to love and serve our neighbor. And we actively do that at the Institute.
• AYTI is a community that acknowledges racial injustices, particularly for black people as a result of white supremacy, and works to dismantle these systems in the small and significant ways we can.
• AYTI is a community that acknowledges individuals struggles to show up in places and spaces that do not accept them, and we strive to create an environment that 
• AYTI is a community that is welcoming and affirming for all people, regardless of their gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation. 
• AYTI is a community that believes we are made in God’s image to love and be loved!��

COVENANTS OF PRESENCE…

During the Institute, our college mentors and participants agree to show up and abide by the Covenants of Presence as listed below. In all that we do: worship, classroom learning, community engagement, small groups, devotions and more, we agree to these commitments. These are some of the expectations participants can have when they show up for the AYTI. 

WHAT DO YOUR YOUTH NEED?

Are you a pastor or youth director in the midst of all the changes the pandemic has brought? Are your high school students asking these questions but not showing up? Are you wondering what is next? 

Do you just need a good meal and a listening ear? Adrienne, the AYTI program director, is eager to buy you a meal and lend a listening ear. Will you say yes to this accompaniment? Please send us an email and we’ll schedule a time! ayti@augsburg.edu

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We are excited to introduce to you the 2022 AYTI Mentors. They are such a fun group and we know the high school participants are going to enjoy spending the week of AYTI with them!

CARSON VINCENT (they/them)

Name, Pronouns, Year at Augsburg, Major/Minor

Carson Vincent, They/them/Theirs, 2nd year, Biochemistry Major with a minor in Religion

What should people know about Augsburg?

Augsburg is a small close knit school in the heart of Minneapolis. Because Augsburg is a smaller school it’s so much easier to form relationships with not only your peers but your professors as well. I’ve had so many professors go out of their way to ensure my personal academic success.

What excites you most about being an AYTI Mentor?

I’m most excited for the participants to be on campus this year! I’ve experienced AYTI in person as a participant, and online as a mentor. I’m excited for the participants to be able to interact and connect with each other face to face, and to be able to experience campus and the surrounding area!

How do you like to spend your free time?

In my free time I like to play video games, play with my cat, and drink some tea while watching a movie.

Favorite bible story and why?

My favorite bible story is the story of Joseph (Genesis 37) because it explores many themes that many queer people can relate to.

BLAINE SCHULTZ (they/them)

Name, Pronouns, Year at Augsburg, Major/Minor

Blaine Schultz, they/them/theirs, first-year, Undecided

What should people know about Augsburg?

Everyone on campus is so friendly! It really does feel like a close-knit community even though we’re in such a big city.

What excites you most about being an AYTI Mentor?

My experience as an AYTI participant was incredibly important in shaping my decision-making process when applying for colleges. I had amazing mentors who inspired me to actively pursue the opportunities that would benefit me. To be that person for even one participant, that’s what I am most excited about.

How do you like to spend your free time?

I enjoy spending time with friends, curling up on the couch with a good book, and listening to music.

Favorite bible story and why?

The Rainbow Promise in Genesis 9:15-17. This was my confirmation verse, and there’s a whole long story behind it, but I love it so much now because to me it symbolizes new beginnings.

SARAH RUNCK (she/her)

Name, Pronouns, Year at Augsburg, Major/Minor

Sarah Runck, She/Her/Hers, 2nd year, Music Therapy Major

What should people know about Augsburg?

I really enjoy the community at Augsburg. It is so welcoming and I feel at home here. Everyone is so nice and open and because of this there are meaningful connections and more opportunities to connect and engage with others around you.

What excites you most about being an AYTI Mentor?

I am really excited for AYTI! This is my first year being a part of AYTI and when I heard about it, I was really curious and wanted to find out more. I am excited to meet others and to learn more about AYTI as the year progresses.

How do you like to spend your free time?

I love to play instruments, listen to music, go on walks, watch movies, explore new places and foods and even do some embroidery.

Favorite bible story and why

One of my favorite bible stories is Genesis 17-22, ‘Abraham The Man of Faith’. I heard this story when I was younger in a bible camp and it stuck with me. I really enjoy this story because it has so much meaning about faith, being faithful and how God provides.

AARON PUENT (he/him)

Name, Pronouns, Year at Augsburg, Major/Minor

Aaron Puent, he/him/his, Junior, Religion Major w/ Concentration in Global Religions and Interfaith Studies.

What should people know about Augsburg?

Augsburg is a place to make connections and build both professional and personal relationships.  The people who work here are interested in students’ success in both the classroom and beyond.

What excites you most about being an AYTI Mentor?

Learning is one of the most rewarding experiences for me, and my time as a mentor has been filled with plenty of opportunities to grow.  I was never an AYTI participant, but I still find that I can learn alongside everyone, even as a mentor.

How do you like to spend your free time?

I enjoy spending time outside, usually through running and tennis (and the occasional game of pickleball).  I have recently gotten into recreational reading again, as well as drawing, so that’s how I typically spend my evenings.

Favorite bible story and why?

I always liked the stories of Abraham, especially surrounding his covenants with God.  Their relationship is complex, to put it simply.  I also appreciate his role as a father in faith to multiple traditions; he becomes a point of connection.

RENEE CHRISTENSEN (she/her)

Name, Pronouns, Year at Augsburg, Major/Minor

Renee Christensen, she/her, 3rd year, Theology and Public Leadership with a minor in Psychology

What should people know about Augsburg?

One thing for me that makes Augsburg stand out is the community. From professors and staff, to the people you meet in classes, the sense of community is exceptionally strong.

What excites you most about being an AYTI Mentor?

I am super excited to be in person this year! When I was a participant, one of the things I loved most about the week was being in the city, learning more about Augsburg and why so many of the mentors call Augsburg a second home!

How do you like to spend your free time?

In my free time, I love to read, listen to music, take walks, and hang out with my cats!

Favorite bible story and why?

A bible story that excites and intrigues me is Acts 8:26-40 “The Ethiopian Eunuch”. I came across this story last year and anytime I reread this story, I am able to see it from a different perspective each time!

Do you know a high school student who would make a great participant at the Augsburg Youth Theology Institute? We encourage you to tell them about it and nominate them today! Check out more on our website here!

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SAVE THE DATE

Sunday, June 26th – Friday, July 1st, 2022

THEME

God’s People [re]connect!

We believe God invites people to live together in unity, a beloved community. As we emerge from two years of change and uncertainty, we invite participants to ask big questions about connection and disconnection.

• What surprised you about how you could connect online?
• What did you learn about yourself?
• What did disconnection teach you?
• What do you need in order to feel connected?
• What about your virtual connections might you feel grateful for?
• What gratitude do you have for the gifts of being able to connect in person?
• Where did you see / feel / hear God?

At AYTI, we will ground ourselves in biblical stories of connection and disconnection, stories of theologians throughout time that can teach us about connection, and we build relationships and create stories together in real time. Participants will develop a theological understanding of connection and disconnection and seek ways to share these gifts with the world. Come to AYTI to [re]connect to your energy and power source – God who loves and connects all people.

“How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!” ~ Psalm 133:1

Applications and Nominations are OPEN NOW!

Co-Instructors

Participants at the institute have a chance to experience a college classroom and with gratitude we share that two Augsburg University professors will be the co-instructors for the summer 2022 institute.

Matt Maruggi

Matt Maruggi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, MN. He teaches and researches in the areas of vocation, spirituality, liberation theology, the ethics of world religions, and interfaith studies and action. Matt is an experiential educator; he promotes student learning outside the classroom through visits to various houses of worship in the Twin Cities, civic engagement in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis, and study abroad courses in Central America. Matt co-directs the Interfaith Scholar Seminar, a curricular and co-curricular program that promotes interfaith dialogue and community engagement with students from a variety of religious traditions and core commitments.

Chris Stedman

Chris Stedman is a writer, activist, and professor who currently teaches in the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, MN. He is the creator, writer, and host of Unread, named one of the best podcasts of 2021 by the Guardian, Vulture, HuffPost, Mashable, and the CBC. Additionally, Chris is the author of IRL (2020) and Faitheist (2012) and has written popular essays for outlets including the Atlantic, Pitchfork, BuzzFeed, VICE, and the Washington Post. Previously the founding director of the Yale Humanist Community, he also served as a humanist chaplain at Harvard University and a trainer and content developer for Interfaith Youth Core.

Learn more about the Augsburg Youth Theology Institute today!

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This story has been written by Grace Porter, a 4th year Augsburg student studying Theology & Public Leadership with a concentration in Youth Studies and a minor in Music. Grace will graduate in December 2021. 

I had just finished my junior year in high school, and I was starting to think about my future when I discovered that my love for God and my passion for working with young people could be an actual job! My youth pastor at the time said to me, “I have a friend at Augsburg College who runs a summer theology program for high schoolers, you should check that out!” From the moment I stepped foot onto the Augsburg campus, I knew that this place was special.

So in the summer of 2016, I found myself at the Augsburg Youth Theology Institute (AYTI), about to spend a week on Augsburg’s campus learning about theology with other young people who were also asking deep questions and yearning for ways to find the answers. That year the theme was “God’s Mosaic; Diversity as Good News.” Throughout the week we explored sociological theories, biblical narratives, and theological frameworks that help us see, appreciate, engage and celebrate the beauty of diversity in God’s world. I ate new foods, I worshiped in new ways, and I met people I otherwise would have never known. I even that was published in a journal about womanism – a theology that I would have never thought to explore before attending AYTI. My experience at AYTI changed my life by helping me realize that my faith is important for the world today.

Participant to Student

Through AYTI, I discovered that Augsburg would be the place to best help me continue to grow. I started as a first year student at Augsburg in fall 2018 as a Theology and Public Leadership major with a concentration in Youth Studies. Professor Jeremy Myers, a director of AYTI, quickly reached out to me to offer a friendly face in the newness of college and suggested that I should apply to work as a student assistant for AYTI during the school year. It has now been three years of working in that job, two summers (going on a 3rd) of being an AYTI mentor, and countless dad jokes from Jeremy. Yet again, my life was changed by AYTI.

Student to Mentor

Summer 2021 is about to be my 3rd summer as a mentor for AYTI. As a mentor, not only do I get to work with young people who have profound questions and thoughts, but I also get to continue to learn about theology in the world and grow in my faith. Each year dives deep into a specific theme, like creation care theology or the call for the voices of young people. This year, the theme is “And It Was Very Good: Affirming and Advocating for Gender and Sexual Diversity in God’s Creation,” where we will dig into scripture, learn about church history, and discover tools for faithful advocacy that allows LGBTQIA+ people to be full members of society.

Mentor to Faith Leader

Wow! A whole week dedicated to affirming the LGBTQIA+ community in Christ and learning how to be better advocates while also exploring the theology of God’s beautiful creation. As someone who grew up in a Lutheran community, I have always been taught the power of God’s love and how to be a loving neighbor, and yet being queer wasn’t something that my church was very open about. Once I got to Augsburg, I was once again in a loving community, but a community that celebrated every aspect of God’s creation. I realized that living authentically into my full self is the best way to share God’s love and represent Christ in all that I do. Being bisexual doesn’t define all of who I am, but hiding that part of myself away was hiding a beautiful part of myself that God had created for good. And now I am prepared and called to be a leader for young people as they discover who God is calling them to be.

The Institute this year offers the unique opportunity for more young people to grow into their full selves while advocating for those in the LGBTQIA+ community and build confidence in their faith at the same time. It will give them a community of other students who are learning alongside them and mentors who can help them flourish. It creates a brave space for learning and advocacy while also giving time for community and just being yourself.

AYTI changed my life – will it change yours too?

The post Augsburg Student Reflects on the Youth Theology Institute appeared first on Bernhard Christensen Center for Vocation.

• Do you have questions about the 2021 AYTI theme?
• Are you curious about what worship and devotions are like?
• Do you wonder what youth might be a good fit to participate?
• Are you wondering how participants will engage thoughtfully in the virtual platform?

We invite you to join one of the two upcoming virtual Q&A sessions on Zoom that will give you a chance to hear from staff and college mentors about the 2021 AYTI experience. This is your chance to ask questions on the general information about the institute, celebrate the  possibilities of the virtual platform, and learn more about theme content so that you can nominate students who will thrive at this year’s Institute!

These sessions will be held on Friday, March 5th, from 10-11am CST; and Tuesday, March 9th from 4-5pm CST. Please sign up using this form to receive the zoom link!

The post Q & A Sessions for AYTI appeared first on Bernhard Christensen Center for Vocation.

Sunday, June 20th – Friday, June 25th, 2021

What is the rightful place for LGBTQ people in God’s creation? After decades of fights over human sexuality, LGBTQ people, gender, and gender roles, the church is moving to a place of acceptance, and even advocacy. This year at the institute we are going to look at the role of LGBTQ people in scripture, in our church history, and the faithful advocacy to allow LGBTQ people to be full members of society. We are looking at the events of the past several years through a theological lens, asking what God is doing, and where our discernment can lead us.

We are excited to go on this journey of learning with our 2021 instructor, Ross Murray. Ross is the founding director of , a faith-based youth ministry and summer camp for LGBTQ youth and their allies. He has worked with youth and families in a variety of settings, and presented LGBTQ youth ministry around the country. Ross holds a BA from Augsburg in 2000, an MA from Luther Seminary in 2003, and an MBA from Augsburg in 2009.

In his day job, Ross is the Senior Director of Education & Training at The GLAAD Media Institute, providing activist, spokesperson, and media engagement training and education for the LGBTQ community members, corporations, the media industry and advocacy organizations desiring to accelerate acceptance for the LGBTQ community. Ross has secured national media interest in stories that bring examples of LGBTQ equality across diverse communities in America, with a specialty in the relationship between religion and LGBTQ people.

Ross is a consecrated Deacon in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, with a specific calling to advocate for LGBTQ people and to bridge the LGBTQ and faith communities. He is a producer for the “Yass, Jesus!” podcast, a faith and sexuality affirming podcast that believes you don’t have to pick between gay and God. In 2014, he was named one of Mashable’s “10 LGBT-Rights Activists to Follow on Twitter.”

We invite you to follow the for updates about the theme, instructor, applications, and more. We are planning a live stream interview with Ross, so look out for that!

Also, if you are a pastor, youth leader, or mentor who would like to nominate a young person for AYTI, the nomination forms are open. Youth who are interested in attending the 2021 institute can apply now. Nominations and applications will be due April 30th, 2021 on our website here. We are excited for what this year will bring, won’t you consider joining us?

The post Announcing the 2021 AYTI Theme and Instructor appeared first on Bernhard Christensen Center for Vocation.