Learn and Discover
You will learn more about spiritual practices, the church, church governance, and leadership.
Build and Grow
Your work and ministry on Diocesan Youth Council will help you build your leadership, organization, and planning skills.
Create Community
The community that DYC creates helps each person discover more about themselves and the church.
Applications are open to serve on the Diocesan Youth Council (DYLC)!
We are looking for young people who are interested in becoming leaders, creating community, learning and discovering more about themselves, participating in the wider church! Over the next year together we will be gathering and learning together to build up your skills, to engage in ministry, and to grow as faithful Christians. We are excited to invite you to apply for the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts Diocesan Youth Leadership Council (DYLC) which serves young people through leadership and spiritual development and supports programming for events for their peers.
Diocesan Youth Leadership Council is open to high school students (those entering 9-12th grade in the Fall of 2025) in the Diocese of Massachusetts. You will serve a one year term, which can be renewed. Our hope is to have at least one representative from each deanery in the diocese.
Students must participate in their congregation which includes but is not limited to: participating in youth group, supporting Sunday School and/or nursery, altar guild, tech team, congregation-based outreach ministry, regular church attendance, and/or serving as an acolyte, reader, musician/choir, prayer leader on Sunday.
One youth council member from each deanery will have seat, voice, and vote at Diocesan Convention. All members are required to attend November 15 portion of Diocesan Convention as well as the other dates noted below.
When applying, please take note of the calendar included. You are expected to be in attendance at all meetings and events. We understand that emergencies and unforeseen schedule conflicts arise and members are allowed one absence for the year. If you need to miss, you must contact the Interim Officer for Youth and Young Adult Formation, The Rev. Shannon Kelly, and notify her before the event or meeting.
Diocesan Youth Council Calendar
| September 8, 2025 | Applications Due |
| September 12, 2025 | DYLC Announced |
| September 27, 2025 | All day retreat |
| October 24-26, 2025 | Youth Retreat, Work day, and Diocesan Convention Preparation Retreat at Barbara C Harris Camp (BCH) |
| November 15, 2025 | Diocesan Convention (Convention starts the afternoon and evening of November 14 with workshops and other activities. DYC does not have to attend on Friday, but they may if they wish to.) |
| December 6, 2025 | Youth Event Planning and Christmas party |
| February 13-15, 2026 | Youth Retreat with Province I Youth at BCH |
| April 24-25, 2026 | City Reach |
| May 15-17, 2026 | BCH Youth Retreat |
| June 2026 | End of Year Gathering/Graduate Celebration |
Optional
| October 13, 2025 | Pilgrimage to Deer Island |
| January 17, 2026 | Bowling with the Bishop |
| February 28, 2026 | Confirmation Exploration Retreat South Shore |
| March 13-15, 2026 | Confirmation Exploration Retreat at BCH |