Our Purpose
At the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma, we are dedicated to fostering the holistic formation of children and youth, nurturing their spiritual growth, and empowering them as servant leaders within our congregations and communities. Grounded in our commitment to the teachings of Christ, we provide dynamic and inclusive spaces and programs that engage our children and youth in meaningful experiences, and that equip them with the tools and resources to explore their faith and ask questions. Through summer camp, retreats, Episcopal schools, and our church communities, we create environments where children and youth can thrive, embrace their unique gifts and talents, and develop deep connections with God, one another, and with the wider Church. We believe that our young people strengthen the vitality of our congregations. Guided by our diocesan mission, we strive to cultivate a vibrant and interconnected faith community where all are welcomed, valued, and empowered to live out their faith in service to others.
Our Programs
-
Children’s Ministries include children up through 5th grade, and many offerings occur directly in our congregations. Each congregation has its own approach to helping children grow in Christian discipleship and in knowing Jesus and the power of his love. Learn more and find a church for your family on our Diocesan Find a Church page HERE.
Looking for resources for Children’s formation? Click HERE to visit our Children and Youth Formation Resource Center.
-
Youth Ministries include those in grades 6 - 12, and many of our congregations have youth programs for students in their teen years. Learn more and find a church for your family on our Diocesan Find a Church page HERE.
Additionally, our diocese offers several programs that bring youth together across the state of Oklahoma.
-
NB (as it’s more commonly known) is a retreat weekend for junior high youth (grades 6th-8th). New Beginnings is held at St. Crispin’s, where participants stay in cabins and share together in a variety of activities to develop a deeper relationship of faith with God, self, and one another. You can attend New Beginning as many times as you wish! New Beginnings is led by senior high youth. The Diocese of Oklahoma has been hosting New Beginning’s retreats for over 30 years. Next year we will host the 49th New Beginnings retreat.
-
Ignite is a weekend retreat for high schoolers, focused on strengthening participants' relationships with God and each other. The program varies from year to year, but always includes teaching around a specific topic, time for reflection, small group discussions, and time for rest and play. Ignite usually takes place in the fall.
-
St. Crispin’s Summer Camp is a K-12 summer camp located in Wewoka Oklahoma 1 hour from OKC and 1.5 from Tulsa. St. Crispin’s Summer Camp hosts 8 weeks of camp, payment plans and scholarships are available. At St. Crispin’s Summer Camp, our mission is to form our campers and encourage a passion for Jesus. We seek to accomplish this through play, fun, games, prayer, study, daily worship, meaningful relationships, and an established rule of life. As the saying goes, St. Crispin's is a thin place - a special place, where the distance between heaven and earth gets just a bit smaller.
Let’s Connect
As the Children & Youth Coordinator, Teresa Phares brings a wealth of passion, experience, and dedication to nurturing the spiritual growth and development of young individuals within congregations. She consults directly with Episcopal churches in Oklahoma and help them develop sustainable and effective programs for children and youth formation. She also coordinate’s diocesan-wide formation opportunities for children and youth associated with those churches, including summer camp and retreats. With a deep understanding of the importance of children and youth ministry in fostering congregational vitality, her role is centered on cultivating vibrant and inclusive environments where young people can form meaningful connections, explore their faith, ask questions, and grow into servant leaders.
Connect with Teresa! Email her today, tphares@epiok.org or call 405-437-2924.
We are the Episcopal Church in Oklahoma.