b-inspired

BYC stands for the Bishop’s Youth Council.
We are a group of young people, from Anglican Churches who meet with the Bishop of Birmingham and the Bishop’s Advisor for Youth Ministry for a meeting every other month. We are made up of young people from all different backgrounds we are from Churches all across the diocese…from Austrey to Solihull to Yardley and Bordsley.

The purpose of the BYC is to…
* give young people a voice…to the Bishop and to ‘the Church’
* to promote the fact that young people are just as valuable and amazing as old people
* to be a group which can challenge each other and explore God together

The mission of the BYC is to…
* encourage change within Church at ‘parish level’
* to show that young people care about issues
* to encourage young people in Church already and those on BYC
* to encourage evanglism
* to make Church somewhere you want to be
* to encourage young people to get up and DO something about what they feel passionate about
* to equip young people on decision making bodies

If you want to be on BYC, you must…* Be a committed Christian and passionate about their faith
* Be enthusiastic in making a difference within the Church of England
* Be committed to the value of young people within the Church
* Have the confidence of the Bishop
* Be aged between 14 and 21

The Commitment…Essential stuff
* 6 meetings a year
* To establish an active relationship with area deans, vicars and youth workers in your deanery

The committment…Desirable stuff* Be on your Church PCC (or atten key meetings)
* Attend your Deanery Synod
* Attend and be part of the running of Reunited and other diocesean youth events

Want to join? Here’s what you do now…
1. Ask yourself whether you have the commitment and passion for the BYC – we only want you if you are passionate about God.
2. Get in contact with your local youth worker, vicar or area Dean (contact details printed later) and talk to him/her about it.
3. Pray about it.
4. Talk with your parents about joining.
5. Email your name and contact details to the Chair (Ruth Traynor) at byc@birmingham.anglican.org and you will be sent a BYC booklet and application form.
6. Fill in the application form and send it in (details on the form).
7. Wait to see if you have been accepted onto the Youth Council.