The Episcopal Church Department of Faith Formation, in collaboration with the 2020 Episcopal Youth Event (EYE20) planning team and Episcopal Church leadership, announced today that the Episcopal Youth Event (EYE) will not be convened this triennium due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“I recognize and share the deep disappointment this holds,” said Bronwyn Clark Skov, staff officer for Youth Ministries. “During the next year, our office will focus on discerning and implementing creative and meaningful support for youth ministry and leadership formation. Undoubtedly, new models for ministry are emerging and God is calling upon us to unite and respond.”

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, in responding to the change in plan, said, “EYE is one of the most important and transformational ministries of The Episcopal Church. Over the years, so many youths have begun their journey in the Jesus Movement through it, so many have deepened their faith by it, so many have gone on to proclaim the Way of Love based on their experiences during it. We make this decision now out of an abundance of not just caution, but also of love for our youth and those who serve them.”

Since the adoption in 1982 of General Convention Resolution #1982-D079 , the Church has supported an international youth ministry event at least once during each triennium. Last summer’s successful Evento de Jóvenes Episcopales (EJE) in Panama City, Panama, fulfills this requirement for the present triennium. The Office of Youth Ministries remains committed to embracing and lifting up “the energy of the youth of The Episcopal Church” so that it “can continue to be utilized in active ministry as members of the Body of Christ.”

In coming months, the Department of Faith Formation anticipates offering an alternative means of responding to God's call to “Unite/Uninamos,” which was the planned theme for EYE20. Titled Episcopal Youth Experience or EYEx, the content will be planned and implemented by an EYEx Steering Committee, made up of youth and adults from the EYE20 planning team and the Youth Ministry Council of Advice.

“I recently was invited to join Encuentro de Jóvenes, an online youth gathering in Province IX, which was creative, inspiring, and hopeful,” continued Skov. “This event gave me hope for what we can do together online since we cannot gather in person.”

Details about EYEx will be available in the fall.

For questions or additional information, contact Bronwyn Skov, eye@episcopalchurch.org or 212.716.6074.