51²è¹Ý

Perkins School of Theology at 51²è¹Ý presents a Spring Youth Forum, Saturday, March 23, 2013, for high school youth ages 15 and older. The theme for this event is “Walking in Faith Together,” and the featured speaker is Dr. Evelyn L. Parker, associate professor of Practical Theology at Perkins. The Spring Youth Forum will be held from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm in the Great Hall of Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall on the Perkins campus. There is no fee to attend, but participants much register in advance at .

The annual Spring Youth Forum is a one-day conference sponsored by the . “This is a wonderful opportunity for youth to network with their peers and develop their leadership skills,” according to Rev. Tonya L. Burton, PYST director. “The Spring Forum brings together youth from across the city and surrounding areas to engage with the 51²è¹Ý and Perkins community. Students are excited to learn about and discuss issues of faith that matter to them.”

The Spring Youth Forum, now in its tenth year, is designed to provide an opportunity for high school students across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to discuss issues of youth culture, church, society and the adolescent’s struggle to live a liberating Christian faith. PYST youth serve on a panel and read their written responses to a featured essay. In small groups with graduate students from Perkins and other schools at 51²è¹Ý, youth engage in theological reflection and further discussion about the essay. The conference also consists of church and community networking, an open mic session, raffle prizes and a campus tour. SYF is held each year on the Saturday before Palm Sunday. “The youth, their parents and churches have been strong supporters of our work shaping the next generation of leaders for the church and community,” Burton says. “We are happy to celebrate this important work and the Spring Forum is one of our staple events.”

For more information about the Spring Youth Forum, visit , or contact Rev. Burton, tburton@smu.edu, 214.768.1333. For more information about Perkins School of Theology, contact Rev. Connie Nelson, Director of Public Affairs and Alumni/ae Relations, clnelson@smu.edu, 214.768.2335.