J2A Frequently Asked Questions

J2A Frequently Asked Questions

The YACYM committee is excited that many parishioners are asking questions about Journey to Adulthood! As you continue to ask more questions, we will find the answers and report them to you. This will help keep everyone better informed as we work through the process of understanding J2A and how it will work at St. Stephens.
I’m not sure I understand what J2A is. Can you explain it again?
I’ve heard there are different parts of J2A, such as Rite 13, J2A and YAC. What are they?
Does J2A replace Sunday School or Youth Groups, or both?
If J2A is going to be rolled out in the fall with Rite-13 for kids entering 6^th and 7^th grades, then what about the rest of our youth?
Is anything being done to prepare the younger Sunday School students for Rite-13?
How is J2A being implemented at St. Stephens?
Why isn’t St. Stephens implementing Rite-13, J2A and YAC all at once?
So what is being done to do to implement Rite-13 this fall?
Is that all?
What criteria must be met in order to be one of the leaders in the program?
Does that mean I cannot be involved in my child’s Christian education?
Why can’t a parent be a leader of the program?
I’ve heard that this program requires a tremendous amount of time once an adult makes the commitment, is that true?
Who needs to be trained in the program?
So you’re saying we only need as few as 2 people to be trained initially?

I’m not sure I understand what J2A is. Can you explain it again?
Journey to Adulthood (J2A) is a program that is a systematic curriculum within a complete youth program. The Journey to Adulthood curriculum provides comprehensive material for study, exploration, service, and play. Youth enter the program in 6^th and 7^th grade and progress through the three successive levels of Rite 13, Journey to Adulthood (J2A), and Young Adults in Church (YAC). The transitions are structured so that youth remain with the same group with which they began, forming and building personal and communal relationships that continue throughout their senior year.

I’ve heard there are different parts of J2A, such as Rite 13, J2A and YAC. What are they?

The Rite-13 program assists young people as they take their first steps of passage away from their families and into their own lives by creating a safe haven to explore new ideas, new interests and new abilities
Journey to Adulthood (J2A) follows Rite 13 and is the heart of the program. During this time young people learn basic skills that will help them be prepared for adulthood. After two years they are given an opportunity to be confirmed. They are recognized as young adults, rather than children, and invited to make a holy pilgrimage.
Young Adults in the Church (YAC) encourages older youth to take on adult responsibilities in all aspects of parish life. Guided by adult advisors, they use the Anglican model of Scripture, reason and the tradition of the Church to guide the lifelong pilgrimage in their faith.

Does J2A replace Sunday School or Youth Groups, or both?
The program utilizes BOTH the Sunday school and youth group as focal points for Christian development.

If J2A is going to be rolled out in the fall with Rite-13 for kids entering 6^th and 7^th grades, then what about the rest of our youth?
Teachers and leaders that will not be involved with Rite-13 will meet with those who are involved with Rite-13 to coordinate the activities with other youth program curricula. We recognize the need to address our children’s Christian education, so we will continue to have a strong Sunday School program for children in Pre-school through 5^th grade, including Sunday School for 8^th through 12^th graders. We will also continue to strive for new and fun activities in our Youth Groups!

Is anything being done to prepare the younger Sunday School students for Rite-13?
Great news! The curriculum in place at St. Stephens is the preferred curriculum to use to prepare children for entering Rite-13.

How is J2A being implemented at St. Stephens?
The journey begins this fall (Fall of 2004) with the Rite-13 program for children who will be entering grades 6 and 7 only. We will begin a new group every two years, which then move together as a group through the two-year Rite 13 program. After the first two years, the Rite-13 group will then become our first J2A group (that will be in the fall of 2006). Two years later, that group will become our first YAC group (fall of 2008) and all three levels of the program will be in place. In other words, by the year 2008 all three levels of the program will be in place, when children currently in 2^nd and 3^rd grades enter 6^th and 7^th grades that year.

Why isn’t St. Stephens implementing Rite-13, J2A and YAC all at once?
Because J2A builds upon Rite-13, and YAC builds upon J2A and Rite-13.

So what is being done to do to implement Rite-13 this fall?
Implementing the program will require support of the Rite-13 program this fall. Key action steps already completed or underway include:

Commitment of the Vestry, clergy and key leadership to implement the program.
Securing the materials for the program.
Implementing a communication plan to inform the parish of the program.

Is that all?
No, key action steps that still lie ahead are:

Providing workshops to inform parishioners and answer questions about the program. These are scheduled for April 24^th and 25^th. April 24^th will be a more detailed presentation, which will run from 8:30 to 12:30. Sunday, April 25^th will be more of an overview, which will run from 11:30 until 1:00.
Advertising the program, informing all 6^th and 7^th grade youth and their parents about the program and inviting them to become involved.

Discerning and calling two adult leaders, one man and one woman, for our first Rite-13 group.

What criteria must be met in order to be one of the leaders in the program?
It is highly preferred that these two leaders not be married to each other and that they not have children that would be in this Rite-13 group.

Does that mean I cannot be involved in my child’s Christian education?
Absolutely not! Parents are vital to their children’s education, and you can have a strong role reinforcing faith at home.

Why can’t a parent be a leader of the program?
Because this program assists young people as they take their steps of passage away from their families and into their own lives by creating a safe haven to explore new ideas, new interests and new abilities.

I’ve heard that this program requires a tremendous amount of time once an adult makes the commitment, is that true?
NO! The leaders work with the group for two years and then do not move on with that group to the J2A level. They may choose to lead the new Rite-13 group, but this is not a requirement, nor an expectation. So it is only a 2-year commitment!

Who needs to be trained in the program?
A core group of involved adults will be trained to understand and be involved in the program. This group would include the Rite-13 adult leaders, Junior High Sunday school teachers and Junior High youth group leaders. Of course a leader may fill more than one of these roles, so this could be as few as two or as many as six individuals.

So you’re saying we only need as few as 2 people to be trained initially?
Yes!

You are invited to ask questions, provide comments, or state your desire to become involved in helping implement the program, by contacting us at yacym@ststephenstroy.org.

This page last updated: 08/22/2007