The Center for Youth Ministry Training

What is the difference between a resident and a student?
Residents are applying for jobs through the CYMT program.  Students already have a job.  Other than that participation in the program is exactly the same.

What are the graduate resident expectations?
Graduate Resident Expectations
Student Expectations

When can I start?
The CYMT academic program begins in August.  All graduate residents will begin their appointments by August 1.  We seek to start appointments on the second Sunday in July if at all possible. A graduate resident may start their appointment earlier if mutually agreed upon by the church, graduate resident, and CYMT.  If you begin your appointment early, you will be compensated for the extra time.  There is no guarantee that your church will want you to start early.

What are the denominations of the potential job sites?
We will partner with any mainline denomination; however, most partner churches are United Methodist or Presbyterian. We have worked with United Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Episcopal churches so far. Graduate resident background will be taken into consideration for internship placement.

What is the CYMT statement of faith?
Click here to read the CYMT statement of faith

Is the training meant to replace seminary? Would I be equipped to handle (knowledge and experience) a youth ministry job or do you see the program as a step towards seminary?
Participating in CYMT means, you are a seminary student at Memphis Theological Seminary. Most seminaries provide no youth ministry specific training; therefore, we provide theological, Biblical, and practical training applicable to youth ministry. CYMT graduate residents will be equipped with the tools and knowledge necessary to be effective youth ministers when they complete the program.  Seminaries offer a much broader and deeper scope of ministry and theology.  Our partnership with Memphis Theological Seminary and their Masters of Arts provides a laser like focus for our graduate residents.  The M. A. can meet the requirements for ordination in some denominations.  Graduate residents who would like to complete a Masters of Divinity degree can do so at MTS or can transfer the credits earned through MTS to another seminary. Some seminaries limit the number of credits that you can transfer.

How often are we in class?
In the CYMT€™s unique retreat format, each semester there are 3 or 4 intensive retreats that make up the majority of the classroom time.  In addition to the retreats, you will meet weekly with a discussion group that will discuss the readings for the classes and provide a place for peer support in your common journey. 

What is the semester class schedule? Click here to see this year's calendar.

What is the summer and winter schedules?
From the end of May through August 1, there is no course work associated with the graduate residency.  You will continue to serve your church and receive coaching.
From mid-December through until the first week of January, there is a winter break from course work, although you will continue to work at your church and receive coaching.

Where are the retreats?
Except for the national conventions and conferences that we will attend, retreats will take place in Nashville or Memphis area.

Where do the discussion groups meet?
CYMT has discussion groups in its regional locations.  We currently have discussion groups in Nashville and Memphis.

Is there an online discussion group that I could participate in?
Yes - our online discussion group is for graduate residents serving at churches in our program that are too far away to come to our Nashville and Memphis discussion groups, but who can still participate in retreats.

Can graduate residents earn credit for their work?
Yes €“ CYMT€™s partnership with Memphis Theological Seminary allows you to earn 48 graduate level credits through their Masters of Arts program and complete all degree requirements.

Are scholarships available?
Yes and no. CYMT residents receive a full tuition scholarship for the MA in YM degree. CYMT allows covers costs associated with books and retreats. CYMT does not provide scholarships to cover the student fee.  However, you may be eligible for a scholarship from your home congregation or your denomination (usually if you are pursuing ordination you are eligible if you have started the process talk with your pastor about eligibility).  You will be considered a MTS student may make you eligible for other scholarships.

Click Here to learn what students are saying about the CYMT program.

What about insurance? Do we have to provide our own?
Graduate residents will be expected to provide their own health and auto insurance. The CYMT has identified several companies that offer affordable health care coverage. Example: Farm Bureau of Tennessee offers 24 year old, non-smokers coverage for $115 per month. It would be possible to have the CYMT pay for this coverage out of your monthly stipend. The CYMT will help residents identify affordable coverage.

How much do we get paid?
Graduate residents receive a $12,000 a year stipend in addition to housing.

What is my cost to be in the program?
You will pay a $50 application fee when you apply. Your resident fee is $1200 for the CYMT program ($200 per semester).  If you choose the ordination track, you may have additional tuition costs.

Are all positions part-time?
Most graduate residents will be the only youth director at their appointed church. Graduate residents are required to work a minimum of 25 hours per week on average.  Obviously, some weeks it will be more due to retreats or other special events.

Is there potential for full-time employment at the church after 3 years?
Our hope is that churches will move from part-time to full time ministries at the end of the 3 year program. 

How many students stay at their churches after the program?
Although we only have our first three classes to go on so far 14 of our 20 graduates stayed at their church.  One entered the mission field, one took a position at another church of her native denomination, one is pursuing music ministry with youth, and three are pursuing ministry with youth outside the local church.

How will vacation time work?
Graduate residents will be given 10 days vacation each year.  In addition to vacation, there will be down time from classes, although not from work, at various times of the year. Example: We will finish classes mid December and pick back up the second week in January.  Depending on your responsibilities at the church during those times, you might have additional time off.

What are the housing arrangements?
Partner churches are required to provide housing for their graduate resident. Housing comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Most residents live in apartments provided by the church. Some live in houses owned by the church.

Would I bring my furniture and would I need my own computer?  
We do not expect churches to provide furnished housing. However, if you have furniture needs, the CYMT and the church will work with you to help locate basic needs. We will expect the churches to provide you with an office and computer at work.  We€™ll encourage but not require laptops.

What is the difference between a Partner Church and a Training Church?
Partner Churches are seeking a resident to serve at their church as their youth director. Training Churches already have a youth director who will study at the CYMT. Both types of churches will receive monthly coaching from the CYMT staff.

Do we get to interview the applicants?
Yes and No - applicants will be selected and placed by the CYMT. However, the CYMT will work closely with your church and allow you to give your input into what kind of graduate resident would be the best fit for your situation. Denominational background and church needs will be considered heavily when matching students to churches.   You will have the opportunity to meet applicants face to face (whenever possible) before they begin their work at your church to look for any red flags.

What are the other financial responsibilities?
The other financial commitment churches make beyond the yearly commitment is to have a youth ministry budget to support the programs of the youth ministry. CYMT must approve of a partner churches budget prior to the church being accepted to the program.
Churches that are more than 25 miles from a graduate resident's discussion group meeting location will be expected to pay a mileage fee.

What churches have you worked with before?
Click Here for a list of current partner and training churches and to learn what pastors and students are saying about the CYMT program.

What are the partner church expectations?
Partner Church Requirements
Training Church Requirements

When do graduate residents begin their appointments?
The CYMT academic program begins in August.  All graduate residents will begin their appointments by August 1.  We seek to start appointments the second Sunday in July if at all possible. A graduate residents may start their appointment earlier if mutually agreed upon by the church, resident, and CYMT.  There will be financial considerations for residents who begins their appointment early.  The most important part of the process is finding the right graduate resdient for your church.  There is no guarantee that your graduate resident will want you to start early.

How many graduate residents stay at their churches after the program?
Through three years, 14 of our 20 graduates stayed at their church.  One entered the mission field, one took a position at another church of her native denomination, one is pursuing music ministry with youth, and three are pursuing ministry with youth outside the local church.

What happens at the end of the two years?
Our hope is that churches will move from part-time to full time ministries at the end of the 3-year program.  At the end of the three years, we hope graduate residents move into full time youth ministry where they served, or move into full time ministry at another church.

When was CYMT founded? 2006
The Inaugural Class graduated in 2008.

Where have residents come from?
Residents have come from 18 states and 2 countries.
Alabama (3), California (1), Florida (1), Georgia (1), Indiana (2), Kentucky (2), Louisanna (2), Michigan (3), Minnesota (1), Mississippi (1), New Mexico (1), North Carolina (1), Oklahoma (2), Virginia (3), Tennessee (9), Texas (2), West Virginia (1), Washington (1), and Northern Ireland (2).

What denominational backgrounds have CYMT students come from?
The denominations our students have come from are Baptist, Church of God, Cumberland Presbyterian, Disciples of Christ, Episcopal, Lutheran, Nazarene, Non-Denominational, Presbyterian (USA), Wesleyan, and United Methodist.

What denominations have partner churches represented?
The denominations of churches that have partnered with CYMT thus far are Cumberland Presbyterian, Lutheran, Episcopal, Presbyterian (USA), and United Methodist.

How many students have completed the Certificate in Youth Ministry? 20

How many students are currently enrolled in the Certificate in Youth Ministry Program? 2

How many students are currently enrolled in the Graduate Residency and Masters of Arts Religion program? 31

What is the average age of the CYMT students? 24.5

Percentage of Male Students €“ 50%
Percentage of Female Students €“ 50%