Events and ProgramsOffice of Church Relations

For Youth: 

STEP UP is a day-long leadership development workshop offered twice annually in the spring for senior high school (grades 9, 10 and 11) students. The event is designed to introduce youth to college level concepts of leadership and will help them develop a stronger personal plan for continuing to grow as a leader.

Confirmation Retreats are a very popular program offering of Gustavus. The Gustavus Youth Hostel has four suites available for overnight housing for groups. Each suite consists of a living room with three rooms and can accommodate up to 20 overnight guests. Many of the campus facilities are available for use during retreats (Christ Chapel, A/V equipped classrooms, athletic facilities, swimming pool). Each group is assigned their own retreat coordinator from Gustavus who helps the youth leader with the arrangement of campus facilities and retreat logistics. The Gustavus Youth Hostel can accommodate up to 80 overnight guests.

Youth Retreats are coordinated for a wide variety of day and overnight chaperoned youth group retreats; youth planning boards, bible study small groups, choir retreats, women’s groups, men’s groups, synod youth planning groups. The Gustavus Youth Hostel has four suites available for overnight housing for groups. Each suite consists of a living room with three rooms and can accommodate up to 20 overnight guests. Many of the campus facilities are available for use during retreats (Christ Chapel, A/V equipped classrooms, athletic facilities, swimming pool). Each group is assigned their own retreat coordinator from Gustavus who helps the youth leader with the arrangement of campus facilities and retreat logistics. The Gustavus Youth Hostel can accommodate up to 80 overnight guests. College search visits are welcomed and coordinated in partnership with the Admission Office.

For Adults:

Exploring Religious Questions Series is a 4-week mini-course, not for credit, offered both in the fall and spring on Monday evenings. Church Relations and the Religion Department partner with area congregations to select topics of interest and offer participants the chance to dig deeper for a mature understanding of their faith.

Seminary and Divinity School Day is an event held in partnership with Augsburg College and Luther Seminary that brings to campus a number of the nation’s top seminary and divinity schools for a day to connect, reflect, and explore theological graduate study options. The event is designed for college students but is open to the wider community who are discerning a call to the ministry and interested in exploring theological graduate study options.

Adult Retreats are coordinated for many variety of groups; pastor gatherings, church councils, church staff, department retreats, choir retreats, women’s groups, men’s groups, bible study small groups, etc. The GACAC Retreat Center has comfortable space for group discussions and meetings, a small kitchen for light refreshments, and a conference room equipped with overhead, easel and TV/DVD. The Retreat Center has seven bedrooms and can accommodate up to 18 overnight guests. Linens and towels are provided, and meals are available through campus dining service.