ST. LOUIS -- Registration is open for the Congregating of Lutheran Youth Counselors (CLYC) conference for volunteer and professional youth workers, July 24-27 in Orlando, Fla.

Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) District and Congregational Services--Youth Ministry sponsors the annual conference, which this year has the theme "Imagine! Youth Ministry That Really Works." Orlando also will be the site of the 2004 National LCMS Youth Gathering, with the theme "Beyond Imagination," according to a news release.

"CLYC 2003 will focus on creating intentional, practical youth-ministry programs with vision in the congregation," said Gretchen Jameson, youth-ministry communications manager.

The conference will include two sectionals led by Mark Oestreicher, president of Youth Specialties of San Diego; a day of workshops led by authors featured in Concordia Publishing House's "Youth Ministry BASICS" resource; and a presentation about next year's national youth gathering.

A conference workshop for teen-agers will help them discover skills for effective and intentional outreach to their peers, Jameson said.

Registration is $160 per person before May 1, when the fee rises to $175. A special housing rate of $79 per double room is available from the Wyndom Orlando Resort, where the conference will be held.

Youth Ministry mailed conference registration materials to all LCMS congregations last month. Registration forms also are available by calling (800) 248-1930, Ext. 1155, or they may be downloaded from the Web at http://dcs.lcms.org/youth (click on "CLYC").