Youth
Youth Ministry Mission Statement
The Youth Ministry of First (Scots) Presbyterian Church, supported by all members of the church community, is committed to nurturing young people into lifelong Christian discipleship by:
- Involving youth and their families in a safe and exciting Christian community
- Encouraging them to live spiritually rich, Biblically based, God centered lives
- And preparing them to extend the love of Christ to their community and beyond
Helpful Links:
Our Values:
Love
We are called to love one another and treat one another with compassion, understanding, and respect.
Safety
We strive to create an environment that is physically and emotionally safe where youth feel comfortable asking questions and seeking guidance and support.
Acceptance
We seek to live as a community of faith in which everyone feels welcome.
Joy
We live with contagious excitement about our faith that draws others to become a part of our church family.
Leadership
We explore the many gifts God has given us and we share them with one another.
Unity
We worship and serve God as part of a larger Christian community both as Presbyterians and as followers of Jesus Christ.
Weekly Activites
Sunday Mornings
(Sunday after Labor Day - Sunday before Memorial Day)
- Worship is at 8:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. in the Sanctuary (53 Meeting Street).
- Kirk Café is from 9:30-10:00 a.m. in the Kirk House (62 King Street).
- Sunday School is from 10:00-11:00 a.m. in the Kirk House (62 King Street). Middle school youth meet on the second floor of the Kirk House and high school youth meet on the first floor.
- Confirmation Class (typically completed in 8th grade) meets on second floor of the Kirk House (62 King Street) or in Room 227/228 in the Massie Building.
Confirmation
Confirmation is an eight-month process that prepares youth to publicly profess faith in Jesus Christ and become adult members of the church. Confirmation typically occurs during the eighth-grade year, however older students who have not completed the program are able to participate as well. This class is conducted by Dr. James Rogers and Elder John McNeill during the Sunday School hour from September through April. Service projects and retreats are also a part of the program. Classes are based on the Big God Big Questions: Confirmation for a Growing Faith curriculum by PC(USA), and the students have the opportunity to join the church and be welcomed by the congregation on the first Sunday of May during the 11:15 a.m. worship service.
Wednesday Nights
(September - March)
Kirk Club for high school and middle school youth meets on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. in the Kirk House (62 King Street), before attending the Church Family Dinner at 6:00 p.m. (RSVP for dinner by noon on Monday to Karen Kuhn).
Youth Group
From September until May the high school and middle school youth typically meet on Sunday nights from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. for fellowship, service, congregational care, study, and worship. During the summer youth events are typically during the week.
For upcoming event dates, times, and locations, please check out our Weekly Youth Ministry Update or the High School Youth Group Schedule or Middle School Youth Group Schedule.
Youth Ministry Leaders
Rev. James Rogers
Associate Pastor for Youth & Their Families
James oversees the youth ministry of the church including Sunday Night Youth Group, Confirmation, retreats, conferences, and mission trips. He regularly assists in worship leadership on Sunday mornings, occasionally leads worship on Wednesday nights, and coordinates recreation activities at Kirk Club. He serves as staff liaison to the Christian Education, Local Missions and World Mission Committees and works with the Youth Leadership Team as they plan and lead youth ministry activities.
Originally from Lexington, South Carolina, James completed his undergraduate studies and deepened his spirituality at Clemson University. After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 2003, James felt God’s call to ministry and enrolled at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. In 2006 he graduated with a Master of Divinity degree and was ordained and installed as Associate Pastor at First (Scots) Presbyterian, where he loves seeing the youth of the church living out their faith in Jesus Christ. In 2017, he earned a Doctor of Ministry from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
In his free time James enjoys spending time with his wife, Kate, and their son, Barnes. If they aren’t enjoying a local park or taking a walk around the neighborhood, you might find James searching for buried treasure from the 1980’s or rocking out on the guitar.
Youth Advisors
Carrie Simpson
Carrie Simpson works as a speech pathologist at Fort Dorchester Elementary School. She enjoys doing anything outdoors and spending time hanging out with her family and friends. She loves to eat—pretty much anything but especially chips and salsa/guacamole, Chick-fil-A, and peanut M&M’s. Her favorite thing about working with our youth group is getting to know everyone, exploring our faith, and learning about God by meeting people from different backgrounds and cultures through serving together in Charleston and around the world.
Janet White
Janet White grew up near Seattle, Washington. She graduated from Washington State University, GO COUGS! (and the University of Washington School of Medicine.) She practices pediatrics in Mt. Pleasant, where she lives with her husband John Sr. and kids (John Jr., William, and Susan). Janet is happy to live in South Carolina where the sun shines more than it rains!
She has been a member of First (Scots) since the 90’s. She was a youth advisor before she got married, and is thrilled to be back now that her kids are all active in the Youth Program. Her favorite part of youth ministry is the retreats. Janet enjoys walking, shopping, visiting family in Washington State, and hanging out with friends.
Clarissa McKenzie
Clarissa is excited for the opportunity to serve as a Middle School Youth Advisor again this year! She loves cooking, sports, and getting to know people. She met her husband, Greg, while at Clemson and they have been members of First (Scots) for more than 20 years. They have a daughter, Mattie, who recently graduated from Clemson after studying Travel and Tourism. She grew up at First (Scots) and loved every minute of her time in our church’s youth program and still talks about all of the wonderful experiences our church offers to our youth. Her son Hewitt is in 9th grade and thus far, he has enjoyed his youth group experiences — even though things were interrupted/modified by the pandemic. He looks forward to participating in mission trips, youth conferences, and weekly youth activities and is eager for any opportunity to reconnect with his friends in youth group. They have a three year old Cavachon named Muffin who is adorable and sassy at the same time!
Greg McKenzie
Meredith Harley
I grew up in Summerville, SC and attended Clemson University. I grew up going to Summerville Presbyterian Church, and my mom was a youth advisor. We always looked forward to a week in Montreat every summer. I enjoy traveling, cooking, playing soccer and hanging out with my pup Woody!
Chris Bucknam
Hank Martin
Matt Bucknam
Chase Jasso