Participating in the Temple system...

[David Troxler]

And here, perhaps we see that it's not the sale in the Temple courts that's the problem, but the high cost of entrance for those who want to participate in the Temple system.

Jeremy's quote above comes from the "explosive topic" on churches selling fireworks.
It came following a quote for next summer's Nazarene Youth Congress (NYC) in Louisville, KY. For that church in Missouri, apparently the cost is $1100/person.

From here in New England, we are hearing a cost perhaps $500 more because of the greater travel distance.

Why is the base cost of this so high?

I greatly appreciated the fact that PALCON was under $200 this year for registration, food and lodging. This cost is less than half of previous PALCONs. One year, the church I pastored had to decide between paying for me to attend or pay the church mortgage. I encouraged them to pay the mortgage.

I realize NYC will fill hotels for miles around and not a Nazarene campus. But for churches that want to invest in their kids, this is an exhorbitant expense. (Now I understand why the profitable sale of fireworks was so alluring.)

So, back to the question prompted by the quote above...why is the cost of participating in this event so high? How many fine young people are left out?

If we can lower the cost for PALCON, why not this event? We are certainly giving a great deal of business to Louisville, with the leadership conference there already this year, M-11 conference there next February and then NYC a year from now.

[Eric Frey]

Just for the record, I believe the last 2 NYC's have lost a lot of money! Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

This comment should not be construed to either endorse or protest the high cost of NYC... just a statement for what its worth.

[Jon Twitchell]

From http://www.nyc2011.org/FAQs.aspx:


How much does it cost?

Students and Adult District Sponsors:
The NYC program fee for students and adult district sponsors depends on how quickly you register with your district. Check with your District NYC Coordinator for exact dates to get the following pricing:

FEE CATEGORY
$450 USD Early Bird Program Fee
$500 USD Regular Program Fee
$525 USD Late Program Fee

There will be an additional cost for travel, lodging, and other meals (not covered by the program fee). Your district will have all the cost specifics and will communicate this information with all participants.

[Ryan Scott]

I know when they began planning the last NYC in St. Louis, the new team in place (a smaller team with a much smaller budget because NYI was leading the way in dispersing funds more evenly around the world) wanted NYC to be an event that the most possible teenagers could attend.

The original plan was to allow for individual registration, so individual congregations or groups of small youth groups could arrange their own travel and lodging to keep costs as low as possible. They got significant blowback from district NYI leaders, where there is a long tradition of this being a district event, one which the district controls.

Ultimately, the districts won out, which definitely priced NYC out of the real of possibility for many. I know one district where an offer of free school busses for transportation was turned down in favor of renting charter busses, mostly because the youth leadership felt some kids wouldn't go if they had to ride in school busses. Other district plan elaborate pre or post event trips which really hike the cost.

This year, with even less money and less personnel at HQ, there's less ability to innovate and try new things. NYI is really relying on regional and district NYI councils to even make NYC happen. It will really be up to districts to keep costs down.

[Billy Cox]

Why is the base cost of this so high?

Late registration is $525. For a conference lasting the better part of a week, that is not a high cost. Back in January I attended a seminar that was four days long and the cost was $3,200. The only event-specific costs incurred by the host were the presenter, the venue and snacks/drinks.

Whenever I hear people complaining about the 'sky-high' cost of conferences or camps, I want to ask them what Amish community they have been hiding in.

[Paul DeBaufer]

Late registration is $525. For a conference lasting the better part of a week, that is not a high cost. Back in January I attended a seminar that was four days long and the cost was $3,200. The only event-specific costs incurred by the host were the presenter, the venue and snacks/drinks.

Whenever I hear people complaining about the 'sky-high' cost of conferences or camps, I want to ask them what Amish community they have been hiding in.

Was the $3200 conference a professional meeting? If so then a higher cost isn't so bad. However, with NYC we are talking about an event for our children. In the church my wife works at I saw that it will be $1600 per person to attend from this district. It seems that at $1600 many kids who would benefit from attending or would like to attend will be left out, excluded, if you will. I think exclusion based on finances is just plain unChristlike. Now I do live in reality and these things do cost money to put on, but maybe it would be better to scale back a little. The church I just left none of the kids could even afford to go to the regional Elev8, let alone this one. And this church cannot help them out. As we scale up these events we become more exclusive by necessity. Just thinking.

[Ryan Scott]

With a $500 conference cost, plus travel, and lodging, it could end up being $1000-$1200 even keeping costs to a minimum. Obviously some kids are going to be priced out of something like this no matter what is done. My big issue has been one of control. When districts factor in "free" clothing for each participant and covering the entire trip cost for adult sponsors in some cases, there are some issues with whether the participants are the focus.