In a town where churches spanning the Christian gamut from Roman Catholic to Lutheran collaborate on worship and community service, it only made sense for three churches to form a joint youth group.

“Beau Smith, the pastor at First Presbyterian, Tim Orlowski, the pastor at Christ the King Lutheran and I have spent the last nine months talking and praying about how to engage and meet the needs of the youth in our communities,” the Rev. Ken Malcolm of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church wrote to his parishioners in his weekly newsletter. “The Red Door Youth Group is the result of our deep care for our kids and a deep desire for active and vital youth programs in our churches.”

The group is for middle and high school students in grades six through 12. It will hold its first meeting at 6 p.m. Sunday at Fassbinder Park, at Main and West Park avenues. Parents also are invited to attend the inaugural meeting, which will feature a barbecue for the meet-and-greet.

“The red door is a symbol of welcoming, safety, relationship and the presence of Christ,” Malcolm said. “This new youth program for middle school and high school students strives to be just that.”

John Clewe, the director of Youth Ministry at First Presbyterian Church of Durango, said the group will meet at 6 p.m. every Sunday, but the locations will vary from week to week.

What’s on tap for the summer?

“We’ll be taking hikes, tubing on the Animas River, camping, holding Bible studies, having movie nights,” Clewe said. “Everyone is welcome; they don’t have to be members of any of the churches.

abutler@durangoherald.com