Future Youth Ministry (2).
Seems Marko has started something! Lots of people weighing in on this, although not too many from this side of the pond.
Tony has hit several major themes,(perhaps influenced by his passion for missions):
The multicultural landscape: "Ethnocentrism will no longer be tolerated - thinking your culture is the best is not going to get you very far in building relationships and impacting students."
Fear of extremism: "Churches will be in decline and the society at large will continue to be cautious of religious extremism" We can hope and pray that church decline reverses, and maybe that's something where the UK might be ahead of the US - we're further in to postchristendom in many ways, so the US may experience the kind of de-churching we have here over the last 100 years.
The need for creativity and more!
Personally I'm an optimist. I think we've had talk of "revival generations" and stuff, which while being valid have sent us looking for the next "big thing". What's needed is probably more "earthy" long term ministry, through the highs and lows, as we explore not only the shape of youth ministry but the shape of church in the emerging context.
youth ministry
Seems Marko has started something! Lots of people weighing in on this, although not too many from this side of the pond.
Tony has hit several major themes,(perhaps influenced by his passion for missions):
The multicultural landscape: "Ethnocentrism will no longer be tolerated - thinking your culture is the best is not going to get you very far in building relationships and impacting students."
Fear of extremism: "Churches will be in decline and the society at large will continue to be cautious of religious extremism" We can hope and pray that church decline reverses, and maybe that's something where the UK might be ahead of the US - we're further in to postchristendom in many ways, so the US may experience the kind of de-churching we have here over the last 100 years.
The need for creativity and more!
Personally I'm an optimist. I think we've had talk of "revival generations" and stuff, which while being valid have sent us looking for the next "big thing". What's needed is probably more "earthy" long term ministry, through the highs and lows, as we explore not only the shape of youth ministry but the shape of church in the emerging context.
youth ministry
4 Comments:
Hi Pete,
Thanks for commenting on my post and adding some good perspective from the UK. Blessings!
while the UK may be 'ahead' of the US in terms of being further into post-christendom, i wonder which country is 'ahead' in terms of the professionalisation of youth work/youth ministry?
if, as you say, the process of employing church based youth workers is unsustainable in the long term, is one country further through this process than the other? is one closer to experiencing a necessary return to volunteer-led practice than the other? and if so, which?
also, can't help but wonder about my future career prospects.....!!!!
I think generally, regardless of geographic location, youth ministry needs to become more transparent. It needs to become more about who we are rather than what we do.
Thanks for the thoughts! I think you hit the nail on the head in your last sentance Tim: about being rather than programme
Post a Comment
<< Home