DO NOT MISS this experience!

Click on these hyperlinks to REGISTER and to print a copy of the required PARENT PERMISSION FORM.

From July 16-17, the synod is sponsoring a World Hunger Lock-In which will be held in nine different locations throughout the synod – one in each mission district.  This event will be open to 7th through 12th graders. Here are a couple of amazing things about this event:

• We hope to engage the efforts of EVERY congregation in the synod whether or not they have youth to send to the lock-in. We are going to ask congregations to donate supplies for participants to assembly health kits for Lutheran World Relief.
• We hope to be involved in World Hunger issues at a churchwide level (donations to ELCA World Hunger), local level (collect canned goods for a local food bank), and the host church (take part in the worship in some way with prayers for hunger or a skit or ??)
• We hope to SKYPE each other at each of the nine locations – maybe for worship! Maybe to hear the same keynote speaker!

Other activities will include watching Bishop Sam Zeiser address the groups via DVD, playing games, possibly do a service project locally, pray together, fast together, and more!

Within the next few weeks, the planning team will have additional details prepared – including the locations for each of these events AND information about a follow-up celebration for ALL participants which will most likely be held at Bear Creek Camp in late August or September!

God is on the move in Northeastern PA Synod….

SAVE THE DATE!

I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19

New things are starting to happen in our synod in youth, young adult and family ministry. It’s an exciting time to be the church in Northeastern PA Synod!

A Facebook Page: God Sightings in the Northeastern PA Synod

The new Youth, Young Adult and Family Ministry Team is in place. In December, several of us met with other leaders in the synod with Kelly Fryer of “A Renewal Enterprise.” Towards the end of our time together, she asked groups to think about something they could do now – to help people find places where God is moving in our synod.

The youth on our team suggested that we start a God sightings page on Facebook. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you really should! You will be inspired by what people are writing (youth and adults). If you do not have a Facebook page, you can still read the God sightings (you just won’t be able to contribute to it yourself). So, check it out and be inspired!

The next few blog entries will focus on other new things coming out of the Youth, Young Adult and Family Ministry Team. Stay tuned ~

Where have you seen God on the move in your life, your church, your school, your community?

What questions, hopes or dreams do you have for the Youth, Young Adult, and Family Ministry Team?

Here’s a possible list. Make it fun! Make up – or add your own ideas to the list!

TOP TEN PLACES/TIMES TO READ YOUR BIBLE

1. With friends and family – “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:20)

2. At mealtime – “So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.” (Ezekiel 3:2)

3. Before bedtime – “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

4. On a tennis court – “Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord had come to him.” (2 Kings 20:4)

5. In an airplane – “He flew swiftly….he traveled on the wings of the wind.” (Psalm 18:10)

6. In a restaurant – “It is not right that we should neglect the Word of God in order to wait on tables.” (Acts 6:2)

7. In study hall – “Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” (Ecclesiastes 12:12)

8. In Sunday School/Church – “The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the Word of the Lord.” (Acts 13:44)

9. While changing diapers – “Lo! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:51)

10. In the bathroom – “…you who have followed me will also sit on…thrones.” (Matthew 19:28)

Last year, Dave Daubert of “A Renewal Enterprise” (ARE) worked with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to establish a vision for the next few years.

In conversations with synod council, congregations and mission district, five themes popped up. One included a request for a focus on youth and family ministry. Starting in March, a group folks (including youth and young adults and more “seasoned” adults) met to put this team together. After some dreaming and conversation, this group came up with the name “Youth, Young Adult and Family Ministry” for the team.

The group developed the following mission statement for the team:

The Youth, Young Adult and Family Ministry Team will build and support ministry with children, youth, young adults and families in the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod communities (church, mission district, synod).

This group also came up with some goals. The team will:

1. Develop ways to share ideas and resources for children, youth, young adult, families and congregations including the use of social networking sites, blogs and the synod website;  [Inspire, Inform]
2. Plan events to equip children, youth, young adults and families to grow in faith; [Inspire]
3. Provide training events for the purpose of building and supporting ministry with children, youth, young adults and families; [Instruct, Inspire]
4. Provide financial support for young people to participate in synod, regional, or Churchwide events/programs; and, [Invest]
5. Publicize faith growth activities sponsored by other groups such as the region, seminaries and the ELCA. [Inform]

The four key “I” words (Inspire, Inform, Invest, Instruct) form our I-4 Mission (Eye for Mission!) plan.

What dreams and ideas to you have for this team? How can this team support ministry with youth, young adults and families in your congregation and mission district?

Please take time to respond in the comment box!

Viola Vaughn is the director of "10,000 Girls"

“There’s a lesson to be learned in everyone you meet.” Dr. Viola Vaughn spoke these words at the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans in the summer of 2009 in front of 38,000 Lutherans. I did not know Viola, and I surely had never thought about going to Africa to work for a woman I only heard speak once. But I knew that I needed to learn a lesson from Viola, and I made it my goal to work with her organization, 10,000 Girls, in Kaolack, Senegal, West Africa.

Viola inspired me by talking about the educational work she does in West Africa. She is the executive director of an educational and entrepreneurship organization encompassing over 2,700 girls throughout Senegal. The 10,000 Girls program provides the support girls need to make it through school, but the most important part of the program is that they learn to love themselves. I loved Viola’s message, and after hearing her speak at the Gathering, I sent her an email saying I would like to work with her.

Samantha ("Sam") poses with the office crew of "10,000 Girls" (lower right).

I received an email response from Viola in about a month encouraging me to continue my dream of coming to Senegal to work with her program. I am blessed to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where today’s science and engineering curriculum is paired with international development initiatives. I knew that even though Viola and I had never interacted face to face that I would be able, with MIT’s support, to go and work with her. I received an internship grant from MIT’s public service center to work on developing a computer lab for 10,000 Girls in January.

This is the computer lab in Senegal where Sam did her work with "10,000 Girls."

Viola treats every girl she meets as if she is her own granddaughter. I was fortunate enough to be one of these many granddaughters while in Senegal. I worked for Viola in the Kaolack office putting together the computer lab and helping to promote the programs newest initiative in Senegal’s Kedougou region. Viola and the girls working with the program took such amazing care of me. I became close with many girls in the entrepreneurship program, my Senegalese host family, and some American Peace Corps volunteers. Everyone treated me with such respect and care.

My journey with Viola did not end when I left Senegal. I am continuing to work with her from the USA, promoting the new school initiatives in Kedougou. I am coordinating technological developments for the Kedougou program with professors from MIT and Suffolk University. We are hoping to take a team of scientists and engineers to Senegal in January 2011. Viola’s charisma and love keeps me going strong, and I think of her often.

Viola Vaughn and Sam Marquart

My faith plays a large role in my interactions with the 10,000 Girls program. Had I not attended the ELCA Youth Gathering, I would not have been inspired to work with Viola and her girls. God protected, inspired, and guided me on my journey in Senegal, keeping watch over me when I became ill. God’s love has given me the courage to continue my interactions with the program. I love Viola and her work, and I hope to continue doing whatever I can to help her organization.

[Note: Viola Vaughn will be visiting the Wyoming Valley in the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Mission District on April 27 and 28. She will speak on April 27 at 7:00 pm at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Dallas. On Wednesday, April 28, she will speak to the students at Wyoming Seminary Upper School. She will speak at the F.M. Kirby Center on April 28 at 7:30 pm. The lectures at St. Paul's and the Kirby Center are free and open to the public.]

IDEAS FOR MINISTRY AMONG YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS

In the last blog, I suggested that we need to think about youth and young adult ministry long before they become teens and young adults. I provided some ideas on how to get started with that. In this blog, I would like to share some ideas for ministering with this group of young folks.

If you are doing some good things with youth and young adult ministry in your congregation please, please share what your congregation is doing by leaving a comment below. People are looking for ideas and I certainly don’t have all of them! If something is working well in your congregation – please, “don’t hide it under a bushel!” Share it here.

Ministry with Youth: Ideas, Activities and Suggestions

• Know their names! This recently came up at a meeting to look at youth and young adult ministry in our synod. One young person there was put off by the fact that her pastor didn’t take time to know the names of the youth. I would also suggest that other adults in the congregation learn the names of their young people.
• Provide opportunities for youth to serve others. Youth are very interested in serving others. Just witness what happened in New Orleans at the ELCA Youth gathering! Invite youth to participate in the serving ministries in which your congregation is already involved. Also listen to the young people: how would they like to serve others? Encourage them to become involved in a project to which they could invite the adults of the congregation to participate alongside them. You can find ELCA supported servant ministry projects on its website. Choose the location you’re interested in (including international servant ministry projects)! If you are looking to create meaningful service opportunities for youth, check out the SALLT Project.  This website will provide you with the tools to get started.
• Provide opportunities and encouragement for youth to grow in faith outside of Sunday school and confirmation classes! Encourage young folks to participate in Theological Education with Youth.  The deadline to sign up for “Trouble the Water” (for ninth and tenth graders), is Monday, April 5.  Check out the information for this event today! TEY also sponsors a one week long happening for ninth and tenth graders called, Crossroads and a two-week event for tenth and eleventh graders called Summer Academy. Nominations for both these events are being taken now! Bear Creek Camp also offers learning opportunities. There is nothing like experiencing church camp where they will have some amazing experiences and make lifelong friends as they grow in faith. Check their website for more information.
• Celebrate milestones with them. Kathy Schaeffer, Associate in Ministry serving at Friedens Lutheran Church in Oley, celebrates the graduations of senior high youth with a dinner, prepared by some congregation members.  It is a wonderful event. Their parents and family members are invited. A guest speaker addresses the group. The graduates work on a video ahead of time and it is shown for the first time at the dinner. Kathy then addresses each of them to share her memories of being with them through the years.
• Build relationships between generations. Get youth connected with an adult in the congregation with whom they can meet occasionally. Invite a young person to adopt a shut-in whom they could visit, call, or send letters to. Encourage youth to be leaders for Vacation Bible school. These are just a few ideas.
• Provide a safe place for them to ask questions about their faith. Here’s an idea: Make a “Faith Questions Box.” Invite young people to drop their questions in the box anonymously. At youth group meetings or other gatherings, part of the time together could be to read the question and discuss it together. Don’t feel as though you have to provide the answers! Help young people work through the questions with one another.
• Invite young people to be leaders in the congregation. The voices of our youth need to be heard in all areas of ministry in our congregation. Invite them to serve on congregation council, invite them to be one of the members of your congregation to be a voting member at the synod assembly, ask them to serve on one of the church committees, and invite them to help with the leadership of the worship service in new ways (not just acolyting!).
• Be inviting and welcoming! Whenever you see a young person in your church, strike up a conversation with him or her. Take a genuine interest in what is happening in his or her life. Practice the art of listening.
• Support them in their activities outside church. Do you have a football player in your congregation? Go to one of his games to support him? Do you have youth who are in the school choir – or participate in the school plays? Make it a point to attend their event.

What is happening in your church with youth ministry that is working well? I hope you will share your ideas in the comment box below!

Ministry with Young Adults: Ideas, Activities and Suggestions

When the youth and young adults met with the bishops on March 13, the young adults came up with a wonderful list of ways to do ministry with them. Here are a few of their suggestions as well as some ideas from other sources.

• Beer and Bible – Meet weekly or once a month at a local bar for the purpose of studying scripture together. I know that there are several “Beer and Bible” opportunities on our synod territory. They are quite popular – and meaningful! For congregations located in college towns, this is a wonderful outreach ministry for young people who are away from home.
• Keep your church website up-to-date – Young adults DO look at church websites to see what is happening in the congregation and to find a “fit.” If your congregation has a young adult group, be sure to mention it on your website.  If you don’t have a website, create one! Consider this as well: Many youth and young adults are tech savvy. Invite them to take the lead on designing the church website.
• Plan activities for times other than Sunday mornings – Many young adults work unusual hours. Some work several jobs. And, some have a very active night life. They may want to worship, but are unable to make it on Sunday morning. Consider offering worship at another time in addition to Sunday morning. Also know that young adults do want to use their talents to serve in a congregation. Again, be sensitive to their time constraints when asking them to serve.
• Reunions for high school graduates – Do you have young adults who come home for the holidays? Kathy Schaeffer (Friedens, Oley) offers a lunch for high school graduates on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This is a great way to help young people reconnect.
• Read up on young adult ministry! The final Lutheran Partners magazine came out this past month and the emphasis for the entire magazine was young adult ministry. The complete March/April issue is online. Read it! You won’t be sorry! Also, be sure to check out the online “exclusive” articles.
• Remember that this age group is diverse. One size does not fit all in young adult ministry. This group consists of high school grads working in the community, college students, young parents, single adults, and young people serving in the armed forces. That’s just the beginning. When your congregation takes time to look at young adult ministry, it may need to explore a variety of ways to do ministry with this age group. Engage the young adults who are already attending your church in a conversation about ways the congregation can support them and other young adults.  Hear what they say about how they would like to be involved in ministry.
• Looking for resources? For small group studies, there are several wonderful resources out there. The Way of Pilgrimage: An Adventure in Spiritual Formation for the Next Generation is a small-group spiritual formation experience for senior high youth and first-year high school graduates. Rob Bell’s Nooma videos are popular with young adults. I also like Living the Questions. It’s an intensive Bible study for those who can hang in there for a few months!

Do you have an exciting young adult program or ministry in your congregation? If so, please share it in the comment box below so others can learn from your experiences.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. Be sure to check back with Part 2 of the blog to see what youth and young adults are seeking. Reading that again may give you a start on brainstorming ideas for doing ministry with youth and young adults.

[Note: There's more to say that just these three parts! Tomorrow, in Part 4,  I will address ideas for doing ministry with and among youth and young adults.]

CHANGING BEHAVIORS AND ATTITUDES

What are churches doing – or not doing – that lead youth and young adults to leave the church?

What behaviors and attitudes are churches willing to give up or change in order to minister more effectively to and with youth and young adults?

Do you remember Aesop’s fable called, “The Little Red Hen?”  Here is a rap version of the story:

“The Little Red Hen”

What if the story was told in the following way instead? See if anything here sounds familiar to you:

A Little Red Hen told her friends, “I’m going to bake some bread. But, first I have to grind the wheat.”

“May I help?” asked the pig.

“May I help?” asked the cow.

“May I help?” asked the duck.

“No,” she said. “You are  too noisy and that will distract me. You don’t even have the right clothes for the job.”

When she was done gathering the wheat, the hen told her friends, “Now I’m going to grind the wheat.”

Again, each of her friends asked if they could help. “No,” she responded. “I’d rather you not help. There’s really only one right way to do it. And I really don’t think you’re responsible enough. Thanks anyway.”

When she was done grinding the wheat, she told her friends, “I’m going to knead the dough.” Again, her friends asked if they could help. “Listen. I really appreciate your asking me. But, you’re just too young to help me with a job like this. When you get older you can help knead the dough. Today, I’m going to do it all by myself.”

The hen kneaded the bread and put it in the oven. Now the animals could smell the bread cooking. They would have enjoyed being with the hen, but she turned them away so many other times that they just wandered off to see if they could help someone who actually needed them. When the hen came out of the kitchen to announce to her friends that the bread was done, she was surprised than none of them were there. So, she ate the bread alone, missing her companions more with every bite that she took.

“Where are they?”
“What can we do to get them back?”
“After confirmation they drop out. Why aren’t they here?”

HOSPITALITY

Many of our churches put stumbling blocks in the way of our children and youth – and yes, even young adults. We can be unwelcoming to our young people – and our young people know when they are not being welcomed. They are fully aware of the judgmental voices that tell them that they don’t dress appropriately, they’re too noisy, they’re too young and they’re not responsible enough.

Jesus has some strong words for those of us who put stumbling blocks such as these in the paths of our young people. “If any one of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6-7)

Jesus also says, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” (Matthew 18:5)

The first behavioral change congregations need to make is to practice hospitality to all its members, to be welcoming to all. It begins at baptism when a child is welcomed to God’s family.  When we truly welcome young ones, they will have that sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves. When they are welcomed, they are appreciated for the gifts they bring to the body of Christ. So often we make the mistake of believing that adults are the only ones who can teach us about God’s love. And, we also think that adults are the only ones who can really do the work of the church. In my experience, I have found that children and youth have taught me about God’s love – and children are quite capable of sharing in the mission of the church….

….Just  yesterday, during the children’s sermon, the pastor asked them, “Can you think of a very special gift you were given?” A six year old piped up, “Myself!” End of sermon.

….Several years ago, I worked in a congregation where the pastors had a three year old son. When he went to go to the altar for a blessing with one of his parents during communion, he turned to his parent – as the parent was receiving communion – and asked, “Can I eat a blessing, too?”

….In a congregation that I served several years ago, one of the lectors was an eight year old boy.  The lessons were read behind the altar. This young boy could barely reach the top of the altar, his head appearing just above it. But, he read those lessons well – and I heard the words from scripture as if for the first time.

….When I lived in Reading, a young man came to church every Sunday with his hair dyed a different color – blue, green, red and black mixed together – all different colors. He came every Sunday because people welcomed him and were not put off by the colors in his hair. When he graduated, he went to college to study theology. I don’t think this would have happened if the congregation hadn’t been accepting of him.

….A couple of young women in our synod’s Lutheran youth organization told the story of how they were unwelcome in the kitchen of their congregation. Not atypical of many congregations, there was a small group of women who felt as though they owned the kitchen. Even the pastor could be scolded if he got into the kitchen drawers! These were a smart group of young women – and they turned the tables on these women. They went to these women and asked for help. “We want to have a dinner to raise money so that we can attend the youth gathering,” they told the women. “But, we feel uncomfortable in the kitchen and we were hoping you would show us how to throw this dinner party.” The older women were delighted to be asked – and they worked side-by-side with the youth. The youth went to these women a couple times – until the older women finally realized that these youth could handle the kitchen by themselves! Thankfully, these younger women were not put off by the controlling older women. What would happen in congregations where the older folks would reach out intentionally to welcome young people to share in the ministry of the congregation? What if they took the initiative to invite youth to learn different skills, working side-by-side AND and were open to learning from the young people in turn?

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

Most congregations begin to think about youth ministry when young people start the confirmation program. To begin to think about youth ministry as they start confirmation is way too late. This is not a new idea – but many congregations haven’t really grasped the significance of this yet. Churches need to change the way they view youth ministry. It begins at baptism – and maybe it begins even before that with the expectant parents!

What if…

• an older couple in the congregation were asked to mentor these expectant parents? Some of their responsibilities might include praying for the young couple, teaching them prayers to say with their children, and checking in with them from time to time just to say hello or to see if they have any questions or concerns.

• a small group ministry for parents with children began with baptism instruction with the pastor? A couple with slightly older children could gather this group of new parents together for the purpose of Bible study and sharing questions and concerns about raising children.

• older members were invited to pray for one child throughout the year? As part of this ministry, the adult could send the child a card on the anniversary of his or her baptism.

• adults made the attempt to talk with children, to welcome them by physically getting down to their level to ask something as simple as, “Did you do anything exciting this week?”

• the pastor – and other adults – knew the names of all the young people in the congregation?

As mentioned in part 2 of my blog, relationships are important to youth and young adults. Relationship building must start earlier than the time when youth reach confirmation age. Building relationships begins at baptism.

THE BODY OF CHRIST

One of the biggest gifts that the church has is that it is the one place where folks of all ages gather together during the week. One of my biggest gripes is that as soon as we enter the building, we separate ourselves immediately into different age groups for Sunday school classes and other activities.  Paul talks about the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12 and how we need the arms, the legs, the eyes – all parts to make a body function. We all have gifts in this wonderful body of Christ. But, when we get to church on Sunday morning,  it is as if we put all the arms in one room, all the legs in another room, all the eyes in yet another room….well, you get my point!

Sometimes it is important to meet according to age groups. But, we can learn so much from each other across generations! One of the shifts congregations need to make, I believe, is to make cross generational ministry a priority.  How about having a cross-generational Sunday school once a month? Or how about having such a Sunday school during the summer months? What might this look like?

In one congregation I served, we spent the whole month of July looking at the story of Noah’s Ark. We started with a breakfast buffet each Sunday. There were table discussion starters on the paper place mats – questions about Noah’s story, questions about favorite animals and more. Most everyone (even the 2 or 3 year old) could answer at least one of the questions. Then we paired an adult with a younger person, by drawing slips of paper from a hat. The adult and youth pair sat together and drew a name of an animal from another hat. They were given Crayola model magic and each were to mold the animal out of the modeling material. The following week, they painted their animals. Meanwhile, someone in the congregation made a huge wooden ark for our creations. We even raised money each week to buy a cow through the Heifer Project. We sang songs and we prayed together. It was great fun – and it was a great way to build relationships across generations.

On any Sunday, everyone could gather in a large space (such as a fellowship hall) for Sunday school and divide into smaller mixed age groups of about 6-8 folks. Conversation in the small group group could start by inviting everyone to share a great thing that happened during the week and a low point during the week. Then the group could study that Sunday’s gospel text together.

There are many ways to delve into scripture.  Here is one idea: One person in the group volunteers to read the gospel lesson for the day. Then everyone spends time drawing a picture that somehow relates to that lesson. When everyone is done with the drawing, each person is invited to talk about his or her picture. Another way to study scripture together is by using the African Bible study method. This can be quite powerful, especially since members of the group pray for one another in the group at the conclusion.  There are other ways to do cross generational studies. These are just two ideas.

Worship can also be a place of mixing generations. So often the only role a young person plays in worship is serving as an acolyte. But, youth can serve as ushers, greeters, and readers. They can serve on the altar guild. They can assist with communion and lead the prayers. What if an adult were an acolyte instead of a young person from time-to-time? Coffee hour could also be structured in a way where children, youth, and adults could interact with each other and share their faith stories.

Even our social ministry work can – and should -  involve folks of different ages. I know from experience that people who receive “Meals on Wheels” are delighted when one of the persons who helps deliver the food is a young person. Involve children as well as youth and adults in working for the food bank. Families could “adopt a shut in” and visit this person regularly. There are many opportunities to “mix it up” generationally doing social ministry work.

CONCLUSION

The bottom line for me is recognizing that ministry with and among youth and young adults begins before they begin confirmation. It begins at baptism and continues through building relationships with others in the congregation across generations. It includes full participation of young members of our church in the ministry of the congregation. No matter what age someone is, that person has gifts to share.

At the heart of it all is a congregation that practices a ministry of hospitality for everyone!

Tomorrow: Ideas for Ministry Among Youth and Adults

WHAT ARE YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS SEEKING?

Here the waters start to get a little murky….

While youth and young adults seek some of the same things, their life situations are completely different. When the youth and young adults of Region 7 of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America gathered with the bishops at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia on March 13, I did hear a few themes that both groups identified. I would like to focus on what I think were the similarities.

So! What are youth and young adults seeking?

UNITY

I heard this loud and clear from the group assembled at the seminary. Young people would like the church to be able to hold its diversity in a creative tension, realizing that we all come with different thoughts, expectations and values. When Chandler Carriker, director of TEY (Theological Education with Youth) pushed the young people in his group about how to achieve this sense of unity, Hannah (a 10th grader) responded, “by losing yourself.”

By losing yourself!

What does that mean for you? For me, it means letting God be in control when I relate with others. It means loving my neighbor without letting my own stuff get in the way to block their relationship with God. How many of us are willing to let God be in control instead of ourselves?

While we may differ on opinions or in our values, what matters most for these young people is that we are united by the love of and for Christ.

I have had conversations with some very insightful young people in the aftermath of the decisions made at the 2010 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Youth are not in agreement about the decisions made regarding the human sexuality statement or the ministry policy statements. But, wherever they stand on the issue, they seem to be less stressed out by the decisions than some older church members. Those who were against the decisions made are not eager to leave the ELCA. Many feel that it is still possible to stay within the ELCA.

I have heard youth and young adults on all sides of the issue say, “The church made its decision. Let’s move on now and be about the mission of the church.”

I don’t want to assume that ALL young people feel this way, but generally, I find this to be the overriding point of view. They see our ministry together as being something more than our differences. Together we are more than the sum of our parts!

What does church unity look like to you? Is your congregation a divisive place or is it a place that it united in and for mission?

RELATIONSHIPS

You might think that because young people communicate with others by tweeting or writing on Facebook or using text messages that they aren’t interested in face-to-face, “real” relationships. But, they are! Not only that, but they want to have meaningful relationships with members in their churches. To “be in community” is important to them and it is something they hunger for. They are eager to share their stories and to hear the stories of others within this community.

One young person made the analogy between commuter colleges and churches. She said that those who attend commuter colleges “come in and get out.” She said that a lot of our churches are like that – commuter churches. But, she told us, churches need to be more than that. They need to be relational. Part of that means churches need to provide a place and space “to be.”

Is your congregation intentional about building relationships? Does it provide a place for people to mingle and have conversation? Tweeting, using social network sites, and texting are still ways to draw youth into the conversation – though not the only way. What tech-savvy ways of communicating with youth is your church doing?

MAINTAIN TRADITION WHILE SEEKING CHANGE

Some may be surprised to learn that tradition is important to folks in this age group. They are not out to get rid of tradition. They may question the rationale behind some of the traditions of the church.  If our rationale to follow certain traditions is “because we’ve never done it any other way than that before,” we need to reexamine that stance.  However, if our traditions draw attention to and support the gospel and the mission of Christ’s church, then those are traditions we may want to keep.

Putting the words “maintain tradition” and “seeking change”  in the same phrase may seem like mixing oil and water. However, I don’t think that’s the correct analogy. Tradition – for me – is like a pitcher or a cup. While the container remains the same, what you put inside it changes. The pitcher could hold water or wine, milk or cream.  What you put into the container does not change the container itself.

What traditions in your congregation do you need to get rid of? Which ones need to be filled with something new? What will that look like?

MINISTRY OF PRESENCE

A young woman contacted me the other day and shared with me that she was re-thinking her faith. “I’m not even sure I can call myself a Christian anymore,” she said.

A young man I know interviewed for his first job. He was led to believe that he had the gifts for this job and his friends and family encouraged him. He was devastated when he learned that he wasn’t hired – and even more devastated when he learned that their hiring procedure had flaws. Indeed, the company had wanted him, but since the decision was already made, nothing could be done.

A confirmation student in my congregation is struggling with scripture. “What can you really believe?” he asks. “What’s true and what’s not?”

In each of these cases, young folks appreciate the presence of a caring person – a mentor, maybe – to walk with them through their joys and struggles. They are appreciative of folks who are willing to listen without judgment, who are willing, simply to walk with them.  Sometimes it is just enough to be there for someone, to call that person and to let them know you are there for him or her.

Is there a young person in your congregation or community who you could walk with? Pray for? Reach out to?

LEADERSHIP ROLES

Young adults and youth are looking for leadership roles in the church.

I wish members of our churches were in the same room with these young people to participate in the conversation we had at the Philadelphia seminary. These 18 to 30 years olds are energized to do ministry. They have incredible faith, creative ideas, and a love for Christ and the church. The church needs to tap into that. The church MUST tap into that!

The church also needs to recognize the ways young people are already involved in leadership roles that may or may not be in the congregation. They may be using their leadership roles in places beyond the church doors….in the world.

Does your congregation invite youth to take leadership roles in the life of the church? How many youth and young adults are serving on your congregation council? How are youth and young adults using their gifts to serve others beyond the church doors?

A SAFE PLACE TO ASK THE DIFFICULT QUESTIONS

Sometimes we are afraid of questions. More specifically, we are afraid of questions people may ask of us. Maybe it’s because we don’t think we have the answer, the right answer. Maybe it’s because the question will threaten the status quo and our sense of security. Maybe it’s because we just want to avoid the issues at hand.

Whatever the reason, we need to let go of those fears. I envision a church that invites people to ask questions that may or may not be able to be answered. Just to be able to ask the question provides opportunities for reflection and provocative conversation. Sometimes that’s “good enough!”

Youth and young adults have a lot of questions about their faith, tradition, rules, and life in general.  They are asking for a place where they can talk about them without being judged and a place where the responses won’t come from a defensive posture.

Does your congregation welcome questions or invite questions? If it does, how does it make that known?

WHAT ABOUT UNCHURCHED YOUNG ADULTS?

The youth and young adults who were part of the conversation on March 13 at the seminary are active members of congregations in our region. But, we had questions about the unchurched young adults as well. In our conversation, the question was put to the group, “What do you think is keeping unchurched young adults away from the church?”  These are a few of the responses:

• Some young people have had experiences with the church where they were told they were wrong or they’ve felt judged and they’ve left the church because of it.
• There are some who do not want to be affiliated in any way to the name “Christian” because of the loud Christians in our society who are proclaiming “the end is near,” because of the Christians  who use hate speech, and because of the Christians who practice a theology of prosperity. They want no part of the “Christian brand.”
• Some look at the history of religions in general and see religion as the motivation for war and the motivation for other injustices towards others/groups of people. Therefore, they don’t want any part of any organized religion.

So what can we do about this group?

I believe that the more we strengthen our ministry to, with, and among youth and young adults, the more the church itself will be energized to do mission. Maybe it will be through that witness that the unchurched – young adults and older adults – will see Christ!

Strengthening this ministry would be – at the very least – a start in the right direction.

Tomorrow: Changing Behaviors and Attitudes

WHAT’S REALLY BEHIND THE QUESTIONS?

In my post yesterday, I raised some of the questions that I keep hearing from congregations and I suggested that these are not the questions we should be asking:

“Where are they?”
“What can we do to get them back?”
“After confirmation they drop out. Why aren’t they here?”

However, I do think it is important to ask, “Why are these questions being asked at all? What is the motivation behind them?”

I have a hunch that some of the reasons have nothing to do with our faith or sense of mission.  Do any of these attitudes feel familiar to you?

“We invested all this time and energy in them and this is the thanks we get! After confirmation they just disappear as if we didn’t exist.”

“Our church is dying. We need young people here to help our church grow.”

“We are counting on the financial support of those young adults who have found good-paying jobs. Sure wish they would come back to help keep this church afloat financially.”

Maybe that sounds a bit crass. But, I do believe that those are some of the attitudes behind the questions. These questions imply a “social club” mentality which exists in many of our churches. Many of our churches exist to serve only themselves.They act more as social clubs than centers of ministry.

“Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!”

Young people are savvy. They can  see the “man behind the curtain” when questions like this are being raised. They can tell when a church is eager for their participation only for the purpose of preserving the  “church.” Young people can recognize the church that exists simply to preserve the status quo versus the church that actually serves God by serving others – not only in the congregation – but, more importantly, “out there” in the mission field called the world.

I have another hunch and it’s this: Congregations that are truly involved in mission – involving children and their families early on -  aren’t asking these questions at all!

Tomorrow: What Youth and Young Adults Are Seeking