by Sharon Ely Pearson
Youth Ministry: Now is a project of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture Adolescent Faith and Flourishing Program, Berkeley Divinity School and The Congregational Church of New Canaan. The second program was recently held featuring lectures by Dr. Chap Clark, Dr. Miroslav Volf, Dr. Rodger Nishioka, Dr. Yolanda Smith, and Dr. David White. These presentations are now online in video here.
Past presentations from the Berkeley Colloquium (2012) include:
“Nurturing Spiritual Habits with Youth” with Michael Bird. Youth don’t so much want to be lectured about God as they want to experience God. This experience comes from walking with God each day, not just on Sunday mornings. What are the spiritual disciplines, practices and traditions that help bring us closer to God and how do they work for today’s youth? We’ll explore ways to support our youth in developing and following their own “rule of life.” View his presentation here.
“Youth Ministry, The Church, and The Melting of Identity” with Andrew Root. One of the greatest pursuits for late modern people (especially those of younger generations) is to construct an identity for themselves. But as we have seen recently, the fluidity of our culture does not allow for our identities to be carved in stone. Instead our identities are always transitioning, with new jobs, new marriages, and new ideas. The cultural necessity of identity transition can be painful and difficult; it is easy to feel lost within the transition. What then should the church do? View his presentation here.
“Beyond Soup Kitchens and Sardines” with Rodger Nishioka. Ultimately, ministry with young people must be about more than sporadic service projects and playing games. Ultimately, ministry with young people must be about enacting theology – the actual on the ground, lived experience that embodies what we believe about the nature of God and God’s call to human beings. We will explore ways that congregations are responding to God’s call on the lives of young people and the adults who journey with them. View his presentation here.
How might you show these videos to your youth leaders or parents?
