Young Adult Ministry in Congregations

1. Young Adult Ministryin Congregations

2. “Do not yearn for times that are past, but recognize that you have been given a foundation of faithful service, even as you build a foundation for what is yet to be.” Doctrine & Covenants 162:2c

3. “Relevance” = Connections: How Does the Faith Community: • Connect personally • How does this faith community make any difference to me as an individual? • Connect with mission • How does this faith community make any difference to changing the world? • Connect with Christ • How is the life, message, death of Jesus really meaningful to my spirituality?

4. Modern Era • Boomers – ’60s • Industrial to middle-class • Vietnam Conflict • Change in Women’s role • Change in race relations • The power of TV • The “rock” generation • The “me” generation • The loss of authority • Pentecostal theology • Builders – ’40s • Depression to Industrial • World War II • Change in Women’s role • Change in info sources • The “swing” generation • Institutional loyalty • “Pull together” ideology • Traditional theology

5. Postmodern Era • Millenials – ’00s • The “change” generation • September 11 • Perceived obsolescence • The “mosaic” generation • Global interconnection • The need for relationships • The interactive mind • Emerging theology • Busters – ’80s • The affluent generation • Middle East Conflicts • Rural flight • The role of the internet • The “we” generation • The need for authenticity • Relational theology

6. Postmodernism • Move from order to chaos • Move from one truth to many truths • Move from local to global • Move from religion to spirituality

7. Stable Leadership Less time, more fragmented CEO/Manager Spiritual Guide/Fellow Journeyer Traditionally relative Culturally relative Concentrated Power Diffused Power Relational Hierarchical Goals Driven Relationship Driven Personal presentation Professional presentation Values uniformity Values diversity Leads by listening Leads by talking Changes in Faith Ideas FROM TO

8. Changes in Faith Ideas “Us” “Me” “We” “Many” Auditory Visual Multi-sensory Interactive Hierarchical Enlightened Post-Modern Global Organ Piano Guitar/Keyboard Band Preach Testify Share/Drama Share/Video BOOMERS BUSTERS BUILDERS MILLENIALS

9. Young Adult Lifestyle • More mobile • Less leisure time – “free” time is booked • Suspect of religion and authority • Less willing to be “brand loyal” • Highly “connected” • Aware of quality / competence • Information saturated • What else?

10. Emergent Church Model • Current trend in congregational life model • No single “correct” model • More mindset than a model • Measures success missionally • Spirit and quality over numbers

11. Emergent Church Model • Interactive • Experiential • Sensory • Casual / Informal • Incorporates traditional spiritual disciplines • Message is conversational and educational • Active in community • Centered on congregational strengths / gifts • Simplicity

12. The Traditional Worship Space Stained Glass Raised Rostrum Organ Pulpit Fixed Pews Pamphlets Narthex

13. The Contemporary Worship Space Video Projection Band Area Pulpit Raised Rostrum Moveable seating AV/Room Control Greeting Station Lobby

14. Video Projection of stained glass Non-raised Band Area Speaking Area Tables & Chairs Room Control Prayer Area Coffee Bar Greeting Station Lobby Emergent Worship Space

15. “Coffee House” Style Worship • Open format • Visual / Auditory • Scriptural focus • Intentional environment / decor • Discussion-oriented • Spiritually centered • Preparedness of all • Biblically & spiritually competent leaders

16. A New Paradigm K-mart vs. Starbucks Model

17. Doctrine & Covenants 163:11 Through divine grace and wisdom, this faith community has been given abundant gifts, resources, and opportunities to equip it to become such a people. Chief among these is the power of community in Christ expressed locally in distinctive fashions while upholding a unity of vision, foundational beliefs, and mission throughout the world. There are many issues that could easily consume the time and energy of the church. However, the challenge before a prophetic people is to discern and pursue what matters most for the journey ahead.

18. Why Community of Christ? • We have no dogma • We are addressing contemporary issues • A commitment to earth stewardship • We believe God still speaks • We have a history of spiritual discovery • We are founded on Christ and Community • Intimate community environment • “All are called” • Connected to the global community • We proclaim peace & justice through Christ • We believe we’re on an “Old, Old Path” – it carries our history while transforming us into the future

19. Congregation Questions • What about your congregation – would these ideas stretch them? • What are your success stories? • Why were those experiences/formats meaningful for your community at that time? • How is your congregation making a focused effort with YAs? • What’s your biggest hurdle to worship and other congregational life with YAs?

20. Doctrine & Covenants 161:5 Be respectful of tradition. Do not fail to listen attentively to the telling of the sacred story, for the story of scripture and of faith empowers and illuminates. But neither be captive to time-bound formulas and procedures. Remember that instruction given in former years is applicable in principle and must be measured against the needs of a growing church, in accordance with the prayerful direction of the spiritual authorities and the consent of the people.

21. Tradition • How does our unique message and culture meet the needs of emerging cultures? • What role does our “faith tradition” have in connecting all generations with Christ? • What belief traditions? • What traditional practices? • What traditions are important for you? • What traditions can be released, adopted, or understood anew?

22. Doctrine & Covenants 162:2a-c Listen carefully to your own journey as a people, for it is a sacred journey and it has taught you many things you must know for the journey yet to come. Listen to its teachings and discover anew its principles. Do not yearn for times that are past, but recognize that you have been given a foundation of faithful service, even as you build a foundation for what is yet to be. As a prophetic people you are called, under the direction of the spiritual authorities and with the common consent of the people, to discern the divine will for your own time and in the places where you serve. You live in a world with new challenges, and that world will require new forms of ministry. The priesthood must especially respond to that challenge, and the church is admonished to prayerfully consider how calling and giftedness in the Community of Christ can best be expressed in a new time.

23. Questions: After all we’ve discussed, how would we create a worship experience for young adults if we were starting from scratch?

24. Questions: • What do you think the church will look like in 15-20-50 years? Will it exist?

25. “Do not yearn for times that are past, but recognize that you have been given a foundation of faithful service, even as you build a foundation for what is yet to be.” Doctrine & Covenants 162:2c

26. Related Books & Bibliography The Emerging Churchby Dan Kimball 2003Youth Specialties/Zondervan Adventures in Missing the Pointby McLaren & Compolo 2003 Youth Specialties/Zondervan Stories of Emergenceed. by Mike Yaconelli 2003 Youth Specialties/Zondervan 21 Bridges to the 21st Centuryby Lyle Schaller Barna Research GroupGeorge Barna, Ventura, CA 93003 – www.barna.org Faith of My Fathersby Chris Seay