Opportunity or Despair? Youth Ministry at the Crossroads

2. Opportunity or Despair?Youth Ministry at the Crossroads ELCA Gathering Practice Discipleship Team

3. From the air

4. National Study of Youth and Religion 5 learnings

5. Teen are not rebellious about faith, rather they are open to religion • Youth are not flocking to "alternative" religions and spiritualities. • Yet, faith is not a viable or central element of their life. • The vast majority of the teenagers identified themselves as Christian – either Protestant or Catholic - or as Jewish or Mormon. • Only about 8 percent said faith was not important at all.

6. de facto creed Moralistic Therapeutic Deism • A God exists who created and orders the world and watches over human life on earth. • God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions. • The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself. • God does not need to be particularly involved in one’s life except when God is needed to resolve a problem. • Good people go to heaven when they die.

7. Teens could not speak the second language of faith • A vast majority of teens are "incredibly inarticulate about their faith, their religious beliefs and practices.” • Faith is a second language … and young people are not catching the faith religions profess. In other words, faith communities were not passing on the faith in word and deed. • Learning the language of faith will require, among other things, being immersed in a culture where the faith is spoken in the present tense and where it is practiced being spoken.

8. Parents are important • Three out of four religious teens consider their own beliefs somewhat or very similar to those of their parents. • Parents, whether they know it or not and like it or not, they are in fact always socializing youth about religion. • It is not whether or not parents are passing on faith, but what faith/beliefs parents are passing on!

9. “a significant minority” Yet, for a small percentage (8% of teen where religion was important) of young people faith was not wallpaper, but an active, integrated part of their lives.

10. from the ground

11. Groups • make a list of 10 things that describe young people today

12. Exemplary Youth Ministry Study

13. It’s about nurturing faith

14. 7 aspects of mature Christian faith • Seeks Spiritual Growth • Possesses a Vital Faith • Practices Faith • Makes the Christian Faith a Way of Life • Lives a Life of Service • Exercises Moral Responsibility • Possesses a Positive Spirit

15. 3 particular aspects in congregations • Particular Theology • Sense of the Presence and Activity of a Living God • Emphasis on Spiritual Growth, Discipleship and Vocation • Promote Outreach and Mission • Particular Qualities of Ministry • Reflect Congregational Priority and Support for Youth Ministry • Foster Significant Relationships and a Sense of Community • Develop Committed Competent Leadership • Particular Ministry Practices • Focus on Household or Families • Common Effective Youth Ministry Practices • Custom Designed, Integrated Approaches to Youth Ministry

16. 4 assets within areas Congregational Assets Age-Specific Ministry Assets Family Assets Leadership Assets

17. Four Learnings It’s about a living God It’s about discipleship It’s about relationships It’s about leadership

18. Share • What did you hear? • What was troubling? • What is hopeful?

19. Bad News Christian way of life is no longer the norm Faith communities are not passing on the faith World isn’t going to pass on the faith “church” language is not familiar to most

20. Good News Youth are open to faith and religion Youth are open to parents and significant adults Actions are important It’s time to be creative and discover new ways

21. What is this all about? Every three years youth gather from across the country and around the world at an event whose mission is to make and nurture disciples of Jesus Christ, to create a safe place for youth to experience community and to be encouraged to respond to God’s call to service in the world.

22. Where and when are we gathering? • July 18-22, 2012 in New Orleans is the ELCA Youth Gathering • July 16-18, 2012 is the Definitely-Abled Youth Leadership Event (DAYLE) • July 16-18, 2012 is the Multicultural Leadership Event (MYLE)

23. What in the world came through here?

24. What in the world are you thinking bringing our children to THAT place?

25. What in the world passed through here?

26. Who will be going to New Orleans? • Crazy, committed Christians of all ages aware of their own brokenness, deeply & passionately in love with Jesus with eyes to see their own faces in the faces of the oppressed, and to see their own hands in the hands of the oppressors. • Adult leaders and volunteers • 800 young adult leaders ages 20-25 • 36,000 High School students in grades 8-12

27. Have we ever done this before? 1988 – 22,500 in San Antonio 1991 – 27,000 in Dallas 1994 – 34,000 in Atlanta 1997 – 36,000 in New Orleans 2000 – 40,000 in St. Louis 2003 – 38,000 in Atlanta 2006 – 37,000 in San Antonio 2009 - 37,000 in New Orleans

28. What the theme? Citizens with the saints Ephesians 2:14-20 In his life and death on the cross, Jesus broke down the dividing walls so that we are no longer strangers and outsiders, but we are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God. The foundation of God’s house was built of apostles and prophets, and Jesus, the cornerstone holds it all together

29. What will be doing down there? • Day 1 Arrive, Register, Dome Experience, Hotel Life • Day 2-3-4 • Blessing / Sending for the Day • Breakfast • Daily Assignment (Think rotation model) and Lunch • Early Afternoon-Free time/Interaction Center/Dinner • Evening Dome Experience- Large Gathering Time • Late night Hotel Life • Day 5 Breakfast- Closing Celebration/Dome experience

30. DAILY THEMES • Practice Peacemaking • Practice Discipleship • Practice Justice

31. Practice Peacemaking • Act in a way that reflect God’s value for everybody, particularly those who are marginalized by society. • Learning Day (Convention Center) • Claiming and valuing their baptismal identity • The ability to talk about the grace that Jesus offers

32. Practice Discipleship • Demonstrate the capacity to articulate their unique witness. • Help them to talk about the grace that Jesus offers • Allow them to wrestle with questions of faith • Most likely in hotel ballroom • With our synod

33. Practice Justice • Live boldly in the face of injustice, crisis and suffering • Realize that daily choices make a difference that benefit all of God’s creation. • Being to differentiate between accompaniment and charity • Experience New Orleans day • Leave from in Buses from the Dome

34. And how are we going to figure this all out while we’re in New Orleans? Volunteers

35. 3 Type of Volunteers • Community Life • Gathering Volunteer Corps • Servant Companions

36. Community Life • Applicants must be 19 years of age, out of high school successfully graduated) for one year and in good health • You will staff hotels which includes morning programming, Hotel life, quiet spaces, small service experiences.

37. Gathering Volunteer Corp • Ushering in the Superdome, checking wristbands at Community Life activities, directing foot traffic in the Interaction Center, helping with registration, answering telephone, staffing an information boot or moving equipment in the Convention Center • Out of high school successfully and 19

38. Volunteer Responsibly • Apply after May 15 • Transportation to New Orleans –will get back a $200 travel assistance • Arrive by 1pm on Monday July 16 Depart after 3pm on Sunday July 22, 2012 • Sign covenant • Undergo background check • Cost $75

39. Gathering will provide • Housing • Meals on your days of service • Lots of fun

40. Servant Companions • Will welcome, lead, facilitate and care for congregational groups through the Gathering • Ages 19-30

41. What else will happen? • Mass Gathering: You can look forward to the privilege of participating with the “whole” gathering community each evening in the Super Dome. • Community Life: Hotels will be expecting you. The Gathering provides teams of trained leaders to host and support you for a quality stay in New Orleans. • Other Gathering Teams: Literally thousands of volunteers make up the leadership for 2012 Youth Gathering. This includes everyone from Bishops to Operations to the Tech Team. Don’t forget the Info Line and Safety & Security Team, the Transportation Team, the Gathering Volunteer Corps, musicians, performers, and behind-the-scenes office staff! The ocean of people who are preparing for you to come is amazing!

42. OK, I want to go – what next? • Registration • Transportation • Fundraising and budgeting • Choosing Adult leaders • Scholarship opportunities • Community-building

43. REGISTRATION • Open October 9, 2011 at 2 pm EDT only online if you don’t have a computer talk to me • Students in grades 8-12 at time of registration (7-11 now) • Cost $315 per person • $150 nonrefundable deposit is due at the time of registration • Balance due on or before May 26, 2012 • No payments at registration.

44. Housing • We can house up to 39,000 participants • Room rates range from $119- 145 per night (before taxes) • Assignments will be posted to the Congregational account in February 2012 • Will try to keep Synods congregations close to each other.

45. TRANSPORTATION • Coach 54 passenger busses • ? Anyone interested • 20 hours • Southwest Airlines • $280-$310 • 5-6 hours • Drive time • 20 hours 1 way • 2,500 miles round trip • 200 gallons gas = $800 - 900

46. BUDGETING Budget Template (Sample numbers are based on 16 youth, 2 female adults, and 2 male adults for 7 nights) Budget Item Cost Per Person Estimate # Total Cost Travel to NOLA (air) $300 -400 20 6000-8000 Travel to airport (rd) $40 20 $800 Shuttle to hotel(roundtrip) $20 20 $400 Food and Entertainment $50 per days x 7 days $350 20 $7,000 Registration for Event $315 20 $6,300 Hotel $315 p.p. for 7 days 20 $6,300 Gift for Home Congregation $10 20 $200 Total Per Person $1310 -14,50 20 26,200-2900

47. A GREAT OPTION FOR SAVING MONEY • AN ELCA Mission Investment Fund (MIF)is an easy way to save for the Gathering and have immediate access to the funds when they are needed. You can save money and earn interest, pay registration fees, access funds on-site in New Orleans and help support ELCA–related ministries. • Contact Pastor Mark Wimmer at Mark.Wimmer@elca.org for more information.

48. Who should we look for? • · Faith-focused and centered in God • · Has a healthy, balanced life of their own as an adult • · Has a relationship with youth or open to developing relationships with youth • · Patience and wisdom • · Interest in youth and youth culture • · Focused on youth and their needs • · Committed and insightful • · Sees what needs to be done and then does it • · Has a positive, appropriate sense of humor and playfulness • · Remains calm when unexpected things or emergencies occur • · Knows how to share responsibilities and tasks with youth • · Is observant of group dynamics and other things going on around them • · Good listening skills and attentive to youth • · Has the physical and emotional ability to fully participate as an adult leader in a very active program

49. What should you be asking yourself? • Do I love teenagers? • Am I a team player? • Will I be able to focus on the youth and their needs? • Do I have good listening skills? • How do I deal with conflict? • Am I patient? • Do I listen first or do I jump to conclusions? • Am I able to see what needs to be done and pitch in? • Do I encourage youth? Youth who rub me the wrong way? • Can I develop appropriate, healthy relationships with youth ? • Where am I in my faith life? • Will I be able to share my faith in positive, encouraging ways?

50. SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES • Financial assistance is available • Application Starting May 15, 2011,forms online • www.elca.org/gathering