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youTheology is a Saint Paul School of Theology Pan-Methodist program that is preparing leaders, deepening faith, providing youth ministry resources, and giving opportunities for loving and serving God and others with high school students and youth workers.
I have been speaking and thinking a lot lately on a theology of place, space and time. I believe a theologically robust and intentional focus on being rooted in a particular place for a long period of time is essential for nurturing a community engaged in Christian practice.
It seems like I'm saying things that which resonnnate deeply to people but seems challenging to embrace in our hyper-mobile culture.
This has become my argument;
STAY where you're from, if you haven't, STAY where you are, if you can't, at least live like you are staying where you are for the rest of your life.
Last week I had the privilege of giving two lectures at the Institute for Youth Ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary and next week I will be speaking on this subject at the Children, Youth and New Kind of Christianity Conference in Washington, D.C.
It's not too late to register for the conference in Washington. Here are what a few people are saying about the conference;
“This event sets the bar high: it’s got passion, purpose, and a line-up of theological luminaries who rarely share the same stage. What brings it all together is a shared core conviction: if we’re going to be the church Christ calls us to be, we’re going to need to take young people as seriously as Jesus does.”
-Kenda Creasy Dean, Professor of Youth, Church and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary, Author of Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers is Telling the American Church
“What I like about [CYNKC] is that the fine folks throwing this party are trying to figure out how we approach spirituality with young people in a post-flannelgraph-Sunday-School world.”
-Shane Claiborne, activist, author, and founding member of The Simple Way
“A new generation needs to emerge that has a passionate vision for making the Kingdom of God a reality in this world. Children, Youth, and a New Kind of Christianity is a major attempt to foster that generation. It promises to give hope to a church and a world that need renewal.”
-Tony Campolo, PhD, Eastern University, St. Davids , Pennsylvania
The deadline for the Early Bird registration price for the Kansas City YSpalooza is tomorrow, April 6th. The conference is April 12 and 13 and is being hosted by MNU, Barefoot Publishing and Youthfront. Come on youth workers, bring your adult volunteers and let's gather together to learn, grow and renew our calling to minister to young people.
Youth Specialites is headed this way! On April 13-14, Heartland Community Church will host YSPalooza, a training event for you and your ministry team. Through Learning Labs, "Super Sessions," and speakers like Mark Yaconelli, Kara Powell and more, YSPalooza is a great opportunity to get practical ideas for your ministry. Get a discount code at www.youthfront.com/ys-palooza.
Register Now!
April 23–26, 2012
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton, New Jersey
The Princeton Forums on Youth Ministry are an uncommon mix of practical and theological exploration of ministry with young people. Come connect with youth leaders, discuss theology and youth ministry, play, rest, and leave renewed.
Click here for details and registration.
Or contact Princeton Institute of Youth Ministry at 609-497-7914.
The theme for 2012 is CREATE and Leadership includes:
Makoto Fujimura
William Romanowski
Reginald Blount
Bill and Aimee Buchanan
Kenda Creasy Dean
Mike King
Sarah Arthur
Youthfront and Barefoot are thrilled to co-partner with Youth Specialties to bring YSpalooza to Kansas City. This event is set up for youth workers to bring their entire adult volunteer team for a great day of training and team building. You can also get an additional 10% discount by using this code when you register - RNYFKY1
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Youth Ministry Training—For Your Entire Team! It's 2 jammed pack days of youth ministry training—YS style. speakers and worship leaders from NYWC to the Kansas City area April 13-14. Bring your entire team to hear from Mark Matlock, Kara Powell, Harvey Carey, and Mark Yaconelli.
Watch what some of our speakers and attendees think about the weekend. three Learning Labs, and tons of practical ideas you can use immediately. Join us April 13-14 for the ultimate youth ministry palooza party--YS Style! talk to your team, or register now—don't miss this incredible training! |
The National Youth Workers Convention on the weekend before Thanksgiving is always something I really look forward to. It marks, for me, the finish line of a fall season of retreats, speaking, fund raising events, conferences, etc. and the beginning of the holiday season. For the last decade, we've had a rhythm that includes me setting up our Christmas Tree before the NYWC. While I'm gone Vicki transitions our home from fall decor to full on Christmas decorations. I am always giddy about getting home, enjoying Thanksgiving and counting down to the beginning of the Advent Season.
I have assumed an increasingly busy role at the NYWC and with Youth Specialties. In addition to representing Youthfront and the Immerse Journal, I oversee The Sanctuary and this year launched the Theology Track. Fortunately, I am accompanied by amazing friends, associates and soul sisters/brothers who help make all these things happen in order to serve youth workers. A big thanks to Micah Thomas and Lilly Lewin with The Sanctuary; to Erik Leafblad with the Theology Track, along with Bethany Stolle; to Archie Honrado with the Prayer Room; to Beth Slevcove with Soul Care, plus Jamie Roach, Mickey Cox and Maggie Robbins; and to Aaron Mitchum with Immerse.
We had strong participation of youth workers in the Sanctuary, full schedules for the Spiritual Directors and enthusiastic attendance and interest in the Theology Track. I don't think I can be more passionate about the importance of creating a place and space through the Sanctuary, Prayer Room and Soul Care for youth workers to breathe, worship, sit at the feet of Jesus, rest, reflect and be. I also cannot believe more strongly about the essential value of theological reflection in youth ministry. The Theology Track is both a response to and fuel for the theological turn in youth ministry. The energy for the Theological Forums and Cafe's was palpable and the interest of many to help make them better next year is overwhelming in a good way.
A real highlight of the time in Atlanta was a gathering of friends who stayed in Atlanta after the convention was over to honor Tic Long, who is leaving YS after three decades. This was such a beautiful time of remembering and story telling. I love Tic and I love being a part of the unfolding story of Youth Specialties. This video is a tribute to Tic.
I didn't mean to not name the panel in my previous post. A MONSTROUS THANKS to our Theology Panelists. I also want to commend the panelists for backing up your explicit theological postures with a powerful demonstration of being present and accessible. Hanging out at the Theology Cafe with us youth workers was really cool and broke down percieved barriers between "expert" and the rest of us. Very cool.
This year, in addition to overseeing The Sanctuary at the National Youth Workers Convention, I had the privilege to direct the new Theology Track, including forums and a Theology Cafe.
The Sanctuary is in its fourth year and has become a place a significant aspect of the convention providing a place to rest, contemplate, think, learn and be. The Sanctuary's aesthetics are curated by Lilly Lewin, who is always finding new and amazing ways to create places that inspire. This year Renovare sponsored Sanctuary. Renovare staff member Mickey Cox provided teaching for some of the learning labs along with serving as one of our Soul Care Spiritual Directors for the youth workers at the convention. Beth Slevcove headed up the Spiritual Directors and is always a wonderful and affirming presence. Archie Honrado also served as a Spiritual Director and curated the Prayer Room space which is always a contemplative environment for prayer, meditation, rest and reflection.
The Theology Track went very well. It was awesome to have something for long-time veterans of youth ministry and the YS world to gather around. Although some were surprised at how many young youth workers attended these theological focused gatherings, I wasn't. I really do believe that the theological turn in youth ministry is gaining momentum. It will be harder and harder for "tacticians" and "practitioners" (who don't see or value the necessity of deeper theological reflection to shape and inform their actions, strategies, programs) to dismiss the importance of practical theology in current and emerging youth ministry. The panelists were awesome. The Theology Cafe was really cool also because most of the panelists came and hung out with youth workers until late in the evening. They were accessible and engaged.
Thanks to Mark Matlock, Tic Long, Adam McClane, and Michelle Fockler for all the YS help to make the Sanctuary and the Theological Track possible. A big thanks to Renovare, sponsor of the Sanctuary and the generous sponsors of the Theology Track - InterVarsity Press, Sparkhouse, Immerse: A Journal of Faith, Life and Youth Ministry, Youthfront, Asbury Theological Seminary, Fuller Theological Seminary, Luther Seminary, Nazarene Theological Seminary, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and Princeton Theological Seminary. Thanks to our panel facilitators Erik Leafblad, Dayle Rounds and Bethany Stolle.
My biggest thanks goes to Micah Thomas and Erik Leafblad, fellow Youthfront staff members who helped me with the Sanctuary (Micah) and the Theology Track (Erik). Here is a picture taken by YouthWorks staffer Eric Iverson of the three of us walking off into the sunset at the end of the convention.
There is one more opportunity to get in on this. Come to Atlanta, November 18 - 20.
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Alan E. Lewis: Between Cross and Resurrection: A Theology of Holy Saturday
Kenda Creasy Dean: Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers is Telling the American Church
Dirk Hayhurst: The Bullpen Gospels: Major League Dreams of a Minor League Veteran
Philip Sheldrake: Spaces for the Sacred: Place, Memory, and Identity
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