Friday, July 30, 2010

Youth In the Church

While I don't put myself forward as any type of expert in youth and young adult ministry, I have been involved in those types of ministries for a number of years.  Frequently, despite the ministry model in which I have worked, participated or watched leaders state that the youth aren't the future of the church but they are, in fact, the present church.  While I agree with this sentiment in its pure form it has bothered me over the years, but I just couldn't put my finger on why a statement that I wholeheartedly agree with bothered me.  While I was at the Montreat youth conferences again this summer working with as the Work Crew Coordinator (I got to work with college aged young adults in helping do many of the small unseen tasks that make the conference a success as well as lead them in a small group discussion every morning) I again heard that phrase from the leaders of the conference.  And then it hit me why that phrase bothers me.  From my perspective (and that of the young adults I was working with this summer), those words ring hollow and the youth and young adults from my denomination know it. 

The PC(USA) talks a good game about their youth ministry, and to their credit they make great efforts to demonstrate that the youth are an important part of the church right now.  We have the Montreat youth conferences for high school aged youth, conferences for middle school aged youth, an impressive college conference that brings in big named speakers, a young adult volunteer program that sends young adults to year long mission experiences and we even include young adults in our General Assembly as advisory delegates, we even ordain some youth and young adults as elders in local congregations (there are many more ways, but I think you get the point).  And as I look over that last sentence that I just typed, at first glance it may seem like that is enough.  However, we fail in two major ways.  First, we tend to have the attitude that after they graduate high school we set them out in the world to find their way and wait for them to return to the denomination (if they don't lose total faith) when they are grown and have children.  Secondly, we don't really back up all these programs with any force in how we include youth in our daily lives as congregations.  (I know that some congregations are doing phenomenal work but I will take the liberty of making a sweeping generalization based on my wide geographic base of church attendance over the years due to the military and discussion with youth from areas I haven't lived in yet). 

We need congregations near college campuses to reach out and embrace every single college student that grew up in the PC(USA).  This isn't just supporting campus ministries though they need a great deal of financial support and volunteer leaders and mentors.  We need congregations to live into that connectional system we like to brag about and talk with each other as we send youth to new congregations.  We also need to do this with all members, but I am focusing on youth and young adults.  In fact, the Book of Order outlines how the session should contact the receiving session to help members that move connect with a local worshiping congregation.  In all my moves I don't recall that ever happening or even having one session provide a list of congregations in the area.  Congregations could work with the campus minister and come in and introduce themselves to the students and offer a Sunday School class or a small group for them outside of their school.  They could also volunteer to provide congregation members to serve as mentors or "adoptive parents."  I still am in contact with families from congregations that reached out to me as a young adult and made sure I had a church home in every way.  In fact, two of those families pitched in together to purchase my robe for my ordination service and beyond.  The possibilities are endless and I am confident that if we put the issue before our congregations the need would be filled in a rapid and enthusiastic manner.

The second issue revolves around how we bring youth and young adults into "leadership" positions and then don't treat them in the same manner.  This struck me when I looked at the disparity between the number of youth elders at Montreat

Pardon me while I step down from my soapbox. 

Thursday, July 29, 2010

The End is Near

Last Saturday I cleared the final hurdle in getting ordained as a Navy Chaplain (besides waiting for the Navy paperwork trail to catch up to me) when I went before my presbytery for final verbal examination.  I have to admit I was slightly nervous as they can ask any question they feel so moved to do regarding my theology, call, etc.  I only received three questions before someone had heard enough and moved to arrest the exam, but I was pleased with the types of questions they asked and how they directly related to my call.  One was how I would implement the theology of my statement of faith as a Navy Chaplain (not too bad as my being a Chaplain was a basis for the statement of faith), one on how I would handle a conscientious objector and the other as to how I would handle baptisms with military members in regards to the Presbyterian belief regarding baptism.  Apparently they were satisfied with my answers and now I am cleared to get ordained on August 22nd and will then be waiting for all the paper work to clear so I can get back on active duty. 

Thursday, July 15, 2010

General Assembly and Congress

So, one other benefit of sitting around waiting to fleet up is that I was actually able to watch most of the PC(USA) General Assembly online last week.  As someone who will have both voice and vote in my presbytery in the near future I figured it would be best for me to watch the debate to get a feel of how decisions were made last week when the overtures come to my presbytery next year and I have to vote on approval or disapproval of the issues.  I was actually really interested in the debates and had a fairly good time watching it online.  I found it amazing that I knew some of the people arguing their cases or leading worship, etc.  It proved that the Presbyterian world is a small, small world. 

While watching something struck me.  What if Congress actually operated in the spirit of the General Assembly?  I think things would be more transparent, efficient and even civil.  First off I really like the idea of the committee having to defend their decision to accept or deny a certain item coming out of committee.  The committee moderator had to stand up and answer questions (with subject matter expert assistance) coming from the assembled delegates.  Open and honest in dealing with the work of a committee before coming to the whole body.  Can you imagine our elected representatives actually engaging in a true question and answer session on the floor of Congress instead of grandstanding?  Imagine the amount of work that can get done.  Also contributing to the transparency is that all overtures from individual presbyteries are due by a certain date and every commissioner gets to read the initial overture prior to the convening of the assembly.  There aren't many surprises in the agenda.  In the outcome and amendments that come out of committee perhaps but not in the general topics. 

The General Assembly process is extremely efficient.  The moderator of the assembly allows a fairly even distribution of debate on the issue alternating between supporters and detractors of the committee's stance.  Each person is given a definite time limit and is promptly cut off when time expires.  This forces you to make your point or ask your question in a succinct manner and not waste valuable time.  Good debate occurs and many matters are covered.  Additionally, there is no hope of extending the session beyond the number of days allotted so everyone stays until the work is done each night.  There are no press junkets during the voting sessions so things keep moving with committees reporting in a continuous manner consistent with the schedule.  By having to read so much and expecting that every overture must be read by a large number of people, overtures are generally short and everyone is prepared to debate the issue which smooths the process. 

Civility is the operative word at General Assembly.  Even when people disagree, and this they do well, personal attacks rarely if ever occur.  I don't recall any personal attack in the hours of debate on contentious topics that I watched online.  Seeing that occur made me proud to belong to a denomination that values civil debate, especially in light of the venom coming from all political sides when watching a debate in Washington or on a show giving voice to political pundits. 

How do we get people to believe that a debate can be transparent, efficient and civil?  Maybe that is the question we need to ask before we dive in to important debates in our larger society. 

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Good News and More Waiting

I found out last week that I will be going back on active duty as a Navy Chaplain, but with a twist.  I have to wait until at least October until I get back out in the fleet.  So, while I know that I have a job in the future I have to do a bunch more waiting.  And it is getting quite tedious and frustrating.  But while I have to sit around unemployed for a bit longer (well at least not getting a pay check), it does offer some opportunities.  I get to head back to Montreat another week which is something new for me.  Usually I only get to go in one block but now I am going back at two separate times doing a job I found I really enjoy.  I will get to travel and visit friends a bit more before going back on active duty so that if I get sent overseas I will have been able to see people before that happens.  And I get to make sure everything I want to do on the house gets completed as I now have plenty of time for that to happen.  Of course, I get to do some serious PT to get ready (once a pulled back muscle heals).  I would say I could do some more blogging, but it has never really been a priority of mine so I won't make promises I can't keep.  But I will get to tinker with the blog and figure out how to best utilize the internet in general once I get some orders.  I want to employ all tools and technology to reach the sailors and Marines that I will serve in a manner that helps them and puts resources at their fingertips.  I plan to post my personal sermons in this space and use this as an outlet to minister to those of my faith group.  I also envision a blog for the command to which I will arrive that will have resources for all faiths and is accessible from the field and afar so everyone can sustain their faith in a substantial way.  If the few who read this have suggestions feel free to offer them here.