I scratched and itch a couple days ago and got a lot of responses. I sent out a simple twitter message and a follow up e-mail to some friends asking what they thought about me putting together a radio show/podcast with the intent of training youth workers and helping bridge the gap between the academy of Youth Ministry Educators and the "on the ground" youth workers. Several of the responses I received were about my being in a unique position to help bridge this gap because I have had feet in both worlds for quite a while.
My hypothesis here is that it is more common for a youth worker to have little formal seminary education as they go about their role as a youth worker. I'm specifically thinking about smaller churches with solo youth workers or even part-time youth workers and volunteers. Those Youth Workers who don't have the resources to be able to attend a seminary or youth workers convention many of whom too probably aren't interested.
On the flipside of this many Youth Ministry Educators only interact with those who come to their schools or can afford go to a convention or have the time to buy their books. Educators often find that it's tough to get outside or off of their academic tower and to interact with the "real world."
Several years ago I was invited to be a part of a Think Tank bringing together University/Seminary Youth Ministry Educators and Youth Pastors with the goal of bridging the Gap. This was put on by the great folks at the Center for Youth Ministry Training (CYMT) in Nashville. The head of this organization Dietrich Kirk and his team have had a great vision for this and received a Lilly Grant to make it happen. I've found the interactions with that group to be an amazing experience and a whole blog post could be devoted to the great Educators and Practitioners who are brought together each year.
So I'm moving ahead fleshing out this idea a bit more. I am looking for feedback and ideas that will help me think through this more.
Here's some specific's I'm thinking about now. Probably a weekly radio show/podcast that would give me a 15 or 30 minute chunk of time to interact with these educators and have them give concrete youth ministry advice for the regular youth worker. The goal would be to bridge the gap between the academy and the practitioners and give real training both from a theological perspective.
That's it I wrote this blog in about 10 minutes as I rush to a meeting. I'd love some feedback.
Lars, we are starting to put some feet to this kind of thing this spring. Sounds like you'd like to be a part of the implementation piece. Yes?
Think Tank this year is going to be several Do Tanks.
Posted by: Deech | January 21, 2010 at 04:36 PM
Wow.. sounds exciting - both what you're doing Deech (we met in one city at one of the NYWCs!) and Lars, I think what you're planning is great.
The amazing resource that you have is actually Youth Ministry educators who aren't on the field all the time - so to be able to balance the spectrum and influence both - outstanding.
Posted by: Tash | January 21, 2010 at 10:11 PM
Whether a youth worker can spell "theology" or not, they are living out there theology every day in what they do. The point is we all need to better understand what we do and why we do it and be able to discuss it in both a theological and practical context. I have visited with Deech and Mark DeVries in the past and was kind of envious of a resource like CYMT. My own experience tells me that a huge percentage of the youth ministry being done in America, including both church and para-church, is done by people who are not "professionals". These non-professionals (and I include myself in this group)need both the community and the training that you hint at in your dream of building a bridge to a stronger theology in the youth minstry world.
Posted by: Mac McCoy | January 21, 2010 at 11:09 PM
Mac- Thanks for your comments. I agree with you. There are a ton of amazing youth workers who have figured out how to be amazing at what they do without going to seminary. Id actually like this thing to go both ways. There are some great reminders for Educators who need to constantly remember the on the ground youth workers and listen to their needs. Thanks.
Lars Rood \\ Working to figure it all out
web: My Blog \\ Stream Youth \\ twitter \\ facebook \\
Posted by: Lars Rood | January 21, 2010 at 11:11 PM
Ok, so I should review before I post: it should be "their" in the first sentence and "ministry" in the last.
Posted by: Mac McCoy | January 21, 2010 at 11:12 PM