Young Adults

Here is the original comment I was going to post in response to my brother's young adult post, but then realized it was longer than the post itself. Bad blog ettiquite.

I would absolutely love to abolish "us and them" language and thinking, but, sadly, it's not the reality right now. I hate to use the word nieve, partly because I don't know how to spell it and partly because my brother is much older and much wiser than I. I will say this, I have never felt as voiceless within a system as I do right now. I have daily conversations with classmates and colleagues concerning the state of the UMC and mainline Christianity, but they simply don't leave the classroom, because I haven't progressed far enough in the process. One the other hand, AGL told me of recieving heart-felt and standing applause along with other 35 and younger clergy people in the Mississippi conference. So, is it either be largely ignored or singled-out. I don't like either. A world without "us and them" is always something to work towards and something for which to hope and strive. But, I don't feel it, I don't see it happening. (you probably knew the pessimistic side would come from me)

I know that of all my gifts and graces the thing that was considered above all else in my current appointment was my age. They need a young pastor, here's a young pastor (who happens to know nothing about the context of farming communities, hates country music and feels called to urban ministry) but, hey, he is young. *I love the people of my congregations more than I love myself and will serve them as faithfully as I can for as long as I'm here* So, while my brother and my friend Jenn are both correct in hoping for to end the language and attitude of "us and them", it's not the reality I feel right now.

Point two: young people ARE different. The world has changed. Younger generations speak a different language, know a different reality than older generations. Here's a fact: (you also might have known that the absolute generalizations would come from me) if a congregation is in a context where there are young adults in the population and does not have an online presence, your capacity for inviting young adults to share in the ministry of God through that congregation goes down. If a pastor who desires to create messages that are meaningful to young adults does not know what The Office is or who Bright Eyes are or what the God Delusion is or what issues are facing the music business right now or what the hell the Colbert Bump is, the illustrations in the message will be less meaningful. The stories in the front of Christian Century and The Upper Room are wonderful resources for certain contexts, but maybe not for most young adults.

Point three: the problems and issues facing the church right now ARE NOT generational. They have nothing to do with age. They are cultural, contextual. The world has changed, the church has not. Questions of authenticity, relevance, community and application-take a deep breath for all the buzzwords-are questions each individual church, each conference, each denomination, each CHRISTIAN should ask constantly. Is what we are doing most faithfully serving the message and ministry of God in today's world? For example, there's a current conversation going on in my Early American Methodism class about the itineracy process. Yes, for early America, itineracy was the best method of placement for local ministers. It served a purpose, it was effective in that purpose, it worked within the context of that world. The question for us today is, what is the purpose of itineracy, the mission, and is it, in its current state, serving that purpose? We should always be in conversation with each other, across generations and demographics, asking each other if we are serving God the best we can. It is not a every 50 years question; it should be constant. Are we providing genuine and authentic and powerful worship experiences? Are we using language and media and subject matter that is relevant to the context in which we serve? Are we creating and atmosphere of true community, of acceptance, respect, support and love for the congregation and the context of our churches (btw, community is very different nowadays!)? And are we constructing worship, preaching and learning experiences that people leave from and act on that very day? These are the key questions, no matter what your context is.

No group of people, no Signs of Fruitfulness worksheet, no special taskforce is the secret key that unlocks the floodgates holding back young adults from participation in the church.

I can hear the questions: Brad, you complain a lot, but what should we be doing about this.
1. The clergy and lay leaders of the church must be in constant connection and conversation apart from the constraints and divisions of THE PROCESS. I was actually insulted by not being invited to a young adult clergy conversation with the bishop. BTW, I heard the meeting was great and the right questions were asked and the conversation has begun. But when you consider the earliest age of possible ordination, 29, restricting the participants in the conversation to commissioned and ordained clergy only isn't wise. I'm 25 right now!

2. The candidacy process is twice as long as should be and the difficulty of your interviews and papers depends on which group of board members you get on which day. I've heard wonderful stories of affirmation and respect and I've heard horror stories that remind me of cocky seniors taking stuff out on the freshmen because somebody did it to them when they were freshmen.

3. Why isn't there an Office of Contextual Young Adult ministry at the conference level? I know I just said the problem wasn't generational and there is no formula, but for a conference that is so concerned with YA's, it seems odd that this hasn't happened. I would love to sit in my office in Columbia, pick up the phone and explain to someone what an MP3 is. "Brad, I've got a new batch of 14 yr old girls, who in the world is Avril Lavigne?"

Just a few ideas, (I don't have time or inspiration or words to talk about what should happen to the itineracy process).

Look to Andy's blog for an optimistic sign off. I believe in the power of God to change lives in today's world. I believe in the connection of the UMC and mainline Christianity as a part of God's ministry in today's world.

And as far as "missing the mark" with the Rock Church stuff. That is just one idea for a particular context within the connection of the church. It is the beginning of re-shaping and re-defining worship in my own head. My big bro's just jealous that I rock harder than him. jk, i know what you're saying RAB, and we're on the same page, believe it or not.

Imperfect man in an imperfect world trying, imperfectly, to serve our perfect God, BB