Spring 2011 • $8.95
Journal of Children, Youth & Family Ministry
Congregations as Advocates for Youth Cherish Our Children Advocacy Bible Study Much more...
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First Third Dialogues: Raising Children: Fostering Faith in a Digital Age March 4-5, 2011 Keynote speakers: Craig Detweiler, associate professor of communication, Pepperdine University Mary Hess, associate professor of educational leadership, Luther Seminary
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Register at: www.firstthird.org
Publication Information Published by: ELCA Youth Ministry Network www.elcaymnet.org
Table of Contents Welcome! 4
Todd Buegler
Congregations as Advocates For Youth: No Child Left Behind
Cherish Our Children
RENEW | EDUCATE | CONNECT
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Amy Hartman
Advocacy Bible Study:
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Jason Reed
Interview: Bishop Paul Blom
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Advocacy: A Parent’s Perspective
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Debbie Sladek
A View From Somewhere Else
Subscription Information: call 866-ELCANET (352-2638) or visit www.elcaymnet.org connect@elcaymnet.org
Contributing Writers: George Baum, Kelly Chatman, Amy Hartman, Debbie Sladek
Design and Layout: Michael Sladek Impression Media Group www.impressionmediagroup.com
Contributing Editor: Debbie Sladek
Connect Editorial Board: Chris Bruesehoff, Todd Buegler, Sue Mendenhall, Jeremy Myers, Andy Root, Debbie Sladek, Michael Sladek
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Kelly Chatman
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George Baum
Calendar of Events
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Future Connect Themes: Congregational (Summer ‘11) Connected (Fall ‘11)
Partnership (Winter ‘12)
ELCA Youth Ministry Network Board Julie Miller: Board Member Charlene Rollins: Board Member Linda Staats, AIM: Board Member Yvonne Steindal, AIM: Board Member
Valerie Taylor Samuel: Board Memeber Rev. Larry Wagner: Board Chairperson Rev. Mike Ward: Board Member Todd Buegler: Executive Director
The ELCA Youth Ministry Network exists to strengthen and empower adult youth ministry leaders in service to Christ as a part of God’s mission.
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Network News Bites
Welcome! Dear friends, The images are astounding. People stand up to injustice, and the world changes. In Egypt, in the past couple of weeks, we have seen a nation transforming itself. We all pray that this transformation continues and that peace prevails. The root of this change? Young people. Young people sensed the need and the opportunity. They connected with each other, largely through social media, and together they stood up. And the rest of their nation followed. In this issue of Connect, we focus on Advocacy. Advocacy is one of the ten words that we believe define effective children, youth and family ministry. Advocacy, as we think of it in the scope of our shared ministry with young people, means two things: • It means walking with young people and teaching them how to claim their voice; how to speak for themselves; how to speak their faith into a world that has need and to call for change.
A new resource is coming! It’s a chance to share your work; it’s a chance to use resources written by colleagues; it’s open source children and youth ministry. It’s MartinsList. www.martinslist.org...
Interested in presenting a workshop for Extravaganza 2012? We’d love to have your proposal! Go to www.elcaymnet.org/workshops for more information and to fill out an online workshop proposal form…
It is about speaking faith. It is about speaking justice. It is about claiming their place within our church and within the world. This isn’t easy, and young people sometimes need to be supported and coached in this process. • It means stepping up and speaking on behalf of young people when their voices are not being heard. It means standing up and speaking for them when they cannot speak for themselves. It means helping to create a space for them “at the table.” Advocacy is “with.” And advocacy is “on behalf of.” We advocate, not just for the sake of advocacy. Ultimately it is not seeking the voice of young people just for the sake of that voice. Rather, it is because without that voice, we miss opportunity for transformation and change within the world. Without the voice of young people we miss an opportunity for participation in the full mission of God in the world. And so our ministry is (at least partially) about advocacy; alongside and on behalf of young people. And let God’s Holy Spirit continue to breathe and the world continue to change. Peace,
Rev. Todd Buegler Executive Director – ELCA Youth Ministry Network Pastor—Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Maple Grove, MN Todd@elcaymnet.org
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Videos of the keynote talks from Extravaganza 2011 are posted online! Network members can access them at no cost. Go to www.elcaymnet.org/resources and click on the videos link…
Taking your group on the road this summer? Looking for a place for the group to stay? We’ve got a listing of 74 congregations all over the country who are willing to host youth groups as they travel through their areas. It’s a great place to begin planning! Go to www.elcaymnet.org/ CongregationsHostingGroups for more information or to post your own congregation.
Congregations as Advocates For Youth: No Child Left Behind by Kelly Chatman
Congregational advocates operate with the commitment that no
provide opportunities for youth to develop relationships around
child is left behind and the invitation at baptism is invitation into
interests, learning and service opportunities. Congregations whose
the priesthood of all believers. The congregation is the commitment
primary advocacy is through youth groups often establish a strong
that no child is left behind.
identity and reputation for being youth-friendly both inside and outside of the walls of the church.
I am reminded of how, as a youth, I experienced the advocacy of my congregation. Just one of many examples is when I was in
Another form of congregational advocacy in youth ministry is
junior high school and my church had a gym. Many of my friends in
in congregations who hire and invest in what some call the pied
my neighborhood did not go to church. One of our favorite activities
piper—someone like a charismatic youth director with the guitar
was playing basketball in my church’s gym. Quite often someone
who really knows how to energize a room filled with young people.
would suggest that we play basketball in the gym and the routine
The best models for congregational youth ministry are those
was that I would call my pastor who lived next door to the church
congregations who commit to advocacy as integral in everything
and ask if we could use the church gym. The pastor would tell me to
they do: no child is left behind. The best congregational advocates
come to his house and he would let us in. Each time when I arrived
for youth ministry (1) begin with leadership. Advocating congrega-
I would walk up to the pastor’s house, ring the doorbell, the pastor
tions advocate for youth ministry in their budget. They understand
would come to the door, and I would ask again if we could use the
the budgeting process as advocacy and they insure that in this
church gym. Then the pastor would leave me standing there until
process young people are invested in and valued. (2) Congregational
he came back and he would simply hand me the keys to the church.
youth ministry seeks pastors and key leaders who can articulate and
I was well into my adult life before I actually understood what
model for congregations a deep investment in young people as a
my pastor was doing by allowing me to escort my friends into our
sign of healthy congregations. (3) Advocating congregations share a
church gym. My pastor gave me the keys to the church. My pastor
deep commitment to educating and empowering young people and
understood what it meant to be an advocate for youth ministry.
Congregational youth ministry is the time-honored advocacy of giving the keys of the church to young people. Congregational youth ministry begins with baptism into the priesthood of all believers. Surrounded by parents, family, sponsors and the faith community, congregations embrace and begin the process of advocating for
believers. No child is left behind.
“
The best models for congregational youth ministry are those congrega-
“
Understanding the Structure of Congregation: How Does Advocacy Happen?
congregations in the discovery of being a baptized priesthood of all
tions who commit to advocacy as integral in everything they do:
the voice, value and vitality of young people in the body of the congregation. Sunday school, confirmation and youth group are all
no child is left behind.
part of the continuum of youth engagement in a healthy expression of congregational life. Congregations who share this healthy understanding of their
Looking at the Values of the Church: How Does Advocacy Happen?
role as advocates also advocate for youth who come to the church through non-traditional avenues. Not all youth are brought to church by their parents or begin their faith journey through infant
A few years ago I served as the director for youth ministries for
baptism. Congregations who understand their role as advocates
our denomination and we hosted a leadership event for youth lead-
value all youth, and reach out to the non-churched as well. In many
ers from congregations across the United States and the Caribbean.
congregations this is done through the youth group. Youth groups
The event was held in Orlando, Florida, and we decided to build into
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the event a day trip to Disney World. I was a driver of the one of the
opportunities. Advocating congregations understand that youth
fifteen passenger vans filled with high school and early college-aged
want to do more than serve as acolytes. Youth want and need to be
youth. We were driving along when one of the youth began singing
challenged. By providing youth with opportunities to serve the poor,
a Disney song and all of a sudden out of nowhere every other youth
volunteer at shelters and visit prisons, advocating congregations
in the van chimed in. For the next thirty minutes the young people
challenge and invite youth to deepen their faith as well as experi-
in the van became a chorus singing one Disney tune after another.
ence how they can make a difference in the world.
I realized I was with a group of young people who had never met
The desire of the church is to teach young people the song that
before and yet they all sang the same songs . . . song after song
is uniquely theirs as children of God, baptized into the priesthood
after song. It was apparent to me that Disney’s intent was to leave
of all believers. As advocates we communicate to young people how
no child behind.
congregations promote safety and belonging, and through this expe-
Congregational advocacy is kind of like Disney. Congregations
rience, exploration and fulfillment of their potential we teach youth
want young people to know their song, the song of God’s love,
that song.
of God’s care for them and the world. Congregational advocacy is
Finally, allow me to say that there is no institution that has car-
rooted in the basic values to communicate to young people. Con-
ried the role of advocate more than congregations. The values and
gregations who advocate for young people communicate three basic
structure of the church is a time-honored partnership with fam-
promises to youth: (1) they are safe and they belong; (2) they will
ily and community to support the healthy development of young
be taught through experience and exploration; and (3) the fulfill-
people, all young people. Congregational activities cover the gamut
ment of their potential is key.
including baptism, Sunday school, vacation bible school, after-
Congregational advocacy that is invested in young people and
school programs, confirmation, bake sales, sports leagues, pageants,
the commitment that no child is left behind is values-based youth
plays, youth gatherings, musicals, youth group and servant events.
ministry. For congregations who serve as advocates for youth min-
I encourage each of you to think about how the congregation part-
istry the bar is set high, not just for youth but for entire congrega-
nered with you and served as advocate to insure that you did not
tions. Advocating congregations are congregations where youth
get left behind. Who in your congregation gave you the keys to the
experience safety and belonging at the table of the Eucharist where
church? How did the congregation teach you the song of the church
Christ’s body is shared. Youth experience safety and belonging in the
and that great sense of comfort that comes with knowing that you
way congregations fight and settle disputes, as well as the things
are safe and belong?
congregations fights about. In a time and culture where there is so little civility congregations can provide a safe haven for civil
Kelly Chatman is a pastor in the ELCA and for
discourse.
five years served as ELCA Director for Youth Ministries. Chatman has been recognized for his leadership among youth and young adults and his service in multicultural and urban settings. In addition to serving as pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Chatman is on staff at Augsburg College.
Advocating congregations become teaching congregations in everything they do because for young people teaching is experiential. Young people value authenticity and want to know that what the church teaches is real and has depth. In advocating congregations young people expect to have a voice and they desire for their faith, worship and ministry to be interactive. Young people want and need to be engaged and confirmation, worship and youth group provide opportunities for youth to put their hands on their faith. Advocating congregations challenge youth with opportunities to test and fulfill their potential. Congregations provide potential fulfilling opportunities through servant learning and leadership
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Cherish Our Children by Amy Hartman
Cherish Our Children is a Lutheran ministry of prayer, education, relationship-building and action to prevent child sexual exploitation. We advocate on behalf of children and young people within congregations and the broader community so that all children may grow into their full potential without the trauma and scars of sexual exploitation.
• Nine- and ten-year-old children are stolen from or sold by impoverished families into sex trafficking in numerous countries, and street children often turn to prostitution for survival. • Many youth in the United States who trade sex for money begin when they are fourteen years old or younger. • Child pornography is sold of thousands of “hidden” Web sites originating in this and numerous other countries.
We work through synods to carry out this ministry. There are about eighty congregations in ten synods that are implementing Cherish Our Children, and each synod involved has a task force to provide support, resources and encouragement to congregational leaders.
The ELCA Social Statement, Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust (http:// www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements/ JTF-Human-Sexuality.aspx), offers a strong resolve by our church to address and prevent child sexual exploitation. A few statements from this document: • “Safety within and outside the family is of overriding importance because the damage done to children and youth through sexual abuse or molestation can be remarkably deep and lasting.” (p. 13) • “This church supports the prosecution of any individual who commits a sexual crime against a minor, including people in leadership positions in the church. (p. 13) The ELCA also recognizes that congregations and other ministry sites must continue in their efforts to be safe places for children and youth.” (p. 14) • “The widespread electronic availability of violent and degrading pornography threatens children and youth as well as adults. How to address this problem is one of the most important child protection issues of our time, and our church will be an active participant in this important conversation.” (p. 14) • “The sexual body is never to be used as an object for commercial purposes, and this church will speak against the public idolatry of pleasure, freedom, and wealth that undergirds such practices. Especially deplorable is the billion dollar global sex market and the economic systems that thrive on it, both in the United States and abroad.” (pp. 17-18) • “The ELCA opposes the sale and purchase of pornography. It also objects to commercial and technological efforts to sell sex, including mass media and commercial marketing, since these negatively impact individuals and society in significant ways.” (p. 18)
How prevalent is sexual exploitation? From the organization Darkness to Light (www.darkness2light.org/), we learn that: • One in four girls and one in six boys is sexually abused before the age of eighteen. • One in five children are solicited sexually while on the Internet. • Nearly 70 percent of all reported sexual assaults (including assaults on adults) occur to children ages seventeen and under. • An estimated thirty-nine million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist in America today. Even within the walls of their own homes, children are at risk for sexual abuse: • Experts have determined 30–40 percent of victims are abused by a family member. • Another 50 percent are abused by someone outside of the family whom they know and trust. • Approximately 40 percent are abused by older or larger children whom they know. • Therefore, only 10 percent are abused by strangers. From the ELCA Message on Commercial Sexual Exploitation (http://archive.elca.org/socialstatements/sexualexploitation/), we learn that: • Commercial sexual exploitation of children and youth is pervasive. Globally, two million girls and boys are forced or lured by false promises into prostitution every year. • About 300,000 children and youth are thought to be in prostitution in the United States.
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• “This church will respond in situations where business and corporate enterprises seek profit through disrespectful treatment of the human body. This church will work with public and private institutions to create structures, policies, and practices of accountability to support social norms of protection. These include codes of practice that protect society, especially children and the most vulnerable, from the misuse and abuse of sexuality for profit.” (p. 18)
We support rostered leaders who want to preach about preventing child sexual exploitation as God’s call to serving the most vulnerable among us. Through an educational process called a Preaching Circle, rostered leaders work through the questions, concerns, and practical methods of how to bring a message of Christ’s love and hope to a world impacted by the sorrow and pain of child sexual exploitation. Our National Education Team is developing a list of “child sexual exploitation prevention competencies” for leaders and members of congregations. These competencies will inform the educational resources we recommend for congregations.
Taking These Commitments Seriously Cherish Our Children provides a congregation-based, practical way to advocate on behalf of children and live out the commitments of our church. We want congregations to be “good neighbors” in making sure they are cherishing and supporting their own children and the children in the community (city, state, nation, world) around them.
Relationship-Building Being an advocate for young people and their protection cannot be done alone. We invite congregations to reach out into their communities to learn who else is working to prevent child sexual exploitation. Who is working with homeless young people or others who have been exploited? What community-based prevention networks and coalitions exist? What coalitions need to be created? These relationships nurture and inspire congregation members and help them see the importance of people of faith active in the broader world on behalf of children.
Prayer Because of the challenging nature of this work, we first invite people into intentional prayer for children and young people. While most people support preventing child sexual exploitation, many don’t want to talk about it or even think about it. Some are willing to get involved, but may not know what to do. So we pray to God, asking for the Spirit to protect our children as well as guide our actions and direction.
Action Out of the prayer, education and relationship-building, a congregation will discern an action to pursue. It could be a service project for a local shelter for homeless youth or getting involved in legislative advocacy. It could be a letter-writing campaign regarding a certain commercial or advertisement that is exploitive. What’s important is that the congregation reaches out beyond the walls of the church to be advocates for young people in the world. Children are in need and waiting for people of faith to be a voice on their behalf.
We ask congregation members to pray daily for all children and young people of the congregation, ages birth to twenty-five. People sign up to pray for specific children and make a commitment to pray for them. We provide a manual, a booklet of prayers for each day of the month for different ages of children, and a weekly Wednesday Prayer to encourage pray-ers. Our National Prayer Team has developed a six-week national prayer campaign to unite congregations in prayer for broader concerns.
Putting It All Together
Education We invite congregations to provide educational opportunities for young people, parents, grandparents, Sunday School teachers and others in the congregation to equip them for prevention. Two examples are the Safeguarding God’s Children (http://www.cpg. org/productsservices/safeguardingchildren.cfm) videos and training on keeping children safe in the congregation and the Stewards of Children training from Darkness to Light.
So how does this look in a congregation? One example is Valley of Peace Lutheran in Golden Valley, Minnesota: • The congregation prays for 150 children and young people. Whenever a child is baptized, the person assigned to pray for that child lights the baptismal candle and gives it to the parents. • The church has used Safeguarding God’s Children and Netsmartz with congregation members. • The pastor has mentioned Cherish Our Children and preventing child sexual exploitation in sermons. • The congregation has adopted the elementary school across the street and provides volunteers to serve as needed in the classrooms. Through this, the church has learned of the real needs of children in their community.
We encourage learning and conversations about Internet and cell phone safety, through resources such as Netsmartz (http://www. netsmartz.org) or connecting with local resource people from schools and other community groups.
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• One congregation member is on the Faith Communities Action Team for the Minnesota Department of Health, allowing her to be connected to others working on these issues in congregations. • Another congregant attended the Violence Against Women Action Day at the Minnesota State Capitol to lend her voice to the effort to make legislators more aware of the need for adequate funding for violence prevention. She wants to get others from her congregation involved in next year’s event.
other segments of society. As people of faith, our voices matter to the lives of children!
Your Role in Youth and Family Ministry We invite you to be advocates for young people by working to prevent child sexual exploitation. A young person’s life and future depends on it! For more information, contact: Amy Hartman, Diaconal Minister, (612) 280-1259 or ahartman@cherishchildren.org
National Advocacy Amy Hartman is a Diaconal Minister and is the
Cherish Our Children also has an advocacy role as a national organization. We recently signed on to an advocates’ letter to Craigslist, asking them to shut down the “adult services” section of their international websites because girls were being sexually trafficked through ads in that section. Craigslist did shut down their United States version, but we also asked them to shut down similar sections in international sites. Public pressure from advocates, attorneys general and the voices of trafficked girls themselves (visit http://www.prostitutionresearch.com/blog/2010/05/craigslist_is_ trafficking_wome.html#more to learn more) influences Craigslist and
National Director of Cherish Our Children, a ministry affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Amy has worked within the ELCA for over seventeen years, seeking ways to further engage leaders and congregations in preventing the sexual exploitation of children and young people.
The premier east coast youth worker’s event dedicated to training, renewal and networking.
April 1-2, 2011 St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Newark, DE Registration Now Open! www.GatheringInTheEast.org 9
Advocacy Bible Study by Jason Reed
What is Christian Advocacy? Advocacy is adding your voice to the voices of those who are denied justice, dignity, peace, access to basic human rights, and all who have limited or no power in society. In this way, advocacy takes the next step after caring for those in need, to addressing the root causes of injustice. God yearns for Justice, for God’s Shalom! Shalom = love- filled harmonious wholeness - God’s Peace. Advocacy helps us put God’s heart for justice and peace at the center (heart) of our lives and ministries. We are called to take the first step of directly caring for another (i.e. feeding the hungry, comforting the hurting), and then to take the second crucial step of advocacy that addresses the root causes of that need, i.e. hunger, poverty, racial injustice. This second step of advocacy, working to change the systems that perpetuate these root causes of injustice, is often missing in our Christian response to the problems in our world. We need both steps to move forward!
Bible Swimming Read Micah 6: 6-8 What part of this passage excites you? Does anything confuse you? What do you think it means to “Do justice”? To “Love mercy”? To “Walk humbly with your God”?
Babies in the River Next have someone read the story, “Babies in the River” aloud to the group Babies in the River Once upon a time there was a small village beside a river. The people there were good and life in the village was good. One day a girl was walking along the river and noticed a baby floating down the river. She quickly waded out and saved the baby before it floated past. The next day this same girl noticed two babies in the river. She called for help, and both babies were rescued from the swift waters. The following day four babies were seen caught in the turbulent current. And then eight, then more, and still more! The villagers organized themselves quickly, placing watchers by the riverbank and training teams of swimmers who could resist the swift waters and rescue the babies. Soon the whole village was working together all day every day trying to save the babies. Each day the number of helpless babies floating down the river increased. As the days went by, because so many babies were coming down the river, they began to lose some of them. Even though everyone was working hard and many babies were saved, more and more were also lost. Finally, one day the girl who rescued the first baby said, “I’m going upstream, to see where all these babies are coming from.” Other people in the village tried to stop her. One village Elder said, “Everyone is needed here in the village! If you leave even more babies (Continued on page 11)
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Babies in the River - continued will be lost!” But she replied, “If I go upstream, I can try to discover who is throwing them in the river in the first place. Then maybe we can stop this terrible problem altogether!” And so she went upstream.
After reading “Babies in the River” ask... What do you think of this story? At the end of the story, what do you think the girl should do? What should the others in the village do? Think of the end of the Micah text... Do justice, love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”. In this story “loving mercy” is lived out in the direct care of rescuing the babies from the river. “Doing justice” is lived out in trying to address the root cause of the problem - going upstream to find out what’s going on up there. How does this story relate to injustices or social problems you care about? Be as specific as possible.
Great and Small Advocates Have the group create a list of Great and small Advocates. Include three categories: Biblical, Historical and Personal. Your list might include such people as... Abraham, Moses, Queen Esther, Jesus, The Lorax, Martin Luther King, Bono; Emsuda Mujagic, Kent Annan, my Dad... Be sure to take the time to tell stories about the people that have been put on the list and why they are there. Who on the list surprises you? Why?
Stirrings After reading Micah ...and the Babies in the River ...and talking about Advocates What is stirring in you? What questions or confusions pop up? What stories/people/incidents in the Bible does this make you think of? What aspects of your congregation’s life and ministry does this make you think of? What part or time in your life or your family’s life does this make you think of?
Stirrings In twos or threes and as a whole group ponder these questions... Is there something more you’d like to learn about advocacy? What might God be calling you personally to advocate for? What might God be calling your youth group or congregation to advocate for?
Jason Reed Jason Reed serves as Youth Ministry Specialist for the New Jersey Synod. He’s been splashing around in the Baptismal waters of youth ministry since Walter Mondale got clobbered by Ronald Reagan. He loves his family and is crazy for God’s peace.
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Tom Hunstad Award Recipient 2011: Bishop Paul Blom Connect Journal: We had the chance to sit with Bishop Paul Blom, recipient of the Tom Hunstad award, and just kind of have a chat about his life and his faith and his vision of ministry. Paul, first, congratulations on receiving this, we’re really excited that you can be able to be with us. Can you tell us a little about your faith story and what was influential for you in your own faith development as you grew and matured into your role?
I’d known from school, that I didn’t know were going to be there. We went out for a beer after a meeting and I just sort of dumped my stuff on them, and they just sat there and looked at me and listened. They never said a word, just sort of acceptance. And finally one of them said “I’ve been there, done that. I know what you’re talking about.” And it was so freeing to discover that I was not being put down or judged because I was having this struggle. That was kind of a turning point in the internship year because I stayed with it and went through. Then over the years there have been other people who in one way or another impacted my life. Many times it was unexpected. Something came as a surprise. It turns out that in hindsight that I realized that this was probably God’s Spirit at work. So that’s kind of been the pattern all along. My current family, same way, comes and goes. That’s just the journey. CJ: That’s wonderful. You sit in a unique position, growing up in the church as you did serving as a pastor and then eventually being called to serve as a bishop of the Texas Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, and that synod has just been known for innovation and creativity and just solid commitment to youth and family ministry. From your vantage point, how have you seen ministry with young people change over the course of time?
Paul Blom: Well I probably initially think of my family. My dad was a pastor so I’ve been raised in the church from the beginning, my birth. There was heavy influence, I think, from both of my folks, well, my extended family as well, grandparents and everybody. There was a period, in my growing up life, especially young adult years, where I was, I suppose tending toward a bit of agnosticism. I wasn’t sure, a lot of questions, but I kept it very quiet. I didn’t really outwardly rebel against the church. Kept participating, but personally was not sure. I have to say that that has been a pattern throughout life, where it ebbs and flows. I have come to believe in my theology that part of the gift of grace is that no matter where you are on the spectrum of how much faith you feel or don’t feel, that God is still present and embraces you. There were individuals along the way who were important and significant and making an impact. I remember when I was on internship I had gone through a period of time where I was really struggling where I was trying to decide whether to stay in the internship from seminary. I went to a retreat in Monterrey, CA, and it turns out there were three people at the retreat that
PB: That’s a very good question. I think it has evolved contextually in terms of how our culture and world has evolved. One of the blessings that we had in the Gulf Coast synod was the discovery of Peggy Contos Hahn. She came on staff and became our director and just did all kinds of stuff and as you know she continues to lead in a tremendous way. I think part of what I’ve observed is that each generation based on its experience and its time, kind of has certain things that they focus on and certain patterns that they get into. (excuse me) As an example, I have discovered that people, I’m just going to pick an arbitrary age, under 35, are not even flinching over the church-wide decisions last year. I mean, it’s not even on their radar. I was at the St. Louis National Youth Gathering and I was in a workshop. In the workshop, the question that was asked at the beginning by an adult male sponsor was, “What’s the church’s policy on homosexuality?” I quickly explained what it was. Then an adult female woman, another sponsor said, “Well, the Bible says it’s a sin.” And one of the young people sitting in front of me said, “My aunt’s a lesbian and she’s no more sinner than I am.” And it
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triggered a conversation in the room that was just fascinating. It was very civil. It was very deep. The people were talking about how do you interpret scripture and what do you do with this and what do you do with that. They got into the give and take and I basically sat and called on the next person. Well, the thing that impressed me was, all of the young people who spoke started by saying, “My friend, my relative who is …” and then they would make their comment. The adults tended to lean toward the authority of the Bible, their own point of reference, which was not a relationship. And when I left the room I thought, “When these young people take over, it’s not even an issue that they’re going to worry about.” And I think that’s part of the transition that we go through from generation to generation. Each of us in our own time has certain issues that we are struggling with, working with, but the next generation has a whole different sense, and I think I’ve observed that in youth ministry at a number of levels as we’ve gone forward. CJ: Wonderful. You know, as you look at our church now, both the things that we have to celebrate and the things that we’re struggling with with, do you have any hopes or dreams for what ministry with young people will look like moving ahead?
about and what the gospel’s about. My hope is that we continue to focus on how to train leaders who become those who take the message forward to the generations that are down the road. To focus on that grace note, over and over again. CJ: What’s your reaction to this acknowledgement, the Hunstad Award? What’s that feel like for you? PB: Well, it was a big surprise, initially. I had met Tom, before he died, and it was an honor to know him. So, when you called and told me this, I kind of hung up the phone and thought, “Man alive, what’s this about?” It’s definitely an honor and a privilege to receive it. I think it’s an excellent way to look at what the Network does, in honoring people and so on. Other than that, I just basically want to say thanks. I mean it’s very, very, very nice. It’s quite a gift. CJ: Well again, thank you so much for being with us at this event and just for your ministry. We’re just very grateful for all that you do and all that you have done, as well. The full-length video of this interview is available online through the “Resources” section of The Network’s website at www.elcaymnet.org.
PB: (ha!) I don’t know if I do. I suppose. I’ve always had a passion for trying to identify future leaders in the church. I’ve always tried to identify who has some gifts for leadership and get them involved early in life, and help them discover what the life of the church is
Get Interactive With Connect www.elcaymmnet.org/connectjournal
We’ve added a new feature to the Network website that invites you to interact with Connect. Point your web browser to www.ELCAYMNet.org/ConnectJournal and then click on each article title to read online and offer your comments. Our goal is to offer more ways for you to connect (pardon the pun) with the articles and others in ministry. We hope that this will be another resource for you and a place of fruitful conversation. See you online!
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Advocacy: A Parent’s Perspective by Debbie Sladek
Dan Savage, a Seattle area syndicated columnist and author, was concerned about students in America who are bullied because they are or are perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). He was also troubled by the number of LGBT students taking their own lives, so in fall 2010 he posted a YouTube video assuring youth to hang in there because life gets better as we grow older, and thus the It Gets Better campaign was born. Hundreds of youth and adults, both in the LBGT and straight communities have posted their own videos with this same underlying message. But another interesting thing happened: many began a conversation asking why do we ask youth to wait for things to get better, when we can work on making things better now. I once had a college professor, Jane Prestbye, who challenged students whenever she heard them say something like, “Children are our future.” Future? Why aren’t children and youth our now? The experiences, voices, and lives or our children and youth are just as valid and relevant today as they will be tomorrow. While some brushed this off as simply semantics, I think she knew how important these words really are, how we tend to internalize the “future” notion and find ourselves justifying our actions or inaction in terms of a distant payoff.
We seem to focus our adult ministries on things that aren’t very interesting or relevant to twenty-somethings. Parenting groups, book clubs, knitting circles, choirs—these are generally things that interest adults who are a little older. Youth just seem to drop off our ministry radar after high school graduation, only to reappear—if we’re lucky—when they’re getting married or looking to have their children baptized. I am watching my own son drift away from the church. There are no Lutheran ministries or groups at his community college and his high school youth group friends have mostly scattered. A couple of adults at our church keep in touch with him, but otherwise no one has reached out to him. I hear the same story from other parents too, the same concerns. It’s not a wonder we lose so many of our young Lutherans to denominations that actually focus their ministries upon twenty-somethings. I don’t have any answers, just mostly questions as my husband and I navigate this with our own son. But it’s something that we, as a church, really need to figure out.
Debbie Sladek is a freelance writer and editor and
I believe that one area where we fall short in advocating for our youth is during their late teens and early twenties. Most churches provide youth group activities for junior high and high school-aged kids, and groups and activities geared towards older adults, but very little is offered for those just entering adulthood. For high school seniors, graduation brings an abrupt end or change to the relationships and ministries they’ve experienced at church. And for youth not heading off to college this can be an especially difficult transition.
has more than 20 years experience working in the area of nonprofit and education. She lives with her husband and son in Sammamish, WA.
Where does a nineteen or twenty year-old plug into at church? Do the people who’ve watched this young person grow up welcome him or her into adult groups? Do older adults begin perceiving and treating this young adult as a peer, or do they still see him/her as a child? Do we advocate for ways of creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for young people in our congregations, or do we, by virtue of our inaction, actually encourage them to leave and find more young adult-friendly congregations and denominations elsewhere?
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A View From Elsewhere On Advocacy by George Baum
Over the summer, I led a Bible study at a Lutheran camp using materials distributed by the ELCA. (Seems you can take the boy out of the Lutheran, but . . . ) One day, there was a section where we discussed the difference between being an advocate and being an ally. Perhaps you have done some thinking of your own on that slippery distinction, and a slippery distinction it is. Some specifics seem to jump out based on two things I know well: criminal lawyers and international diplomacy. As I am guessing you know, lawyers are often called advocates (and I am guessing that you’ve also heard a sermon or two parsing the Greek word for advocate—paraclete—and quoting Romans or the Gospel of John). Counselor. Advocate. Lawyer. In our modern world these terms are interchangeable. An advocate is one who pleads on another’s behalf. If you’re going to try to distinguish between advocate and ally, you will probably end up using a familiar international diplomacy example of nations being allies in common cause against the Axis powers. Allies, it seems, have a common cause, and it is tied to desiring a specific outcome. For instance, the United States and the United Kingdom shared a common interest in stopping the Nazis and other fascist nations. In the case of allies, they are really just banding together by way of mutual self-interest.
Here is the question I want to raise: in my little postage stamp of the Church, does it make sense to be an advocate for the people? Is it not perhaps more appropriate for me to be an ally with my parishioners in some bigger goal? For example, the advancement of God’s kingdom here on earth? The only reason I even want to bring all that up is to get to my real point . . . The Prayer of Condescension. When I am wearing my other hat (the playing-in-a-band hat), I often find myself at the pre-event prayer time with the various organizers of a youth gathering. (These often happen in the kitchen or a hallway as bass-heavy music vibrates the walls and fake smoke fills the room.) Inevitably, someone will drift into The Prayer of Condescension, though no one ever names it as such. The prayer takes a form similar to this: “Dear Father-God, just let these students just see what we leaders know to be the truth of your just awesome love.” An advocate prays The Prayer of Condescension. An ally looks for a common cause with the young people in their care. I’m just sayin’ ...
George Baum plays in the band Lost And Found
Before your eyes glaze over, let me cut to drawing the lines more firmly and personally. An advocate is one who argues on your behalf; an ally is one who fights next to you for a common cause. An advocate explains your case for you and tries to get the outcome you prefer, whether or not that’s the outcome that they would prefer. An ally, by contrast is fighting for the same thing that you are fighting for, and would continue to fight for it, even if—God forbid—you were killed in the process. You see the difference? An advocate is basically carrying out your wishes because you are not able to do so; an ally has the same goals and fights next to you.
(www.speedwood.com) and also serves as Priest in Charge at St. Patrick Episcopal Church, Brunswick, OH.
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Calendar of Events Start Date
End Date
Name
Location
Contact Person
Web Site
Targeted to:
Apr 4, 2011 9:00 AM
Apr 5, 2011 4:00 PM
COUNSEL Part 2: Putting it into Practice
Youth Leadership, Arden Hills, MN
Jeanne Osgood
www.youthleadership.org
Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals
Apr 7, 2011 9:00 AM
Apr 7, 2011 12:00 PM
Ministering to Students Who Struggle with Sexual Identity
Youth Leadership, Arden Hills, MN
Jeanne Osgood
www.youthleadership.org
Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals
Apr 26, 2011 8:30 AM
Apr 28, 2011 3:00 PM
Living Room Summit
Minneapolis, MN
Lyle Griner
www.peerministry.org
Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals
May 2, 2011 9:00 AM
May 4, 2011 4:00 PM
Intro to the Bible for Youth Workers
Youth Leadership, Arden Hills, MN
Jeanne Osgood
www.youthleadership.org
Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals
Jun 11, 2011 12:00 PM
Jul 2, 2011 10:00 AM
Serving Christ in the World
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Kristin Johnson
www.lstc.edu
Sr High Youth
Jun 12, 2011 12:00 PM
Jul 2, 2011 11:00 AM
Summer Seminary Sampler
Trinity Lutheran Seminary
Laura Book
www.summersampler.com
Sr High Youth
Jun 26, 2011 1:00 PM
Jul 2, 2011 10:00 AM
Crossroads Event
Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Chandler Carriker
www.theologicaleducationwithyouth. com
Sr High Youth
Jul 1, 2011 2:00 PM
Jul 5, 2011 2:00 PM
Western States Youth Gathering California Lutheran University
Arne Bergland
www.wsyg.com
Sr High Youth
Jul 10, 2011 12:00 PM
Jul 30, 2011 11:00 AM
Summer Seminary Sampler
Trinity Lutheran Seminary
Laura Book
www.summersampler.com
Sr High Youth
Jul 23, 2011 1:00 PM
Aug 6, 2011 10:00 AM
Summer Theological Academy
Gettysburg Seminary
Chandler Carriker
www.theologicaleducationwithyouth. com
Sr High Youth
Oct 4, 2011 8:30 AM
Oct 6, 2011 3:00 PM
Living Room Summit
Minneapolis, MN
Lyle Griner
www.peerministry.org
Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals
Feb 8, 2012 12:00 PM
Feb 9, 2012 4:00 PM
Extravaganza 2012 Intensive Care Courses
Sheraton - New Orleans, LA
Todd Buegler
www.elcaymnet.org
Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals
Feb 9, 2012 7:00 PM
Feb 12, 2012 12:00 PM
Extravaganza 2012
Sheraton - New Orleans, LA
Todd Buegler
www.elcaymnet.org
Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals
Jul 18, 2012 3:00 PM
Jul 22, 2012 12:00 PM
ELCA Youth Gathering
New Orleans, Louisiana
Gathering Staff
www.elca.org
Sr High Youth
Jan 24, 2013 3:00 PM
Jan 25, 2013 5:00 PM
Extravaganza 2013 Intensive Care Courses
Hyatt - Anaheim, CA
Todd Buegler
www.elcaymnet.org
Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals
Jan 25, 2013 9:00 PM
Jan 28, 2013 2:00 PM
Extravaganza 2013
Hyatt - Anaheim, CA
Todd Buegler
www.elcaymnet.org
Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals
Jan 24, 2013 3:00 PM
Jan 25, 2013 5:00 PM
Extravaganza 2013 Intensive Care Courses
Hyatt - Anaheim, CA
Todd Buegler
www.elcaymnet.org
Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals
Jan 25, 2013 9:00 PM
Jan 28, 2013 2:00 PM
Extravaganza 2013
Hyatt - Anaheim, CA
Todd Buegler
www.elcaymnet.org
Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals
Submit your event information and find the latest event info at www.elcaymnet.org/mastercalendar. 16
JULY 1-5, 2011
CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY THOUSAND OAKS, CA Western States Youth Gathering is: mass gatherings with great speakers and musicians; workshops and small group experiences; worship that takes you in new directions: opportunities to serve alongside others. And it’s so much more! WSYG is for youth in grades 9-12 in Regions 1 & 2. Cost is $395 per participant and includes all event fees, as well as HOUSING & MEALS! For more information, visit www.wsyg.com or email info@wsyg.com
3rd Tuesday Conversations are monthly gatherings of friends. They are great continuing education events. They are chances to hear from, and interact with experts in the field. 3TC conversations are free for Network members. Our schedule: March 15 - Celia Whitler April 19 - Mark Matlock May 17 - Mark Jackson and Dave Ellingson
Our conversations: We use online webinars. You can log in to a special webinar site and listen to the conversation while watching images on your screen. Or, you can watch on the computer while calling in and listening on your phone. You will have opportunities to ask questions as well.
Times: All 3TC conversations begin at: 2:00 p.m. Eastern, 1:00 p.m. Central 12:00 p.m. Mountain, 11:00 a.m. Pacific 17
Join the conversation! www.elcaymnet.org/3tc
EXTRAVAGANZA 2012 FEBRUARY 8-12 New Orleans, LA The Sheraton Hotel Intensive Care: Feb. 8-9 Main Event: Feb. 9-12 (note: Main Event runs Thursday - Sunday)
Stay tuned at elcayment.org/extravaganza 18
2012 ELCA Youth Gathering July 18-22, 2012 New Orleans, Louisiana
www.elca.org/gathering
Ephesians 2:14-20 Registration opens Sunday, October 9, 2011 Visit the ELCA Youth Gathering Booth in the Exhibit Hall (Atlanta Ballroom) to: • pick up your free citizens with the saints padfolio
• learn more about citizens with the saints and get early access to your own copy of the logo • enter a prize drawing to win floor passes at the dome, backstage passes, and FREE GATHERING REGISTRATIONS!
Multicultural Youth Leadership Event Definitely Abled Youth Leadership Event July 15-18, 2012
Call 1-800-628-3522, ext. 2578 to learn more. 19
ELCA Youth Ministry Network 11821 98th Pl. N., Maple Grove, Mn 55369
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