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Theological Formation for Youth Ministry

showmethewayWhere do I even begin?

That’s the question we hope to help Anglican youth ministers explore over the course of the coming months through the development of a new online education platform. You’re invited to join us on this adventure.

Late in 2012, the Youth Initiatives Team, led by Christian Harvey began discussions about developing theological resources for those engaged in youth ministry.

Whether volunteer, part-time or full-time staff, lay or ordained, we all need resources for ministering amongst youth in our ever-changing world. And while we need ideas for great new games and ice breakers, while we’re looking for interesting ideas on missions trips and service activities, what we need most of all, is to root what we do in a deep understanding of  why we do it.

That’s what this project is about.

And I’m excited to be working on this project with youth ministers from across the country as well as readers of this blog. We can’t do this without you.

Together, we have the opportunity to develop a program that will help Anglican youth leaders to develop theologically-grounded tools to engage in ministry amongst youth. And that’s what we need. We need to find ways to understand, and communicate the Christian story in the light of our deeply rooted Anglican tradition.

Why should a young person engage in the Christian faith? We need to ask ourselves the same question. If we can’t answer the question for ourselves, how will we invite young people into our communities of faith with any integrity? At the end of the day, Christian youth ministry is about more than keeping kids out of trouble or preserving the institutional church.

At its heart, youth ministry is about inviting young people into the powerful, transformative story of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. It’s about discovering the bold adventure that Jesus calls us on, and accepting the challenge. It’s about living as agents of change in the world as we seek to live into the Marks of Mission.

This blog will provide a way of keeping up with the process, and sharing your thoughts and ideas. What resources do you need for your youth ministry? As a youth ministry leader, what would you like to learn?

Andrew Stephens-Rennie

About Andrew Stephens-Rennie

Andrew is an Anglican lay leader who loves pioneering responsive, contextual solutions to the challenge of being church in the 21st Century. He serves as an assistant to the rector for Evangelism and Christian Formation at Christ Church Cathedral Vancouver and is a founding member of the emerging St. Brigids community (www.stbrigid.ca).
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