The Death of Youth Ministry (pt 6) | So What’s next?
I think we can all agree, youth ministry is awesome! I loved being in youth ministry and I loved working in youth ministry even more, but I have come to a realization that something has to change.Through the death of youth ministry series we have identified some issues that most people haven’t even realized are issues, probably because they are too busy just doing ministry.
This is probably a common occurrence in any type of ministry or business. Most of us are so caught up in the day to day, that we can’t be concerned with what things might look like in a year, 5 years, or 10 years. Not to mention the fact that a lot of youth workers just don’t have the freedom in their jobs to make major changes to the youth ministry structure.
So what changes need to be made?
The biggest problem with youth ministry is that it exists because churches are unwilling to make church palatable to youth. So we have to create a church within a church to meet their needs. I will balance that by saying, that in the western world ‘youth culture’ is a reality that must be addressed.
The problem that the ‘church within a church’ model creates, is generation after generation that doesn’t know how to be a part of a church. So we are forced to continue this cycle by creating a ‘college service’ and then a ‘singles service’. I don’t have a problem with these ministries existing, in fact I think they are important, but we need to be honest about why they exist and what their purpose is.
So the question is this:
I don’t think I can answer the question. I just spent the past three years in youth ministry (and will never go back, sorry). I wasn’t with a church–para-church.
While agree with you, that youth ministry shouldn’t have to exist, I don’t just blame churches for not accommodating youth culture.
The church didn’t change (in a liturgically relevant sense) for nearly 1500 years, and a youth group wasn’t necessary. While times are a changing, and I believe the “church” should flex a bit, I blame parents for what has become of youth ministry. Just 2 weeks ago I talked with a ton of kids from a local youth group whose parents attend. ALL the kids said God doesn’t exist in their home. Little to no prayer, no Bible study whatsoever, no explanation of morals…they ALL said their parents are Jerks all week…a few even said their folks fight nastily all week long, and then on Sunday they are Mr. and Mrs. Holy.
BS!!! Of course church seems fake. Of course they need WWF antics from youth pastor joe to be even slightly interested. If God were made real to them by the people who made them, a ritually rich Eastern orthodox service would be just a gripping, real, and spiritually affirmative as bobbing for a snickers bar in a mountain dew filled toilet.
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In my opinion, the church needs an ecclesiological overhaul. Churches need to become smaller, more local, more organic. It is impossible not to do age segregated ministry when you have a church of 1,000+ people because of logistics. Smaller churches are more nimble and able to integrate better. Truly local churches (and by local I’m talking walking distance) would enhance integration of church life into everyday life because the worshiping community would also be neighbors. New monasticism is experimenting with this idea, and it will be interesting to see where it leads.
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I think we’ve got to be really intentional with how we are doing church. To me that means that one way of church will not work for all areas. I don’t think sweeping changes across the country will fix all the youth problems regarding involvement in church.
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WOW, I’m really late to this discussion….
If the church continues to “outsource” ministering to youth to a staff member called the youth pastor, we’ll continue to see our youth and college aged (and people under 40 for that matter) vanish from our churches. If the role of youth pastor is to continue, it needs to be viewed as a role designed to teach and train the church how to reach the youth. How to make the MAIN church services, events, and serving opportunities (etc. etc..) something with youth in mind as well.
For some good thoughts on this, see this article.
http://www.studentministry.org/role-youth-pastor-changing/
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