A Vision for Youth Ministry in the Southwest CA Synod
Draft
As the Southwest California Synod
we are called to aid in the ministry of Christ in the world among our
congregations, our communities, and beyond. With the specific focus of youth
ministry we must be grounded in the Word and faithful to our sacramental
understanding of daily living out faith.
Our synod youth ministry must address the individual, the congregation,
and the world.
In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul makes it
clear that we are all members of the body of Christ, each with our own
spiritual gifts. Regardless of age,
race, gender, or ability all people are claimed by Christ and equal members of
the Body. In the spirit of joy and
thanksgiving youth ministry in this synod seeks to welcome all people into
relationship with God and with one another.
With an attitude of invitation and acceptance we encourage all members
with whom we share in our common humanity, both joys and sorrows, to set the
table as we enter deeply into communion with one another. As young people struggle to find identity and
acceptance we welcome them to participate fully in the life of the church as
members of the body with unique and incredible gifts to share.
While passion, inspiration, and
call are fundamental to youth ministry it is essential that we be committed to
nurturing and cultivating these gifts.
As we seek to pass on the faith to future generations we must be willing
to stand beside young people and those who work with young people by offering
support, guidance, training, and opportunity.
While gifts are explored and developed we must be intentional about
equipping and empowering young people to live out their vocation and to move
wherever God may lead. This demands
intentional and intimate connections and a vision for synodical youth ministry
that is relational and incarnational. It
requires the full body of Christ, across generations, to come together and
stand in love and celebration proclaiming Christ present in our daily lives.
Through countless examples in
scripture we know Christ to be a servant.
Young people are crying out to be the hands and feet of God in this
world. It is our call to come alongside
the young people in our communities and provide places that humbly seek justice
(Micah 6:8) and do service on behalf of and alongside the other. Through such experiential ministry young
people are connected to the suffering world and are drawn into relationship
with Christ and with their neighbor.
When these relationships are built and nurtured we are able to look
beyond events and enter the daily baptismal journeys of young people. It is our
hope that people would be connected to God and to one another, and that these
networks of relationships would be sustained and maintained.
Youth ministry must work to build a
ministry with youth, youth leaders, and congregations that claims us as
Christ's own, draws us into community, and sends us out to do the will and
ministry of God in the world among God's people. Youth ministry is only
Christ's ministry when it acknowledges the brokenness of humanity, and seeks to
be authentic. It must be a ministry that
does not hide from the world, but is deeply engaged in the world and the lives
of young people. It must include youth,
youth leaders, families and congregations as the body of Christ called to do
the ministry of Christ in a suffering world.
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