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Thoughts on UU Lifespan Ministry
My
work includes helping congregations develop ministries,
programs and cultures that makes their community relevant
to people no matter where they are in life.
Kids
>> Youth >> Young
Adults >> Adults >>
Elders
Our
congregations, as different as they may be, are all in the
business of changing lives. We help people explore meaning,
develop connections, and become engaged in life and the
larger world. These things need to be happening with people
of all ages. We know this, but sitll we have weak spots.
If
you're congregation still has some "soft spots"
in your ministry, contact me to
discuss how we can partner to strengthen them.
UU Kids and Families
I
know how important it is to have great programs UU's of
all ages! I started volunteering in RE classes starting
at age 15 and have worked with religious educators for
the 20+ years since. Here are some of my goals
for ministry with children and families.
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Church
should be meaningful, fun and memorable..
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We
should assume kids are on a lifelong UU path,
not that they are going to opt out.
- We
need to inspire them by modeling leadership and invite them
to join in early.
-
We
need to make sure our children and their families develop
strong ties with members of all ages
Youth Ministry
The future of our movement hinges on our mastering youth ministry.
I believe the key to doing this to NOT focus on youth ministry
as distinct programs, but to integrate it into a vision of
a larger lifespan ministry. I think we need a comprehensive
lifespan UU small group ministry approach. In most cased Youth
Group is really a small group ministry for youth with only
enough youth for a single group.
A few thoughts from my years of advising youth.
- As I said, we need to bring childrens, youth and young
adult ministries and adult small group ministries in line
with one another so they form a lifespan group ministry.
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We need to focus less on getting youth
through religious education programs and more on leadership
development and service. When we do this in the context
of a small group ministry it pulls them into the life
and ministry of the community versus an awesome separate
youth program.
- In Andy Stanley's book Next
Generation Leader he suggests that people won't be led
by those with a lesser ability. Leaders who aren't being
led leave. We need our best people leading our youth and,
as they are ready, to bring youth into leadership.
-
Many of our adults spend their church lives "benched"
on the pew will a small few do the work. I think youth
want to see adults - all adults - doing more. Having our
larger communities living lives of purpose, meaning and
action will lead to more youth participation.
Young Adult Ministry
Our association has a fabulous team working on Young Adult
and Campus Ministry. I've been happy to see more integration
of covenant groups / small group ministry into our YA ministry.
But I think progress is slow. Why?
We have yet to put muscle behind a comprehensive approach
to our group based ministry. I know, I sound like a broken
record. But isn't that how your family and teachers were
until you learned to count? That's right. I'm never going
to stop telling advocating for an integrated lifespan group
based ministry that allows children, youth, young adults
and adults to work together to reach our potential.
For all you young adults out there (and supporters),
here are a few suggestions.
Read up on small group ministry and covenant groups noticing
the similarities to many youth and young adult groups.
-
Learn from this material, but even more
so, tell me what's missing. Help us bring your group ministry
and adult small group ministry together.
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Try taking on the language of small group
ministry and use it in your ministry.
-
As appropriate identify the groups you
start and lead as a variation of small group ministry.
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When in relationship with a congregation,
form a connection with the small group ministry / covenant
group leadership and attend their leadership meeting.
Also, and this is key, use the small group ministry
approach of starting multipe groups.
-
By having YA groups and not one group
something awesome happens.
-
People of diverse age within the YA span
of 18-35 end up grouping in healthy ways - by maturity,
interest, kids or no kids.
-
Those groups that are older, when they
break the 35 line the entire group can age into the adult
SGM program.
Adults Ministry
There's much to be done with our adult ministry as well.
In our association's Small Group Ministry movement there has
been a lot of focus on one specific model or another. In reality,
there are many approaches to group based ministry. We mustn't
get hung up on one particular model. We're still new to this
and need to keep exploring and innovating.
We need all kinds of groups...
- Holistic congregtion wide group ministries
- Affinity groups
- Activity groups
- Interest groups
- Care groups
- Therapy groups
- Adiction groups
So many groups, so little time. The popular small group ministry
model is like the cells of a new life form - mostly the same.
As an organism matures its cells necessarily differentiate.
This needs to happen with our groups.
Elders
What role do elders play in your congregation? Are they pillars
of the community, mentors and teachers? And what happens when
an a long time member can no longer make it to church? Is
that it for them? Our UU elders have so much to offer, as
well as very specific needs.
Now is a great time to reflect on the our elder ministry.
The boomers are coming! What are you going to do with them?
Me, I'm turning them into Small Group leaders. You can too.
Ready to get started?
If you would like to discuss a program, be it focused on
one age group or an intergenerational effort, contact me.
I lead programs throughout New England. For those not in my
neighborhood I am happy to consult via phone.
Whether you have a question, a program request, or an idea/resource
to share, I'd love to hear your thoughts on UU lifespan ministry.
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