Purpose:
The following proposal is for the development of a Joint Youth Group experience initially among the following churches
- First Presbyterian Birmingham
- Edgewood Presbyterian
- Shades Valley Presbyterian
- Southminster Presbyterian
These churches were chosen based on some historical connections as well as geographic proximity.
(Note: It is conceivable that should this proposal be approved and be a vital form of ministry, other churches in our geographic region may also join the effort.)
Background/Rationale:
There are a number of reasons that lead to this proposal being made—some practical, some historical, and some theological.
Practical
The initial impetus was one of practicality. In doing long range planning for youth ministry, youth leaders at Southminster noted that the number of youth on church membership rolls was quite low compared to the last 5-10 years. It was determined that only about 12 youth, spanning grade 6-12, would be on the church rolls in 2015-2016. Additionally, with no 5th or 6th graders on the roll for the same time frame, later years would see even further decline.
Southminster’s Associate Pastor, Ben Acton, then initiated conversation among youth leaders and pastors at the above churches and discovered this challenge was not unique to Southminster. Southminster’s shortage was numbers. Other churches had that same shortage; still others had plenty of youth, but shortages of volunteers or financial resources.
The idea of collaborating, of sharing resources of people, space, and money, thus began to emerge as a possibility for these churches to meet the challenge in a faithful and creative way, providing a place to belong and to learn for the young people God has entrusted to our care.
Historical
The idea of collaboration is not a new one of course. In the 1980s and 1990s, Southminster, First Presbyterian Birmingham and Second Presbyterian Birmingham had a shared youth ministry under the guidance of Patti Winter.
Likewise, in the mid-2000s, Edgewood and Shades Valley had a brief period of time in which they also shared a collaborative approach to youth ministry.
While circumstances and reasons for earlier collaboration are distinct from the needs behind this current proposal, this history is an important factor in at least the following ways:
- A history of collaboration shows that this type of ministry can be viable and faithful a
- A history of collaboration allows us to learn from any past missteps and shape present possibilities in ways that enhance strengths and address weaknesses from previous efforts.
To put it another way: the idea is not to go back to the mid-2000s, the 90s, or the 80s; rather it is to acknowledge present needs and look to the future to which God is calling our churches and our young people, in a way that might be guided and strengthened by lessons from the past.
Theological
One of the great gifts of our Presbyterian tradition is that we believe in a “connectional” identity. God’s love and grace known in Christ connects us in profound and deep ways to the Triune God and to each other. We reflect this connection whenever we gather—no matter our different backgrounds, responsibilities, and loyalties, the connection we have as Christ’s body are the most true connection we have.
The value we place upon connection also reveals the value we place on unity amid diversity. We believe as Presbyterians that no one person, no one body has an absolute claim on who God is. Our different perspectives and experiences allow us to see a fuller image of who God is and what God does. Those differences enrich us and as we learn to value them, they unify us as well, creating the bonds of kinship Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 12.
By collaborating in the way this proposal suggests, our young people will be living out on a weekly basis these values of our tradition and identity as Presbyterians.
Structural Overview (How will we do it):
When
The proposed effort is meant for Youth Group, which, in the churches involved, typically occurs on Sunday afternoon and/or evening. Each church will still exercise its own good judgment and sense of call to provide youth activities beyond this time frame, such as Sunday School, Confirmation, Wednesday Night activities, etc.
Where
Given that this ministry will involve collaboration and mutuality, determining an equitable and faithful way to share the resource of space in each church’s building is of utmost importance.
While the Leadership Team (see below) will come up with an exact schedule for use, the assumption in this proposal is that space will rotate among the different partnering churches. Care will be taken to create consistency as well as equity in that process. One possibility might be that each church hosts for 4-6 consecutive weeks. Another could be that a full semester is devoted to one location, the next semester to another, and so on.
Who
A leadership team will be created made up of equal representation of adult leaders (e.g. youth staff, youth advisors/volunteers, parents, elders, etc.) from each church. Youth could also be part of this leadership as time and sense of call allows.
The Leadership Team will develop strategies, practices, and guidelines for the administering the Sunday Night Program, including :
- Creating a shared mission and vision for the group
- Selecting curriculum, assigning leadership responsibilities, and developing a scope and sequence of events
- Shared space schedule
- Calendar and time of events and meetings
- Communication with youth, parents, and churches about the ministry’s schedule and content
- Logistical needs such as travel, food, teaching supplies
- Financial Needs
- Regular Evaluation of the ministry (see below)
Evaluation
At least once a quarter the Leadership Team will spend intentional time evaluating the ministry, asking questions like “What is working well?,”; “What is challenging?”; “What are our needs?”; and “What steps do we need to take to address any challenges?”
Each member of the team will be responsible for gathering input from parents, youth, elders, and other stakeholders in their respective churches to aid in this evaluation process. The team will also be responsible for follow-through on any next steps.
Sessions of the churches involved will be sent reports of these intentional evaluation periods. Sessions may also request more regular updates on the ministry; such updates can be provided in a way that fits best within the communication system of each church (e.g a Christian education team report, an Associate Pastor report, etc.).
Start Date: Fall 2015
End Date: Spring 2018
This end date is offered with the understanding that every ministry in Christ’s church has ebbs and flows as resources and people involved change from year to year. By setting a end date, we are trying to be intentional that this effort corresponds to a current need, a need that may not persist indefinitely for any or all of the churches involved. No one church needs to feel “locked in” to an approach, and setting an end date will hopefully allow for a measure of flexibility and openness that an open-ended date might not.
On the other hand, if this approach to youth ministry was discerned to still be of use in Spring 2018, it is certainly possible that the collaborative effort could continue in a manner that youth, their families, leaders, and each session felt was appropriate.
Proposed Action for Session:
To approve this proposal, empowering those with ministry responsibilities for youth to join in a weekly, collaborative Youth Group experience with other Presbyterian Churches.