The Consultation On Ministry to and with Youth December 2007 Newsletter
Greetings! The purpose of this newsletter is to provide information and updates about the Consultation on Ministry To and With Youth. This newsletter is part of an effort to make the consultation process transparent and accessible to all Unitarian Universalists.
Summit on Youth Ministry
The Summit was a success! On July 16-20 fifty-four youth and adults gathered in Boston for the Summit on Ministry to and with Youth to imagine and shape a youth ministry that serves all Unitarian Universalist (UU) youth.
We envisioned a youth ministry that is central to the articulated mission of Unitarian Universalism, offers multiple pathways for involvement in our faith communities, and is
- congregationally based;
- multigenerational;
- spirit-centered;
- counter-oppressive, multicultural, and radically inclusive.
We need your support to move these visions into reality! We encourage everyone to read the Summit Report (PDF) for further information.
Youth Ministry Implementation Working Group
In order to carry out the visions from the Summit on Youth Ministry a Working Group is being formed. The group will be composed of UUA (Unitarian Universalist Association) Staff with job responsibilities closely tied to significant implementation tasks, and youth and adults from stakeholder groups. The group will be meeting for the first time, in conjunction with the YRUU (Young Religious Unitarian Universalists) Steering Committee, from February 8-11 in Cape Cod, MA. Further information on this meeting will be available soon!
Panel on Theological Education Roundtable on Youth Ministry
Thanks to a generous grant from the Panel on Theological Education and supplemental funds from the UUA, the Office of Youth Ministries and the UUA Ministry and Professional Leadership Office are convening a Roundtable on the preparation of ordained clergy for ministry to and with youth. Participants will include representatives from four Theological Schools, the Ministerial Fellowship Committee, the UU (Unitarian Universalist) Minister’s Association, UUA Ministry and Professional Leadership, the Panel on Theological Education, Seminarians, and Youth with experience on ministerial search committees. This exciting meeting will be held in early March in Newton, MA. Reports will be available by the beginning of April.
Chrysalis Trainings Re-Visioning
The Office of Youth Ministries is beginning the planning process for a re-evaluation of the Chrysalis program (the Spirituality Development, Leadership Development, Chaplain, and Advisor Trainings). A task force consisting of experienced trainers, District and UUA staff will create a vision for a regional and more congregationally accessible training program. The process for an evaluation of the Chrysalis Training Program has begun with writing and submitting a proposal to the Lifespan Faith Development Director for revision and approval. Once the proposal was approved India McKnight and Darrick Jackson decided to use the Walker Center, in Newton, MA as a site to host the meeting that will be held from February 28, 2008, until March 2, 2008. They’re also in the process of inviting attendees, which will consist of Chrysalis trainers and District Staff.
Youth Social Justice Re-Visioning
The Office of Youth Ministries and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee are working together to hold a meeting of key social justice leaders in our faith, both youth and adults, to imagine how we could better do social justice programming with youth and better integrate youth into existing social justice programming. This gathering will take place at the end of April. Stay tuned for more information.
For More Information
Visit Youth Consultation or contact:
Sara Eskrich, Youth Ministry Associate
seskrich @ uuaorg
(617) 948-4352
Jesse Jaeger, Youth Ministries Director
jjaeger @ uuaorg
(617) 948-4359
For more information contact youthconsult @ uua.org.
Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
