Bridging Ceremony
A bridging ceremony is a worship service that honors the transition from youth to young adulthood, with the emphasis on the new community. They were developed as a response to high school graduation ceremonies, which have come to be known as cliff ceremonies for their tendency to send youth off with little or no continuing support.Participants, known as bridgers, are typically between the ages of eighteen and twenty. The central ritual is that of crossing a bridge, symbolizing the transition from youth into the young adult community. Each youth is escorted across the bridge (or across the front of the sanctuary)—usually by a young adult—or in some way welcomed as a new member of the young adult community. Most bridging ceremonies also have a sermon, or some spoken portions, which honor the transition with meaningful thoughts and reflections. These words often challenge bridgers to rise to the challenges that the transition presents. Although these spoken pieces acknowledge the past, they remain focused on the future and promise of Unitarian Universalist community. The third common component of the bridging ceremony is a responsive reading or covenant in which the congregation and/or church leadership honors, welcomes, and pledges to support bridgers in their new stage of life.
You can order the Crossing the Bridge from Youth to Young Adulthood at the Unitarian Universalist Association Bookstore for $15.00 USD.
Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
