Bridging the Gap
By Chuck Sokol"I felt really connected as a youth, but now I feel really separated from UUism as a young adult"
-Robin Hill of Rock Island, IL
As a youth nearing the end of my time with Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUUs), I share Robin's sentiment (above). At General Assembly this year, I found that many other youth preparing for college (or otherwise moving away from their home, family, and congregation) felt the same way. Nine out of every ten youth disappear from UUism after YRUU, and I'd be willing to wager that it's because we can't find any way to stay involved in a manner that suits our needs. What do we do with all of our Unitarian Universalist (UU) spirit when we graduate high school? Where do we go? If you are at all like me, you don't necessarily feel that the next logical step is to join a congregation in the town where you are moving. Personally, I found Sunday worships in unfamiliar churches to be intimidating, impersonal, and outright boring. That's not what my experience was in YRUU, so why should it be now?
That still leaves the question of what to do now that we are being pushed out of the nest. As it turns out—I'm sure most of you are aware—there is a Young Adult network of UUs throughout the US and Canada. Becoming involved with Young Adult (or sometimes "Campus Ministry") activity could be exactly what you are looking for. Unfortunately, through both personal experience and what Robin has told me, I've found it's not always easy to find the perfect (perhaps even any) Young Adult group near you. However, there are ways you can find Young Adult groups (if you know where to look).
Do whatever you can to spread this information on to others. Raise awareness in your congregation's youth group. Gather some information and lead a workshop at a district/regional-level conference. Just tell all of your UU friends that there is a "bridge" over the proverbial "gap," and it is critical in combating the issue of so many of us disappearing, as it can help you stay involved with UUism for years to come. I'd certainly feel cheated if my age disqualified me from my style of religious practice, and it's wonderful to finally know that it doesn't.
Resources
- FUUSE.com: As an online Young Adult community featuring message boards and upcoming events, this may be a good place for you to start getting connected.
- ConnectUU: This is an online database including many groups and events around the continent. It's also searchable by location and type of group/activity.
- UUYAN.org: The UU Young Adult Network's web site may be helpful to you. Here you can find names and phone numbers of people in charge of coordinating Young Adult groups or events in your area. Simply look under "Newcomers," then select "Find Young Adult Groups and Events." You may want to get contact information for your Regional Organizing Consultant—available right on that page—for help in finding what you're looking for.
- UUA Young Adult/Campus Ministry Office: Calling the UUA office could be the best thing for you to do if all else fails. They can supply you with everything from information on local groups in your area to resources you may need to start your own Young Adult group. They can be reached by email at ya-cm@uua.org, by phone at (617) 948-6463, by fax machine at (617) 367-4798, or by mail at Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry, 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108
For more information contact youth @ uua.org.
Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
