High School-Aged Youth Faith Development

We are deeply grateful for your participation in the annual Summer Seminary - your presence makes a huge difference in the lives of its youth participants! Here is everything you need to know and do to be a "faculty" member. ...

Youth Ministry Revivals (YMR) are regional, weekend-long events that seek to inspire, innovate and celebrate Unitarian Universalist youth ministry.

As UUs, we celebrate the inherent worth and dignity of every person and the diversity of gender, and work to create communities where people of all/no genders are free to be themselves. Transgender and non-binary youth have particular needs, and there is more work to do to make sure that our circle is open to everyone.

Our spiritual communities are at their best when we support one another. In order to support young adults with mental illness well, we need...

Spiritual practices can help us with mental illness, just like they can help us with other difficult parts of our lives. While spiritual practices can be useful, they are not a substitute for other forms of treatment or symptom management such as therapy, medication, exercise, and getting support....

Masculinity is still defined by the archaic 1950s philosophy. Views on masculinity have progressed slowly to the detriment of society as a whole. Male identified individuals are failing to grasp how toxic masculinity is negatively impacting the progression of femininity in society.

Many Unitarian Universalists (UUs) live with mental illness. Our congregations and communities are places where we strive to welcome your...

Unitarian Universalists are committed to building the beloved community, which includes valuing our cultural, racial and ethnic diversity...

Permission forms are one form of communication with parents and guardians. Parents/guardians should understand the components of a youth...

Best Practices Drivers must be at least 25 years old with a confirmed valid driver's license and record clear of violations. Each driver...

Policies around sleeping arrangements at youth events in the past have either been too laissez-faire , or rigidly bound to norms that don't...

Because of the power disparities and the potential for boundary violation in pastoral care conversations between adults and youth, we...

It is advisable to have two (or more) unrelated adults with youth during all programs and events. This helps to protect youth from abusive...

Adults and religious professionals who work with youth need to know our reporting responsibilities and know what counts as child abuse...

​​ The UUA defines “youth” as any young person currently in high school (or the equivalent for home-schooled youth or other uncommon...

Each group or event is encouraged to develop its own covenant to respect appropriate safety boundaries. Three forms of covenant are...

Adults working with youth bear a special responsibility in fostering youth spiritual development and modeling healthy behavior. A code of...

Appropriate supervision of employees and volunteers is a key to safety youth ministry. Regular support and guidance for adults working with...

In youth ministry, safety training is needed for youth, youth leaders, advisors, and parents. Adults and youth need to be on the same page...

In our dedication to providing the safest possible environment for those we serve, we conduct background checks on adults working with our...

Adults working with youth must be at least twenty­-five years old to participate in youth events organized by the UUA, and most regions and...

Learning from the best practices of many Unitarian Universalist congregations, the UUA Safety Team and Youth Roundtable have developed recommendations for congregations to keep teenage youth safer from harm. We invite you to explore the recommendations and resources in each of...

Email Discussion Lists ...

Web of Youth Ministry Component: Justice Making This session describes concrete skills for staying engaged during and resolving conflict...

Web Component: Multigenerational Relationships This session brings youth and adults in the congregation together to get to know each other...

Web of Youth Ministry Component: Leadership Development This session describes formal leadership roles and different leadership styles,...

Web of Youth Ministry Component: Beloved Community This session describes ways to create a climate of acceptance and some barriers to...

Web of Youth Ministry Component: Pastoral Care This session describes why listening is an important aspect of leadership and provides...

Web of Youth Ministry Component: Spiritual Development This session is a worship. Participants will listen to stories, sing songs and...

Web of Youth Ministry Component: Faith Exploration This session describes why and how Unitarian Universalists covenant with one another and...

Web of Youth Ministry Component: Introduction to the Web of Youth Ministry This session describes the elements that comprise a balanced...

Read the curriculum before you begin the program, focusing especially on the materials lists. Take note of activities that require extra...

The Program "Becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself. It is precisely that simple and it is also that difficult." --Warren...

Bringing the Web to Life is a youth ministry leadership development curriculum for congregations offered by the Office of Youth and Young...

Here are some extra resources for UU youth and those who work with them. ...

Unitarian Universalists believe in supporting our youth and young adults through times of transition. These life stages are full of changes...

Nourishing the spirituality of young people is a key function of Unitarian Universalist communities. Our faith tradition holds diverse...

Whether you are a religious educator, youth advisor, minister, parent, mentor, community member, chaplain, or spiritual seeker, ministry to Unitarian Universalist (UU) youth and young adults of color is vital, spirit-filling work. Here are some resources for those who see serving youth and...

Caring for one another is a core spiritual practice for Unitarian Universalists. Pastoral care is the term we use for the ways we offer...

Luminary Leaders Grants are used to support Luminary Leaders in growing their spirit and their leadership (see how to become a Luminary Leader and apply so you can be eligible for this grant). Priority will be given to Luminary Leaders who show financial need. ...

Youth Ministry Project Grants are used to support local youth-led projects that offer Unitarian Universalist high school-aged youth...

Summer Seminary is where young Unitarian Universalists who are passionate about ministry explore its diverse UU forms, and discover how to make ministering part of their adult life, whether as a religious professional or through lay or community ministry, religious education, music ministry- or something new!

Interested in serving on staff for General Assembly? ...

What is General Assembly? General Assembly (GA) is the annual meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Its programming...

We are looking for exceptional high school aged youth leaders who want to get more involved, network with one another, and be recognized...

The application process to be a candidate for the 2018-2020 term Youth Trustee is now open - please apply now!

Youth advising can be one of the most rewarding, if sometimes demanding, roles you can fill as a religious leader. It may also be one of...