Consider a Conversation with Young Adults

A little over a week ago, the Iowa Annual Conference hosted "A Conversation with Young Adults". This day-long event involved two keynote speakers--Dr Bruce Birch and Bill Lizor--and a panel of young adults who both offered questions and feed back to the keynote speakers and took questions themselves. I'm still processing the day, and I think I took away some good thoughts. I would welcome your thoughts as well.

Bruce Birch - considering YA ministry as "Babylonian Exile"
Bruce walked us through the biblical narrative of the Bablylonian exile--especially from the book of Jeremiah (29:4-11). He likened the church to the arrogant people of Jerusalem before the exile--"Peace, Peace when there is no peace". Then the people in exile needed to rediscover how to be the people of God. Bruce had a wonderful phrase for this "the vocation of the people in exile must learn to be singers in the midst of non singers". And these singers use their "memory" of what God has done to offer a fresh "vision" of what God will be doing.

Bruce reminded us that after the exile, the Jewish religious landscape looked very different--some people did return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, while most of the people remained in Babylon or elsewhere. And out of the exile, new traditions took hold--the synagogue is one of these.



Bill Lizor - considering YA ministry as Wandering and Dreaming
Bill talked us through his thoughts on YA ministry: "Young Adults have come. Young Adults have gone. Young Adults will come again." He talked about how unhelpful the Prodigal Son model is for churches--in that it assumes that the church is the gracious parent who welcomes home the long-lost son.

Bill suggested that a better biblical paradigm is the intersection of two stories: Jacob the Wrestler and Joseph the Dreamer. Both of these are life-journeys where the people are radically transformed, experience the grace/presence of God, and somehow grow in their relationship with God and others. At the heart of Jacob's story is the passage where he wrestles with God: he is physically transformed, he receives a new identity, and he receives a blessing. And Joseph dreams--has a vision of what God is doing--but it takes quite a while and life experiences for that dreaming to make sense. So Bill suggested that faithful life happens in the intersection of "wrestling" and "dreaming".

What is helpful to you about these paradigms? Are there other paradigms you think are helpful for considering YA ministry?

Peace,
rc

Moments of Return

Ryan’s off getting married this weekend and has left me in charge of posting to the blog. In honor of Ryan’s upcoming nuptials I want to toss out a comment from a section of a book I read a month or so ago about young adults and the times, places, and events when they may most likely (re)connect with churches.

In a previous post I've referenced Googling God: The Religious Landscape of People in their 20’s and 30’s by Mike Haye’s. In the book Hayes lifts up the work of Father John Cusick and Katherine DeVries of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Young Adult Ministry Office. Cusick and DeVries identify five “Moments of Return” in the lives of young adults that churches need to be aware of. They include: Marriage, Baptism, Moments of Sickness, Death, and Personal Decision/Changes in Life (such as a change in career or lifestyle choices).

These are times when young adults are likely to be inside church building, among the church community or open to the ministry of the church. Churches, Hayes says, need to be intention about how they relate to young adults in these times when they connect with the church.

I think Haye’s is onto something important. I’m wondering if there are other “Moments of Return” that we need to be aware of for young adults besides these five. I’m wondering if we see these as important times of ministry outreach or if we see many of them as intrusions into the life of the church. And I’m wondering if there are specific ways that any of you engage in ministry with young adults during moments of return.

Conversations Worth Having

Several years ago I was planning a series of “listening posts” around the state of young adult ministry in the Iowa conference. As I was laying out for some conference leadership folks what we had in mind to do, I’ll never forget the comment from one district superintendent – someone I’ve always had great respect for. This person said something along the lines of, “I’m not sure what you’ll gain by just talking about the issue. Everybody knows it’s a problem. What churches are looking for is how to solve it.”

I think I understand something of what he meant. And, I'll admit, I have some sympathy for it. One of my colleagues says that too often the problem in the Church is that we think we’ve accomplished something simply because we’ve talked about it. While I agree with that statement, I also think that too often we try to accomplish something – try to fix the problem – without taking the time to listen to those who may best be able to diagnose the issue and offer some possible remedies.

That’s the thinking behind an Iowa conference sponsored event that a handful of us are working on called “A Conversation with Young Adults” - www.iaumc.org/yaconversation. The premise is that we need to listen to scripture, we need to listen to our tradition, and - at least as importantly - we need to listen to young adults. We need to be willing to have the conversations before we too quickly think we know what will work.

Maybe you’ve heard about “A Conversation with Young Adults”. I hope you’re thinking about being involved. I’m convinced that it may be one of the more important conversations we’re having in the Church.

Peace,

Eric

summer reading

Neither Ryan nor I have posted for awhile. Chalk it up to hectic early summer schedules, preparation for annual conference and the willingness to offer both ourselves and each other a bit of grace. We’ll see what unfolds the next couple months, but we’re planning to post at least every few weeks – more or less, depending on whether we have more to say or less to say…

I’m reading a couple different books right now (rereading one). There are a couple phrases/concepts in the two books that have been stuck in my thoughts the last few day.

On a whim – thanks to Amazon.com’s you-might-also-be-interested-in suggestion – I ordered and have been reading Googling God: the religious landscape of people in their 20’s and 30’s by Mike Hayes. Hayes is Roman Catholic and very much writes for that audience, but most of what he says can be translated easily enough to mainline protestant churches or even non denominational or parachurch groups. I’ve been intrigued by an idea that Hayes suggests – and from where he takes his title - that young adults tend to seek instant gratification in all areas of their life. Since they have grown up with the concept that any information request can be ‘googled’ with instant results they tend to think of their faith in the same way. They may not be persistent or patient enough for wading through the ‘churchiness’ (my term, not Hayes’) of church in order to find meaning and purpose. If that’s true, it’s an additional challenge for churches when seeking to relate and be relevant to young adults.

The book I’m rereading for a book discussion hosted by the district superintendent and field outreach minister in the south central district is Brian McLaren’s Everything Must Change: jesus, global crises, and a revolution of hope (a great book and a great concept of district book discussion opportunities!). While I’ve read several McLaren books and am now reading this one again one particular statement really jumped out at me the other day. McLaren says,

“… church leaders can’t help but notice the rapid decline in local church
involvement among younger generations and wonder what to do about it.
Church leaders often begin by criticizing the young people: ‘What’s wrong
with them?’ But eventually, some leaders begin to ask a more productive
question: ‘What’s wrong with us?’”

As a denomination and as churches within that denomination, I wonder where the United Methodist church is on the continuum McLaren suggests. Are we mostly still asking the “What’s wrong with younger generations” questions or are we beginning to ask, “What’s wrong with us?”

A couple good websites to peruse: Mike Hayes contributes to www.bustedhalo.com. McLaren has a presence on several websites. The best of which may be www.emergentvilliage.com.

"And the truth shall set you free..."

Carl Gladstone shows up quite often on my Facebook thread, and every now and quite often one of his comments catches my eye. Here's one from this morning:

Carl Gladstone Watched the bio of Jon Stewart on Hulu. Who'da thought the guy from Half Baked would be the most trusted news source for 20-30 yr olds?

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Believe it or not, earlier in the day Eric and I were talking about where we turn for truth and insight into the world. Didn't theologian Karl Barth say that we need to engage the world with the bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. Problem is, for me, I don't trust or believe most the major news outlets. I'm tired of corporate and political slants and propaganda getting passed off as news.

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People give 20 and 30 year olds a hard time for turning to The Onion and The Daily Show for their news. But I appreciate that their satyrical approach that requires viewers to have at least the basic understanding of world events. But still, I long for truth...

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Where do you turn for honest and earnest reporting of the news--local, state, global?

Open Secrets About Deep Spiritual Growth

We definitely didn't plan it this way, but Eric's last post, Katie's post before that, and my post today all connect with deepening discipleship.

Love him or hate him (in a Jesus still loves you kinda way), Bill Hybels and people like him often dictate the conversations you and I have in our churches (can you say 40 Days of Purpose). One thing I appreciate about Hybels and Willow Creek Community Church is that they took an honest inventory of their church and discovered that people felt their spiritual discipleship was lacking.

Their study was part of the larger study of churches--large and small--with spiritual vitality (evangelism, serving), with personal spiritual practices (prayer, Bible reading), and the church's role (activities, congregant needs). This highlights of this REVEAL study are published in the current issue of Rev! Magazine.

From their survey of these spiritually vital churches, they identified four key principles of helping people grow in their faith:

1. "Get People Moving" - the top churches make it clear that they intend to help every person grow in faith. The first steps of growth are clear. The 2nd steps of growth are clear. And every church that ranked near the top had a "not optional" newcomer or membership class. (I'm thinking back to two ladies who once walked into my church and said that they wanted to join the church the next Sunday... they didn't last very long, as I recall).

2. "Embed the Scritpures in Everything" - the top churches have leaders and insist their leaders spend time with the Scriptures. And it pours out on everything they do.

3. "Create Ownership" - it's the idea that "I go to church" doesn't really fit anymore. Instead "I AM the church" is a better slogan. The pastor doesn't dictate or run the ministries, but rather empowers and unites lay leaders in their minisry.

4. "Pastor the Local Community" - these churches are relevant to the communities around them. "From bussing hundreds of disadvantaged kids to Sunday services, to cooking hot dogs on city streets to break up drug deals, to refurbishing a bankrupt hospital in a needy neighborhood--thee churches are the hands and feet of Christ in ther Communities."

You know, as I look at this list, there's really nothing new about these 4 principles. I'm pretty sure that I've been hearing them in some form for at least the last 10 years. Someday, you'd think it will sink in.

some thoughts on preaching

I just finished reading Dan Kimball’s The Emerging Church: vintage christianity for new generations. It’s one of those books that has been on my shelf for some time. I’m wishing it hadn’t taken me so long to get around to it! I don’t agree with all of what Kimball suggests, but I think he has some great points about the challenges for Christianity in reaching “new generations”.

I especially found his chapter on “preaching without words” interesting. Among the points that Kimball makes are these:

• While a more modern/traditional mindset moves through a faith process of FACTS influencing BELIEF which influences BEHAVIOR, Kimball suggests that in post-modern/emerging cultures the faith process shift looks much more like EXPERIENCE influencing BEHAVIOR which in turn influences BELIEF. Acknowledging that change means that we need to rethink the ways we seek to communicate the message of the gospel. Kimball concludes that we can no longer assume that the spoken word – in a 20 minute message - is what impacts people the most. “Art preaches, Scripture preaches, Music preaches, Even silence preaches”, says Kimball.

I’m wondering what our worship service would be like if we followed a model that saw EXPERIENCE and BEHAVIOR preceding BELIEF?

• Kimball says that for emerging cultures there should be an importance placed on developing a culture which encourage questions and thinking. In the emerging church, he says, we need to “cultivate a culture that allows dialogue. The church needs to “learn to ‘struggle with the scriptures’ through the example of midrash” that allows for thinking through scripture using a variety of interpretations.

I’m wondering what our worship service would be like if we not only allowed but actively promoted questions, dialogue, and doubt instead of blind obedience or unthinking acquiescence to a set of beliefs?

• Finally, Kimball maintains that emerging churches are more comfortable with an image of the “preacher as shepherd and fellow journeyer instead of a message giver and problem solver”

I’m wondering what our worship service would be like if we preachers would be vulnerable enough to allow ourselves to be experienced as co-journeyers rather than the ones who have the answers?

more thoughts on discipleship and the church

Last week my blog post referenced the Iowa United Methodist School for Ministry event and some of my thoughts about two of the speakers, their comments on acts of service and small group discipleship, and how those relate – or often don’t relate – to our understanding of Church and worship.

On her blog “Salvaged Faith”, Katie Z. writes this week about “making members, making disciples”. Katie’s ponderings about how and where we often define discipleship happening is well worth taking a look at. You can follow Katie's blog at (http://salvagedfaith.blogspot.com/.

acts of service & acts of worship

Two of the speakers at the at Iowa Conference School for Ministry got me thinking today about faith formation, worship, service and the ways that they are connected.

• Taylor Burton-Edwards says that for 1500 years it was small groups – things like John Wesley’s Societies - NOT congregations where faith development most effectively occurred.
• Melissa Rudolph reminded us that acts of service are what inspires this generation to seek a higher purpose. They may most likely not come to faith through the door of worship, but through the door of service.

A recent article in USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com/news/sharing/2009-04-13-millenial_N.htm) connects with this as well. The article is about the upsurge in civic involvement among the Millennial Generation. It makes the case that the young people in the under 25 age category are the most civic minded generation in the last 80 or so years.

So, as I’m trying to put these pieces together I’m intrigued by one of the main topics of conversation on the USA Today discussion board about whether mandatory volunteerism is a good or bad thing. And I’m wondering, does it…

• force people to volunteer, and therefore may not be of lasting value past the requirement of their school years
• provide a structure to what is a deep held longing to live out their desire to make a difference in the world
• model civic participation that will create a lifestyle of service

Not sure what to do with any of this today. I’m wondering about doors of service and what it would mean for the Church if we saw this as an important avenue – maybe the most important avenue for younger generations - towards faith formation. Any thoughts?

new wine & old wineskins

I walked a labyrinth at 6:00 a.m. this morning from my kitchen table. I’m trying to be intentional each day during this Holy Week with a different Spiritual Practice. My original intention this morning was – maybe still will be – to find an accessible labyrinth that I could walk meditatively sometime later this week. While I was online trying to locate a labyrinth within an hour’s drive more or less of my home I came across several online labyrinths. I’d seen a couple of them before. I’d even “walked” a few at other times – or at least I had been a casual observer of them before, but this morning I fully engaged the experience of doing an online labyrinth walk. It was far more meaningful than I’d anticipated.

Doing a version of the very ancient practice of labyrinth walking through a technological adaptation unimagined even a few years ago got me thinking about the ancient-future worship model that often holds deep meaning with Postmoderns. I was reminded as well of a worship serve I attended with a few friends a couple years ago at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church in Seattle where close to 500 mostly twenty-somethings each week gather for a 9:30 p.m. Compline service (http://www.complinechoir.org/) that is chanted almost entirely in Latin. There seems to be something very meaningful about practices that reach deep into our faith traditions and yet encourage us to live out those traditions in new and relevant ways.

I came across a quote about worship and worship practices this past weekend from Brian McLaren: “… we need to explore an alternative to (1) using symbols that make no sense to people and (2) getting rid of symbols: [we need to be] (3) using symbols and finding ways to make them enticing, attractive, and penetrable for people unfamiliar with them.”

So, on this afternoon of Holy Week I’m wondering what are some of the Spiritual Practices that you have found most meaningful on your faith journey. Do you resonate with ancient-future worship practices? What symbols of our faith could we make more “enticing, attractive and penetrable”?


For those wanting to explore further: A search of “online labyrinths” will provide lots of options. Four that I’ve found really helpful are:
(http://www.gratefulness.org/p/labyrinth.cfm)
(http://www.gracecathedral.org/labyrinth/interactions/index.shtml)
(http://www.labyrinthonline.com/)
(http://web.ukonline.co.uk/paradigm/)

What Do You want to BE?

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” is a question that probably all of us have been asked at some time. It’s also a question that we may also have asked a young person we know. Maybe it’s not such a bad question to ask these days given that young adults today seem to be more intentional than ever about connecting what they want to DO with how they want to BE. Two unintentionally related articles that appeared on the same Saturday this past weekend in The Des Moines Register got me thinking about careers and calling and the difference between “doing” something and “being” something.

“Young mayor feels he has made a difference” (http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090328/NEWS/903280325/-1/archive) is the story of Sam Juhl, now 21, who was first elected mayor of Roland, Iowa in 2005 at the age of 18. Although Juhl acknowledges that he isn’t clear about what career he will pursue in the future, you get the feeling that it will be one like his current role as mayor that will integrate his life’s work with his interest and passion around public service. Reflecting on his career as mayor, Juhl say, "In my little way, in Roland, I've made a difference."

The second article from last Saturday’s Des Moines Register , “You can be called to many careers besides seminary” http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090328/OPINION01/903280305/1035/archive is written by guest columnist Gustav Nelson, the director of Project 21, a program designed to identify and describe new models of congregational life for the 21st century. Nelson, a former executive presbyter of the Des Moines Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church USA, urges the Church to help members claim God’s calling in their careers instead of suggesting that a true calling is only lived out through a a career as a professional minister. Nelson writes that “The church today is operating on a pre-Reformation mode. It skips over the Reformation in urging members who feel called to ministry to enroll in seminary, instead of realizing that what they already are doing, even in tough times, may be what God has called them to do.”

So, what’s the difference between “doing” and being”? I think one way to get at the difference is to consider the root words behind “occupation” and “vocation” It may be telling that “occupation” come from the same root word as occupy – taking up space; while “vocation” comes from the same root word as “vocal” – to call or summon. What do you think? Do you feel like you’re taking up space in a job or have you been summoned to a career?

Unchristian: What a New Generation Things About Christianity...And Why It Matters

"Christianity has an image problem."

Last Sunday night I sat in our church sanctuary near the back. In front of me were 35 or so mostly grey-haired people listening to three grey-haired people who sang southern gospel music and shared about the “good ol’ songs” and “The Billy Graham Crusades”. I, on the other hand, sat in my pew subtly reading this week’s book—Unchristian, What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity. Admittedly, I didn’t get very far. But after the offering and the altar call, a lady came up to me and asked why more people my age didn’t come to things like this. “Well,” I said, “let me share with you something I’ve just been reading…”

This book came to me highly recommended—several people I trust suggested that Unchristian presented the reality of Christianity’s image problem among young adults. This especially struck home with me—given that most young adults I know are familiar with the Christian faith (most, in fact, had attended worship at some point) but either because of apathy or because of an incident with another Christian have chosen to live life outside the Church. And so when this book set out to help me “find out why these negative perceptions exist, learn how to reverse them in a Christlike manner, and discover practical examples of how Christians can positively contribute to culture,” I read on.

I appreciated the book was based on research from the Barna Group—examining the perceptions of young adults outside and inside the Church. David Kinnaman then described in real ways how Christians foster that perception and healthy, Biblical ways of approaching the issue from a new direction. Here are six top perceptions he addresses:

Hypocritical

Everyone in my church gave me advice about how to raise my son, but a lot of the time they seemed to be reminding me that I have no husband—and besides, most of them were not following their own advice. It made it hard to care what they said. They were not practicing what they preached. – Victoria, 24

PERCEPTION: Christians say one thing but live something entirely different.
NEW PERCEPTION: Christians are transparent about their flaws and act first, talk second.

Get Saved!

Christians are too concerned with converting people. They are insincere. All I ever hear is “Get saved!” I tried that whole “Jesus thing” already. It didn’t work for me before, and I am not interested now. – Shawn, 22

PERCEPTION: Christians are insincere and concerned only with converting others.
NEW PERCEPTION: Christians cultivate relationships and environments where others can be deeply transformed by God.

Antihomosexual

Many people in the gay community don’t seem to have issues with Jesus but rather with those claiming to represent him today. It’s very much an “us-versus-them” mentality, as if a war has been declared. Of course each side thinks the other fired the opening shot. – Peter, 34

PERCEPTION: Christians show contempt for gays and lesbians.
NEW PERCEPTION: Christians show compassion and love to all people, regardless of their lifestyle.

Sheltered

Christians enjoy being their own community. The more they seclude themselves, the less they can function in the real world. So many Christians are caught in the Christian “bubble.” – Jonathan, 22

PERCEPTION: Christians are boring, unintelligent, old-fashioned, and out of touch with reality.
NEW PERCEPTION: Christians are engaged, informed, and offer sophisticated responses to the issues people face.

Too Political

Twenty years ago, when I was looking at evangelical Christianity from the inside, it seemed like a movement bursting with energy to spread good news to people. Looking at it from the outside today, this message seems to have been lost in exchange for an aggressive political strategy that demonizes segments of society. – Brandon, 32

PERCEPTION: Christians are primarily motivated by a political agenda and promote right-wing politics.
NEW PERCEPTION: Christians are characterized by respecting people, thinking biblically, and finding solutions to complex issues.

Judgmental

Christians talk about hating sin and loving sinners, but the way they go about things, they might as well call it what it is. They hate the sin and the sinner. – Jeff, 25

PERCEPTION: Christians are prideful and quick to find faults in others.
NEW PERCEPTION: Christians show grace by finding the good in others and seeing their potential to be Christ followers.

Hypocritical, too concerned with conversion, antihomosexual, sheltered, too political, and judgmental—I have experienced every single one in my church, and I still have hope in the Christian faith. But I can certainly understand why people want to stay clear. But now I’m left to pondering how I can hold a mirror up to myself and others in the Church to work hard re-engage in a relevant way a new generation.

I welcome your thoughts… What do you make of Kinnaman’s list of perceptions? And how would you go about helping a church change its way of doing things in order to change our image in the world?
Peace,
rc

Map Ur YAM

Occasionally, I surf over to the GBOD's Young Adult Network. In case you've not discovered this hidden gem, check out their website or visit their Facebook page.

In my recent visit to the site, two things caught my eye. The first was three words near the top of the page--"discuss relate revolutionize". I do believe that every time I've been a part of the GBOD Young Adult conversations, I feel like I'm on the edge of a revolution. It takes a while for us young adults to move past our cynicism and distrust of the institution, but as we "discuss" and "relate", the energy builds, and I swear we're on our way to a revolution. There's a sense that nothing in this world can stop us. Anyways, the YANetwork is a great way to get connected with some of these YAs who want to take the world by storm.

The second thing that caught my eye was that only one YA Ministry was listed for Iowa. Despite all of the desparaging statements made about the state of Young Adult Ministry in Iowa, I kinda doubt that the only YA ministry is happening at Newton. I kid you not--http://www.yanetwork.org/groupmap.htm .

So here's my challenge. Submit your group to the YA Network--let's see what's going on around the state (just in case we really do want to start a revolution, we'll know who to call). And while you're there check out the rest of the YA Network!

Peace,
rc

Technology, Community, and Young Adult Ministry

Relevant Magazine recently polled its readers with the following question: "Which one piece of technology could you not live without?" And here's how they responded.

And I get excited by some of the possibilities that new technology gives us. Last week, I knew I would be preaching on the verse where Jesus says, "Deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me." I posted a question on Facebook, and a dozen or so people responded--people from all across the US--even building on each other's comments. I brought their thoughts into the sermon, which I then posted back online at our chruch's website. So, I get excited by the creative and collaborative possibilities some of the new technologies give us.

But at the same time, I know these new technologies come with their challenges. Despite the fact that I have email, Facebook, or text message contact with nearly all of the young adults in my church on a regular basis, I can't think of the last time more than a few of us got together in person. We have a web of relationships, but I feel like there's something lacking. And so I wrestle with how to build community given the new tools of technology.

What do you think? Share your experience with technology, community, and young adult ministry. What are some of the pros and cons. And what are you doing that's using new tech to engage people in ministry?

Peace,

rc

Dear Church: a blog from a disillusioned generation

Disillusioned – disappointed at finding out reality does not match one’s ideals.

About once every month or so, I call up a friend, and she talks me down from the ledge. I explain to her how I think God has called me change lives and transform the world, and how I am in the prime of my life, and how I must be insane to believe that I am best utilizing my God-given gifts by working in and through the Church. “Wouldn’t I be more effective with a non-profit or in some way that doesn’t have all the baggage of the institution?” I go on for a bit, and my friend listens and talks me down. She reminds me that despite all of its flaws (and all of our flaws), God can still use it and us to change lives and transform the world. But still, I cycle in and out of disillusionment.

I opened Sarah Cunningham’s Dear Church: Letters from a Disillusioned Generation knowing that I’d be seeing her at the Unleashed conference in a couple weeks. But as I read through her 14 letters to the organized, institutionalized Church, her words hit home. She introduced the Church to Gen-Xers (“comfortable with competing schools of thought,” “want instant gratification,” and “idealistic to a fault”—how does she know me so well?!?). She wrote of her struggle in and with and against the Church (“Odds are, you once stood in our idealistic Skechers and believed, like my generation, that the church could change the world. And, on many occasions, you struggled and still struggle—just as we do—against the idea that it cannot.”). And I must admit that I have flirted with all of her suggested responses to the disillusionment we feel:

1. Say bon voyage to your local congregation and set out in search of a new one,
2. Velcro yourself back to the local congregation you came from and press on even
harder,
3. Start some type of alternative Christian community with your wild and crazy like-minded friends, or
4. Give up on community altogether and roam around the world like a raving lunatic who is so compulsively opinionated that he can’t find a single person who agrees with his position in life.

And so I hover between options 2 and 3 trying to change lives, change the world, and—God willing—change the Church. And every now and then, I need a friend to convince me that it can happen.

But how about you? Where on the spectrum from encouraged to disillusioned do you stand? What would you include in a letter to the Church? And what do you think is the best response for young adults who feel alienated and disillusioned by the Church they see?

Who's behind the YAM Jam?

So, you’re entitled to know something about the people behind the screen that are going to be responsible for the YAM Jam.

I’ll start and Ryan can weigh in as he wants to. I’m Eric Guy, an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church who served churches in the communities of Fairview, Rippey and Perry in the Iowa Conference for seven years. I also put in a stint (or maybe it was a stunt) doing campus ministry at Collegiate United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation in Ames. Since 2001, I’ve been a staff member of the Iowa Conference, working primarily in the area of ministry with young people. The latest version of my job title says that I’m a Leadership Development Minister for Young Adult and Generational Ministries.

I’m passionate about the church being a relevant place for all people to connect with God, connect with each other and connect with the world. One of my favorite quotes – one that I’m both energized by and terrified of – is from Thomas Jefferson who reported said, “Every generation needs a revolution”. I live most days wondering if I'm on the right side of the revolution.

I love good conversations – and good coffee – and look forward to some of each while posting, commenting and reading comments on the YAM Jam blog.

What's The YAM jam?

What’s The YAM jam? The YAM Jam is a blog spot for conversation about ministry as it relates to – and is lived out by – young adults in the United Methodist Church in Iowa.

The YAM part is probably pretty clear. It’s nothing with any more theological depth than the acronym for Young Adult Ministry. The jam part may require a bit more explanation.

If you look in a dictionary – either the bulky kind found on a library shelf or one that may be more accessible online - the word jam has a bunch of meanings. Everything from definitions like “stuck in one place” to “sugary fruit preserves”. While those both might have something to do with the state of Young Adult Ministry, neither are quite what’s intended. If you wind your way through all the definitions for jam you’ll eventually come across a few that get closer to the heart of what The YAM Jam hopes to be.

Try any of these definitions of jam out –

• to play a piece of music in a free, improvised way,
• an informal gathering of musicians playing improvised or unrehearsed music for their own enjoyment,
• an impromptu performance by musicians who don’t regularly play together, or
• an impromptu discussion

– and you’ll be in the right neighborhood of what we want The YAM Jam to be.

What’s the purpose of The YAM Jam? What do we plan to accomplish?
Who knows? When the model is unrehearsed, impromptu, joyful, improvised discussion, it’s tough to come up with a purpose statement and expected outcomes. We’re guessing that there may be some complaining. There might be some expressions of frustration. Quite possibly there will be some words of exasperation with the way things are. But… there might also be some signs of a new way that could become a different way of being. Hopefully there will be some creativity and a lot of conversation.


Who’s invited to be a part of the YAM Jam? You. And anyone you know who is interested in some free-flowing conversations about young adults, young adult ministry, and the United Methodist Church. About once a week – or more often if the mood strikes us – there will be a new posting of something that gets us thinking about young adult ministry in a new way. Hopefully there will be something in what we have to say that provides enough of a spark – either of agreement or argument – that you’ll be inclined to take a look at it and comment on it.