This document combines the findings of two projects for the purpose of making some overall observ... more This document combines the findings of two projects for the purpose of making some overall observations about the state of religious youth work in the United States. The first project was a review of the literature on such programs. Research on the topic is rare, while a vast body of indirectly related research spans many disciplines and empirical as well as theoretical vantage points. The second project set out to describe the current landscape of Protestant. Roman Catholic, and Jewish youth programs in the country. From the research it became apparent that: (1) religiosity seems to offer at least a degree of protection to youth against at-risk behavior; (2) current models of religious work do not reflect religious educators' concern for adolescents' integration into the total religious community; (3) religious youth programs now serve the young in more ways than ever, while fewer youths participate; (4) Proteztant, Catholic, and Jewish youth programs have similar goals, as...
ED362438 - A Synthesis of the Research on, and a Descriptive Overview of Protestant, Catholic, an... more ED362438 - A Synthesis of the Research on, and a Descriptive Overview of Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish Religious Youth Programs in the United States.
Surprisingly, despite the litany of crises that ushered in the twenty-first century, the rhetoric... more Surprisingly, despite the litany of crises that ushered in the twenty-first century, the rhetoric of despair that once typified the conversation about mainline Protestant youth ministry shows signs of softening. This article traces three developments that have gathered momentum in the last thirty years to set the stage for a rhetorical change of heart surrounding youth ministry. Today's conversation about ministry with young people aligns itself with practical theology as well as Christian education, claims as its context global postmodernity as well as youth culture, and interprets its curriculum as the spiritual practices of the Christian community, and not simply as youth programs. Armed with a broader purpose, a broader context, and a broader curriculum, the present discourse surrounding youth ministry suggests an emerging "rhetoric of hope" as it sets out to redefine the church as well as youth ministry itself.
This document combines the findings of two projects for the purpose of making some overall observ... more This document combines the findings of two projects for the purpose of making some overall observations about the state of religious youth work in the United States. The first project was a review of the literature on such programs. Research on the topic is rare, while a vast body of indirectly related research spans many disciplines and empirical as well as theoretical vantage points. The second project set out to describe the current landscape of Protestant. Roman Catholic, and Jewish youth programs in the country. From the research it became apparent that: (1) religiosity seems to offer at least a degree of protection to youth against at-risk behavior; (2) current models of religious work do not reflect religious educators' concern for adolescents' integration into the total religious community; (3) religious youth programs now serve the young in more ways than ever, while fewer youths participate; (4) Proteztant, Catholic, and Jewish youth programs have similar goals, as...
ED362438 - A Synthesis of the Research on, and a Descriptive Overview of Protestant, Catholic, an... more ED362438 - A Synthesis of the Research on, and a Descriptive Overview of Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish Religious Youth Programs in the United States.
Surprisingly, despite the litany of crises that ushered in the twenty-first century, the rhetoric... more Surprisingly, despite the litany of crises that ushered in the twenty-first century, the rhetoric of despair that once typified the conversation about mainline Protestant youth ministry shows signs of softening. This article traces three developments that have gathered momentum in the last thirty years to set the stage for a rhetorical change of heart surrounding youth ministry. Today's conversation about ministry with young people aligns itself with practical theology as well as Christian education, claims as its context global postmodernity as well as youth culture, and interprets its curriculum as the spiritual practices of the Christian community, and not simply as youth programs. Armed with a broader purpose, a broader context, and a broader curriculum, the present discourse surrounding youth ministry suggests an emerging "rhetoric of hope" as it sets out to redefine the church as well as youth ministry itself.
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