Is "Youth Group" Dead?
For a long while now, I've rejected the idea of "youth group" because it just didn't seem to meet all of the needs that young people had. Instead, I used the Renewing The Vision's 8 Components as the back bone of youth ministry. So, I have socials. I have service opportunities. I have grand summer events. I have Religious Education (yes, through 12th grade!) I incorporate Community Life, I advocate, I invite them to prayer events, do pastoral care...
But what seems to be missing is space for them to just come and FLOP. To sit around with their peers and adults who love them (besides mom and dad...) and reinforce all the good things that we're trying to give them in an arena that they think they are creating, and in some ways they are: Youth Group.
Does the concept of "Youth Group" work anymore? Is it needed? Is it what they are looking for? Do we ask them what they are looking for, knowing that in 2 weeks they will change their minds? Do we simply supply them with what we have and expect them to show up?
posted by TCYM Lounge @ 6:02 PM
5 Comments:
I think it's a difficult question. My diocese was preparing for the switch from a CYO, youth group-oriented program to a "comprehensive" program based on Renewing the Vision when I was a senior in high school (4 years ago), and I was on the parish committee for this change. The youth involvement in my parish has dwindled since that time.
I think the problem with youth ministry today is that there seems to be a drive to find a one size fits all "program," whether Life Teen, or a certain interpretation of Renewing the Vision, or whatever. My diocese is a mostly rural diocese. Shifting to (this particular interpretation of) Renewing the Vision was doomed to failure, and I said it in the committee, because there just aren't enough youth to go around for having 5 or 6 different events per week. Having "youth group" not only gave kids a time just to "flop," but there was a central meeting time for the youth of the parish, who all knew each other anyway.
The CYO model worked for us. Taking away a set "youth group" was designed to get rid of ideas of their being a certain clique of youth that ran everything, but in the end it just took away the time for everyone to get together and, from a practical perspective, find out what other events are coming up.
But at the same time I can easily see how a youth group centered ministry might not work as well at a larger parish. Youth ministry, and ministry in general, is not a one size fits all field.
The youth group is dead at our large, urban parish. But it might have something to do with our youth minister. She told my husband and myself that she does teen ACTS and confirmation. If we want a youth group for the high school kids, she will "allow" us to do it. But it's not her job. Nice, huh?
michael
this is my problem!
I think RTV is excellent in that it gets us as youth ministers to think more broadly in terms of the needs of the kids. Not every kid is comfortable with "youth group"-largely, I'll guess, because of the cliquey nature that can sometimes happen.
But at the same time, the need that "Youth Group" provided still seems to emerge and I'm not sure what the next step is.
Anonymous: is she paid full time staff? Heck, if she said you could do it, you might have some realy freedom to minister!!
Beingornothingness (PS like your blog, btw) I say amen to everything you have just said.
BUT: Youth Group CAN be that place where friendships can begin, grow and develop. It's a place that kids can question and affirm their lives in light of the material I or other excellent adult leaders might present. That is-challenge them to live the Gospel message in the context of friends and relationships gathered. I'm not sure why that is objectionable.
Then again, you are right-it can happen anywhere. I have an all-nighter social tonight and then the a service event with Confirmation kids AND then Workcamp meeting: all programmed events, but the two underlying premises are: for trusted adults to spend time with them in mentor-type relationships and most importantly for the kids to be surrounded by believers so as to be formed as a Christian. To encounter Christ in others and witness others living a life of holiness.
Well, it seemed like an honest post. I'm still wondering about it...which way to go?
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