new youth advisor youth coordinator webinar (1)

The Workshop Will Begin in a Moment

Midwest UU Leadership

New Youth Advisors/Youth Coordinators 101

Introductions

This Conference Is Being Recorded

New Youth Advisor/Youth Coordinator 101

Midwest UU LeadershipNancy Combs-Morgan, MidAmerica Coordinator for

Emerging Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Where Do You Start?

Clarity of roles and structure…

are you part of a team of youth advisors (seek a team approach)

how will you communicate with one another

who is taking “point” in working with your religious educator/minister; RE Committee; YAC; Board; Social Justice Committee’s?

How do you begin?

Do you have a registration rosterWhat communication vehicles exist for

youth in your congregation? Review social networking policies with

DRE and/or ministerHave you made sure that your information

has been given to your DRE for a background check?

Before Meeting with the Youth Group

Have you met with your fellow youth advisors? Consider a SMG approach…

Are there greater goals in the congregation which the youth group should be responsive to? Ex. Having more multigenerational services or social justice efforts; milestone events; new initiatives (Standing on the Side of Love)

Youth Group In-Gathering

It’s time for the first youth group/youth class….consider:

Hospitality-recruit at least 2 returning youth to be greeters

Be Intentional-go through last year’s list of participants/visitors to send out a facebook and/or e-mail invite for the first session

In-Gathering, cont.

Before the first sessionrecruit adults and youth to make the

space welcomingare there special needs considerations…does the space reflect a welcoming

feeling for a “new start,” or does the space only reflect former attendees and/or former activities

Start As you Mean to Continue

Consider a structured session allowing time for fellowship, creativity and for building a covenant

Be prepared that first session with a chalice lighting and consider a brief small group ministry session (at least 30 minutes)

Creating the Covenant

With a youth co-leader in the covenant process

begin with a template of former covenants, weave the congregation’s covenant into this (if there is one)

Model good facilitation skills in this process, give examples of “Step up, step Back; speaking with one voice; assuming best possible motive, etc…)

Resist Going Right to Goals/Task

The inclination is often to get right to “work,” setting goals for the year, assigning roles, etc…

attend to group process and governance (how decisions are made)

Take this time to review the 6 components of a balanced youth program (have the 6 components posted throughout the space)

Six Components of A Balanced Youth Program

WorshipCommunity BuildingSocial ActionLearningLeadership DevelopmentYouth-Adult Relations

Six “Killers” of a Healthy Youth Program

Unqualified AdvisorsLack of PlanningUnbalanced ActivitiesUnwelcoming AtmosphereLack of Church supportBad Communication (Jack Brand)

Safe Congregation Issues

Review your congregation’s safety policies, covenant with your fellow advisors to adhere to these policies

Be on board with these policies – they protect our youth, but are also there for your protection – use a team approach, strive for 2 adults to always be working together with youth

Youth Faith Development

Unitarian Universalist youth leadership development lays a groundwork for enabling young people to realize that they are moral agents, capable of making a difference in the lives of others…(and to)

Accept that they are responsible for the stewardship and creative transformation of their UU religious heritage and community of faith.

Vision Statement from Tapestry of Faith

Our UU History of Youth Ministry

YRUU – one of the most valuable gifts that the YRUU experiences provided to UU youth were leadership development opportunities. Leadership in this model encouraged youth to take responsibility for their own programs.

Leadership model of YRUU focused more on consensus and collaboration. Adults working with youth in this leadership model were encouraged to maintain

“nondirective leadership” Youth Advisors Handbook:A Resource for YRUU Advisors

Consultation on Ministry to and with Youth

Multi-year process of discernment

Input actively sought from congregations

A time of deep listening on youth ministry

We are still in this period of discernment

Youth Ministry Working Group – A new direction with five core values….A vision of youth ministry which is:

-congregationally based -spirit and faith centered -counter oppressive -inclusive and multicultural, andGrounded in multigenerational faith communities

(Youth Ministry Working Group, www.uua.org/youthministry)

The Steps to Building Community

For over 20 years one of the central pillars of UU youth ministry was the “Steps to Building Community” – bonding, opening up, affirming, stretching, deeper sharing and goal setting.

The “steps” illuminate a group process, but there is a need for a deeper grounding

Do you have a process of evaluating your goals for youth leadership development, using those 6 components: worship, leadership, youth/adult relations; community building, social action and learning?

A deeper grounding …

 Unitarian Universalist congregations are called to start and maintain youth groups; fostering leadership and spirituality with youth, and building communities wherein all youth are affirmed, empowered, and spiritually nourished.

 Consider integrating four strands…ethical development, spiritual development, Unitarian Universalist Identity and faith development

Pathways for Youth Leadership DevelopmentInvite youth to plan, participate in and lead

worship

Create opportunities for youth to engage in spiritual reflection through small group ministries and/or other programs

Pathways for Leadership Development

Invite and encourage youth to sing in your choir or to provide instrumental music during worship – make sure they are part of the planning and rehearsal process

Provide opportunities for youth to religiously educate children in the congregation

Pathways for Leadership Development

Recruit and train youth and adults to partner in providing a faith development series, such as “Evensong.”

Invite and train youth to be part of the congregation’s lay pastoral care team, working closely with the minister

Pathways to Youth Leadership Development

Recruit and train youth to serve on congregational boards and committees(not just youth specific committees or the RE committee)

(Youth on Board, www.youthonboard.org)

Pathways to Youth Leadership Development

Make sure that your congregational social justice endeavors are multigenerational. Ask youth to be active leaders in these efforts.

Consider youth/adult team leaders for “Standing on the Side of Love” efforts

Widen Youth Voices and Participation

Take time to evaluate in your congregation the possibilities for youth to be full members – what are your guidelines for membership

Coming of Age programs and membership

Are all of your committees, task forces, boards, etc…open to youth leadership?

Welcoming Youth of Diverse Needs, Abilities and IdentitiesA goal of youth ministry must incorporate

the lens of welcoming all youth (The Mosaic Project)

Couple this lens with asking youth to help organize your congregation’s involvement in such outreach efforts, such as “The Trevor Project,” and or creating a “It Will Get Better Video.”

The “Developmental” part of youth ministry Key developmental tasks of the middle

adolescence stage (ages 15-18)1) finding a valued place in a constructive group2) cultivating problem-solving skills3) acquiring support systems and knowing how to use

them4) finding ways to be useful to others5) finding ways to feel a sense of basic self-worth

(Nurturing Children and Youth:A Development Guidebook)

Next steps:

What will you do to reach out to other youth advisors in your area/district/region?

Be an advocate for youth in the congregationSet an early goal for youth leadership

development – send them to Youth Midwest Leadership School, www.mwls.org

Have congregational conversations….on how to truly be a multigenerational community; the meaning of youth empowerment (considered a cluster event for these conversations)

Q & A

Thank You