1. The Workshop Will Begin in a Moment

2. Midwest UU Leadership
New Youth Advisors/Youth
Coordinators: “Let’s Talk”

3. Introductions

4. This Conference Is
Being Recorded

5. New Youth Advisor/Youth
Coordinator , “Let’s Talk”
Midwest UU Leadership
Fall 2012
Nancy Combs-Morgan, MidAmerica Coordinator for
Emerging Youth and Young Adult Ministries

6. Begin “doing” by reflecting….
 By reflecting on the hopes and dreams for youth ministry
in your congregation
 Structure and intentionality are essential in achieving
your dreams
 What is the “structure” of your youth group?
 What are the expectations for adults working with the
youth group?

7. How do you begin?
Do you have a registration roster
What communication vehicles exist for
youth in your congregation?
Review social networking policies with
DRE and/or minister
Have you made sure that your information
has been given to your DRE for a
background check?

8. 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)

9. 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

10. In-Gathering, cont.
Before the first session
recruit adults and youth to make the space
welcoming
are 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

11. Balance Structure and Creativity
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)

12. 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…)

13. 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)

14. Six Components of A Balanced
Youth Program
Worship
Community Building
Social Action
Learning
Leadership Development
Youth-Adult Relations
 http://www.uua.org/re/youth/leading/45563.shtml

15. Six “Killers” of a Healthy Youth
Program
Unqualified Advisors
Lack of Planning
Unbalanced Activities
Unwelcoming Atmosphere
Lack of Church support
Bad Communication (Jack Brand)

16. 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

17. 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,
http://www.uua.org/re/tapestry/62884.shtml

18. 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, and
 Grounded in multigenerational faith communities
 (Youth Ministry Working Group,
www.uua.org/youthministry)

19. 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?

20. 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

21. Pathways for Youth Leadership
Development
Invite youth to plan, participate in and lead
worship, multigenerational programs,
social justice projects, etc…
Create opportunities for youth to engage in
spiritual reflection through small group
ministries and/or other programs

22. 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)

23. 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?

24. 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 group
 2) cultivating problem-solving skills
 3) acquiring support systems and knowing how to use
them
 4) finding ways to be useful to others
 5) finding ways to feel a sense of basic self-worth
 (Nurturing Children and Youth:A Development Guidebook)

25. 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 congregation
 Set an early goal for youth leadership
development – send them to Youth Midwest
Leadership School, www.mwls.org
 Check out the “Luminary Leaders” program,
 http://www.uua.org/re/youth/leading/luminary/index-shtml

26. Q&A

27. Thank You