Network Blog

Where has innovation gone?

There once was a time when an entire cottage industry (and in some cases, some big business) had developed around creativity and innovation in youth ministry.  Ok...back then, we just called it youth ministry, but you get the idea.

People were thinking around new and creative ways to communicate the Gospel to young people.  Now, have to be honest here:  It wasn't all good.  Really.  "Chubby Bunnies", while funny to watch, might not have had a lot of spiritual impact...and I'm not at all sure of the ecclesiological meaning behind the game "tapehead."  

Ministry with young people was didactic.  It was straightforward.  We told...they heard...we all went out for pizza.  <Broad, sweeping generalization alert here> There wasn't a lot of theological depth to those things.  These things were the "invitation."  They were the "right to be heard."  It could be (and has been) argued that they were the "bait" in the giant game of  "bait and switch" that we all played.

But just as I don't want to inappropriately romanticize the old days, I don't want to demonize them either.  The heart was in the right place...it was genuine.  Youth ministry wanted real Christ-centered transformation to happen.  And so a lot of time and attention went into being innovative and creative to communicate the truths of the gospel.  

It may not always have been deep, but it was often clever.

Now, we are (rightfully) much more interested in theological reflection than we were.  We aim deeper.  And we know the value of connecting the faith formation in our congregations to the faith formation that is happening in homes.

No one disputes the importance of this.  I've never heard anyone say "gee, I wish our ministry was more shallow."  But having said that, I wonder where the innovation is?  How is this deeper, more theologically aware ministry living itself out?  Lots of new material is being written about why we should be moving in this direction.  What I am not reading is "how" we can creatively think about these things.  What does it look like?  What is the praxis that parallels our theory?

I would like the Network to be the place that this conversation is taking place.  I would love it if we could make this web site a clearinghouse, and a living laboratory for this kind of thinking.  Perhaps it's kind of a free "Criagslist" for resources.  

My theory is this:  Once upon a time youth ministers depended on the resource providers to tell us what we needed to do, and then how to do it.  This was a necessary phase in the development of a ministry practice and discipline.

Now, the practitioners have the history...the education and the expertise to set the agenda and to provide at least a significant portion of the resources.

So let's be the Network.  Let's figure out a way to share this expertise.  And let's give these things to each other.  Let's suppport each other in our work and ministry.

How?

Not sure yet.

Ideas?

I'd love to hear them.  Please post comments below.

More to come, as the conversation continues.

Pax,
Todd.

Sometimes people go to conferences or conventions to see the "talking heads."  We want to see those who we admire...who we sometimes wish we were like.  As in "I'm going to (fill in event name) to see (fill in famous children, youth and family minstry person's name) speak...I'm really excited to see what she/he says!")  I've done this.  Many of us have. 

By putting people on a stage, complete with lighting, smoke machines and video on the screens around them, we contribute to the cult of personality which I think sometimes does us a dis-service. 

This past week, we were reminded that the world in which we live and work is broken.

You might have seen the e-news that spoke of Bishop Stephen Marsh, of the Southeast Michigan Synod.  He was scheduled to be one of our keynote speakers at E2011 in Kansas City.  When we booked him, we were really excited for the opportunity.  We had read his work in The Lutheran magazine, and we had heard of his great speaking and easy-going nature.  We were very excited that he was going to be with us for the event. 

A news release from the ELCA reported that he resigned his position in his synod to tend to personal and emotional issues that are connected to some form of addiction.  He would be entering into an in-patient treatment program.  We were contemplating how to best offer Bishop Marsh a release from his obligation to speak, if he wished, when we received an e-mail from him asking to be excused. 

We were deeply saddened to hear this news.  Not because he won't be with us at the E (which does sadden us), but because of the personal pain he must be experiencing.  

We are reminded that we are all held "captive by sin and cannot free ourselves."  It doesn't matter who we are.  It doesn't matter if God has called us to be a speaker on a large stage (complete with lighting and smoke machines) or if our venue is a small, musty youth room tucked in a corner room in the church basement. 

It is easy to look at a stage and admire or idolize those who come to speak.  It is easy to wish that we were like them.    But often, when we do so, we find ourselves comparing what we know about our own lives to what we don't know about that other person's life.  We forget that these people also live and work in the real world...the same world in which we all live and work...the same world in which we all trip and fall.

Bishop Marsh:  Please know that you will be in our prayers as you walk this journey.  The same God who walks with us in our brokeness, walks with you today.  The same God who called you in the waters of baptism, continues to call you out of your brokeness.  The same God who heals, brings you healing.  You are not alone in this.

And please know that you have an open invitation to return to the Extravaganza in the future; not because of your tremendous communication abilities, but becuase you are a beloved child of God, and you have a story to tell.  We are anxious to hear it. 

God bless you.

Networked in Christ,
Todd.