Spiritual Formation, Education & Youth
This week, one of our students asked a question that I have pondered off and on for several years. After discussing spiritual formation, the student turned to Kim & I and asked:
"Why is it that pastors need a seminary level education, but youth pastors and kids pastors can get 'certified' with far less training or theology?"
It led to an excellent discussion about the positive and negative reasons that help create this dynamic, ultimately leaving the student (and several others listening in) frustrated with this reality. They felt, as do I to a great degree, that spiritual formation for children and youth are incredibly crucial as it represents a phase in peoples lives where they have the greatest freedoms they will likely ever have.
This is not to say that adults are locked into an immovable place where spiritual formation is wasted. By no means! Rather, it reflects the inevitable reality (generally speaking) that the older we get, the more roots we lay down, the more invested we become, etc. making significant shifts in our lives and faith more costly and challenging- NOT impossible, but difficult.
Sadly, while there are excellent programs for educating/training people for child/youth ministry, there is a general attitude (reflected in the materials) that we find these ministries less significant, therefore requiring a lower standard. This does, of course, also lead to the question of youth ministry in general, such as its validity or health in general. Whatever the case may be, there seems to be a flawed worldview at play.
What are your thoughts? Am I off base? Is there is good reason for this approach?
I can see a correlation to the way our society (and we) treat people who work in education and day care.
To me, people working in day care have the biggest impact on kids, and yet the pay they receive (and sometimes the training) doesn't reflect that huge responsibility and affect.
Call me biased, since I work in education, but there you go.
Could the
"general attitude (reflected in the materials) that we find these ministries less significant"
come from the reality that youth enter and then leave a youth group every 5-6 years, whereas adults can stay in the same group for 30-40 years?
Just wondering.
(Comment this)
I didn't grow up in a church so I don't know so much about youth and the church, but I do know that much of the way adults act and process/respond to what's around is directly related their youth. We can't remove the sin from the world, but by encouraging appropriate spiritual formation in one's youth, could we aid their spiritual well-being as adults? I don't know, just a thought.
whether your ministry targets adults or teens, what you do and say and teach, even how you live your life, directly impacts those you are ministering to. Therefore, I do think that head pastors and youth pastors (or even missionaries and church planters) should be held to the same expectations in terms of conduct and education. With that said, should it be absolute necessary for a pastor (of any title) or missionary, or whoever is in ministry shepharding, evangelizing, guiding, discipling...should it be necessary for them to pursue seminary? (Comment this)
So, I suppose there are some people who think kids just can't do it. I know otherwise though and am very grateful that my kids got the chance to really study. (Comment this)
These acts continue to help the feeling permate through church that Youth Pastor is some sort of "lesser calling" when in fact as you mentioned these stages in life are entirely foundational. A more literalist interpretation of Jesus' words "Let the Children come to me" also can intimate into our youth/kids ministrys how important it is to not see faith as something "beyond" the years of youth, which is a sentiment heard over and again in scripture, now we just need to reform our thinking about both the age groups and ministries connected in order that we can live out our purpose as the people of God.
Another phrase often coined is to invest in Kids because "they are future of the church", while I understand the underlying idea, I think this also creates a platonic seperation within how we "do" church. Children are the Church of today too, they are not in training to attain the great heights of adulthood faith, they are a full fabric of the church, and when treated as such, you can see an amazing and empowering thing happen. (Comment this)
I think you make an excellent point about the time investment and turn over being significant. That being said, I think a great deal can still be accomplished in a short period of time. Also, I wonder if the the attitude helped contribute to the turnover on some level. Excellent question!
Anyone else care to weigh in on that specific point?
Peace,
Jamie (Comment this)
I was wondering who would ask that question first. I think it is completely fair to question the pastoral requirements, as I think there are many amazing "pastors" who do not have the "credentials" or title. Great thought, Amy!
Peace,
Jamie (Comment this)
Wow, what a shift. That must have been tough. Did you have kids making that shift too? I would love to connect with the first leader you mentioned. How rare and exceptional!
Peace,
Jamie (Comment this)
We see this attitude a lot. It is rough, eh? I love your vision and values in regards to youth and children. Thanks for weighing in!
Peace,
Jamie (Comment this)
I don't think formal training is necessary, but I do think that the church needs to be involved in helping to find more "lay" leaders rather than posting job opportunities.
(I hope this is making sense.)
DAWN (Comment this)
Yes, it makes sense and good thoughts. I do hope my post does not suggest that I think the education/training is what is crucial, but rather that the imbalance of emphasis reveals our biases in this area. Thanks!
Peace,
Jamie (Comment this)
It is a good and important reminder. I think a lot of us make that mistake. However, I will add this as a counter-point. Youth are the future of the church insofar as there will come a day when a more significant portion of responsibility will be theirs with fewer leaders available to them. In that sense, they are the church of the future. I think we need to embrace both views together.
Peace,
Jamie (Comment this)
Frankly, many of our Christian teaching institutions leave the genuinely hungry confused and disillusioned... and send them out handicapped because of our flawed manly church scenario's. Maybe the youth are lucky ones to be led by the young and dumb!
Ha... just my thoughts!
Dave (Comment this)
I think you help bring home a significant part of this issue. I see it as having (at least) two main parts. First, that there is an attitude of condescension (at times conscious, others not) towards youth and children ministry. Second, what you point out, is a somewhat dysfunctional understanding and emphasis within Christian education, especially where spiritual formation and leadership development is concerned. Thanks for weighing in.
Peace,
Jamie (Comment this)
It sounds like your assumption in the post (correct me if I am wrong) is that youth ministers should also have seminary educations. I think what's at play here is the fact that, at the heart of it, we realize that being a gifted teacher has little if anything to do with seminary.
Not to downplay the value of seminary, but preaching and teaching are spiritual gifts, not gifts of a diploma. So we feel okay about letting gifted people teach the young. We don't tend to feel the same way about senior pastors and whatnot. I think it's a clear double standard, but the issue isn't that we expect too little of youth ministers. The real issue, I think, is that we expect TOO MUCH education of senior pastors.
(Comment this)
Way to go, eh!
Peace,
Jamie (Comment this)
Actually, I think I wasn't clear then, but rather (as some of my other comments suggest) I think that I take issue with the implicit value system/biases that the imbalance reveals. I do think youth ministers should pursue deeper theological and missional formation, but not seminary. In fact, I think pastors often have too much required of them in this respect. I hope that clarifies.
I agree with you that the church has wrongly given up a significant portion of its responsibility in spiritual formation. I will posting on this for tomorrow. Thanks!
Peace,
Jamie (Comment this)
While I agree wholeheartedly with the limitation of seminary education (and even the potential dangers) and I agree that teaching and preaching are in many respects gifts rather than developed skill sets, I must say that it has often been the lack of theological reflection in our teaching and preaching that has brought us to the place where we now stand.
Youth ministers who are not trained to think critically and contextually can have some pretty damaging effects...even if their "program" looks healthy. Churches that do not think theologically about ski trips</li> are in danger of promoting something that is...lets say, less than optimal.
Questions like, "What type of person/community are we forming with this event or program?" Are ones that every minister or pastor should be asking. And in my opinion we need to be asking that question about our view of and approach to "specialized ministries" in general. Are we creating myopic fiefdoms?
As long as every ministry position is seen as "junior ministry" leading toward "senior ministry", then in a way we can't help but create a system where each little kingdom is jostling for position and rank and validation. Youth ministry can be treated as a training ground specifically because the kids are only there for 4-7 years...then they move on to "big church". (Comment this)
Glad this topic is important to you. It is to me as well. I also share your conviction that we too often see a poor foundation or theological understanding. I love YWAM for its actively missional nature, but it can too often be theologically ignorant to its own failure. I have committed to see this changed in the mission and the larger church.
Excellent thoughts all! Thanks.
Peace,
Jamie (Comment this)