Christian Youth Work in Theory and Practice: A Handbook

Christian Youth Work in Theory and Practice

A Handbook

Edited by

Sally Nash and Jo Whitehead

© The editors and contributors

Published in 2014 by SCM Press

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The Authors have asserted their right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the Authors of this Work

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, a member of Hodder Headline Ltd. The Message, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

978 0334 04643 1

Typeset by Regent Typesetting

Printed and bound by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon

To John (Sally’s nephew), Tim and Sam (Jo’s stepsons). Thanks for fun, good times and continually reminding us what it’s like to be a young person today.

Contents

Acknowledgements

The Contributors

Introduction

1. Being a Christian Youth Worker: Finding Ourselves by Losing Ourselves

Nick Shepherd

Response: Graeme Thompson

2. Being a Reflective Practitioner and Lifelong Learner: Pursuing Wisdom and Fruitfulness

Sally Nash

Response: Fuzz Kitto

3. Youth Culture: A Theoretical Examination for the Sake of Ministry with Young People

Andrew Root

Response: Simon Hall

4. Theological Inquiry in Christian Youth Work

Jeremy Thomson

Response: Graham Stanton

5. Christian Youth Work and the Kingdom of God

Graeme McMeekin

Response: Reggie Nel

6. Inclusive Youth Work

Andrew Smith

Response: Paul Fenton

7. Adolescent Identity Development

Amy Jacober

Response: Becca Dean

8. Appropriate Relationships: ‘Like a Friend’

Sam Richards

Response: Ali Campbell

9. The Church

Matt Brain

Response: Bård Norheim

10. Spiritual Practices and Faith Formation

Jo Whitehead

Response: Bert Roebben

11. Holistic Pastoral Care

Karen Jones

Response: Jon Jolly

12. Mission

Terry Linhart

Response: Alastair Jones

13. Education and Curriculum

Simon Davies

Response: Allan Clyne

14. Working with Families

Colin Bennett

Response: Lizzie Hackney

15. Ethical Dilemmas and Practice

Paul Nash

Response: Anna Thompson

16. Leadership and Management

Liz Dumain

Response: Len Kageler

Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to each one of our authors, who have journeyed with us in completing this book. The pattern of a chapter and a response to that chapter is one that requires vulnerability and a willingness to be open to others. We have tried hard to commission authors who represent a wide range of settings and traditions, from youth ministry educators to youth workers. This is an international book that focuses on Christian youth work and youth ministry in the western world, and authors are from the UK, USA, Australia, South Africa and mainland Europe.

Sally worked with the authors of Chapters 1–7, which focus on some of the more theoretical and theological themes providing an underpinning knowledge base for Christian youth workers. Jo worked with the authors of Chapters 8–16, which are more context focused and practice oriented. We each then worked with the whole text in a final editing residential. This is the fourth book we have worked on together in some way as well as editing each other’s contributions to the Grove Youth Series. We appreciate our complementary gifts and experiences and generally have an enjoyable harmonious time working together on such projects.

An edited book is very much an act of collaborative ministry, and we are also grateful to Natalie Watson, our editor at SCM, for her enthusiasm for this project and her swift replies to all sorts of emails about technical issues. Pete Ward offered some initial comments on our proposal and helped us develop a more complete book. There will also be many unacknowledged collaborators, those who have sown seeds of ideas in us and our authors and who patiently listened and talked as the ideas turned into the chapters you find in this book.

Our husbands, Paul Nash and Paul Stuttle, have been unstinting in their support and encouragement for this project and have plied us with cups of tea and glasses of wine as we have written and edited.

The Contributors

Colin Bennett is Vice-Principal (Development) at Moorlands College in Dorset. He became a Christian while training as a youth and community worker. He and his wife Yvonne worked in Birmingham and Sheffield before moving to Moorlands. While busy with church, community and college, he is also a keen Coventry City supporter.

Matt Brain has worked in parishes and schools all over Australia. He is the Archdeacon for Chaplaincy, Youth, Student and Children’s Ministry, the Director of Parish Support, Chaplaincy and Mission in the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn and a lecturer at St Mark’s National Theological Centre and Charles Sturt University.

Ali Campbell is married to Lisa, and they have two daughters. When not drinking coffee, reading or spending time with his family, Ali works in the South East of England to equip and encourage children’s and youth leaders in their work with young people.

Allan Clyne is a PhD student at Strathclyde University, where he is researching the relationship between Christianity and youth work. He has been an informal educator in a variety of environments including the Church, the voluntary sector and school. He is married to Martine, and in his free time he enjoys watching films, listening to music and walking in the Scottish highlands.

Simon Davies lives in Eynsham, West Oxfordshire. In previous (and current) lives he is a techie, professional mentor, lecturer, picture framer, cyclist, leader and manager, musician, youth and community worker, husband and father. He is interested in theology, philosophy, education, community and technology. He has nearly 20 years of experience in youth work and ministry, many in training and educating Christian youth workers. He currently works as Head of Academic Frameworks for the Institute of Children Youth and Mission.

Becca Dean is a research student at Durham University, with a particular interest in how churches can empower young people in spiritual development. Alongside her research Becca works part time as youth and children’s coordinator at St John’s Neville’s Cross. Becca’s first book is Be Live Pray (Scripture Union, 2010), and she is a keen writer and avid blogger at beccaislearning.com.

Liz Dumain is Youth for Christ Local Ministries Director. Part of the UK YFC leadership, she heads up a team responsible for developing and supporting local youth work. A published author and regular speaker, Liz is studying for an MA in contemporary ministry and apologetics. Passionate about seeing people explore God fully, you are likely to find her reading or engaging with culture at an arts centre or coffee shop.

Paul Fenton became Principal of Oasis College, London, in 2010. His career has involved posts as youth pastor, schools worker, chaplain, inclusion director, local authority training manager, lecturer and a freelance consultancy. Paul maintains a research interest in education and child and adolescent development, and is author of Someone to Lean On: Accompanying Young People on the Journey of Faith (Scripture Union, 1998).

Lizzie Hackney is a community-engagement worker with an Anglican church in Stoke-on-Trent. She lives in Dovedale House, an inter-generational retreat centre in the Peak District, where she and her husband are support and development workers. A PhD student at Durham University, she is researching church-based work and young people’s spirituality.

Simon Hall is a pastor in Leeds, where – among more regular pastor-y things – he oversees a youth work project and manages an arts centre. He was previously Principal of Oasis College in London.

Amy Elizabeth Jacober is a youth worker, professor, speaker and author. She spends her year teaching at both college and seminary. She serves on the mission-wide committee for Young Life’s Capernaum ministry. She is the author of The Adolescent Journey (InterVarsity Press, 2011) and other books. When you can’t find her doing ministry, she is spending time with her husband, two daughters and an oversized dog.

Jon Jolly is the Children’s and Youth Team Leader for the Arun Community Church in Littlehampton, West Sussex. He is a qualified youth worker with over 14 years’ experience and loves to see churches engaging with their local area. Jon is married with two daughters.

Alastair Jones is the CEO of Frontier Youth Trust (www.fyt.org). FYT does mission working with young people at risk towards justice, equality and community. He has been involved in youth work for over 20 years. He was previously the Salvation Army’s national Youth Worker Development Manager (ALOVE UK).

Karen Jones chairs the Ministry and Missions department at Huntington University, Indiana, where she has prepared undergraduate students for ministry leadership for the past 16 years. Prior to serving as a professor, Karen was a youth minister in churches in Missouri and Texas for more than 15 years.

Len Kageler is Professor of Youth and Family Studies at Nyack College, with a campus near and in New York City. He is a youth ministry volunteer at his local church. He has written 11 books for youth workers or parents, most recently Youth Ministry in a Multi-Faith Society (InterVarsity Press, 2013).

Fuzz Kitto is an international youth work consultant, mission planning and emerging church/fresh expression consultant, working in 27 countries and based in Sydney. He started full-time youth work in 1973 and has been a denominational youth director, speaker, trainer and lecturer in youth ministry.

Terry Linhart is Professor of Youth Ministry and Adolescent Studies at Bethel College, Indiana. He teaches and writes on topics related to global youth ministry, including the book Global Youth Ministry: Reaching Adolescents Around the World (Zondervan, 2011). For more, visit www.terrylinhart.com or connect via @TerryLinhart on Twitter.

Graeme McMeekin is originally from Northern Ireland and has spent some time as a church-based youth worker and local authority youth justice worker. He is currently the Vice-Principal (Academic) and Youth and Community Work with Applied Theology Programme Leader at the International Christian College in Glasgow.

Paul Nash is a tutor at Midlands Institute for Children, Youth and Mission (CYM) and Senior Chaplain at Birmingham Children’s Hospital National Health Service Foundation Trust, where he is also a vice chair of the clinical ethics committee. His publications include Supporting Dying Children and Their Families (SPCK, 2011) and What Theology for Youth Work? (Grove Books, 2007).His research interests include spiritual care for sick children, theological reflection and paediatric chaplaincy. He is the co-founder and convenor of the Paediatric Chaplaincy Network (www.paediatric-chaplaincy-network.org) and established the Grove Youth series of books (www.grovebooks.co.uk).

Sally Nash was one of the team who established CYM (www.childrenyouthmission.org) and is the Director of the Midlands Centre based at St John’s College, Nottingham. She is also an Anglican priest in the Diocese of Birmingham. She writes and researches in the fields of work with young people, ministry and spirituality and publications include Youth Ministry: A Multi-faceted Approach (SPCK, 2011), Tools for Reflective Ministry (SPCK, 2009) and The Faith of Generation Y (Church House Publishing, 2010). Her doctorate was in urban youth work. She is a trustee of Frontier Youth Trust. She blogs at www.markerpostsandshelters.wordpress.com.

Reggie Nel is a senior lecturer in missiology at the University of South Africa and a part-time minister at Uniting Reformed Church in Riverlea, Johannesburg. He teaches and researches in the areas of missional ecclesiologies, children and youth ministry, anti-racism and reconciliation, social networking and missiology.

Bård Norheim is an ordained pastor in the Church of Norway (Evangelical–Lutheran), has worked as a youth minister in congregations and Christian organizations in Norway, and as a missionary to Estonia. Currently he is Associate Professor of Practical Theology and Head of Department of Theology at NLA University College, Bergen, and a volunteer youth minister working with youth leaders and confirmands in the congregation where his wife serves as a pastor.

Sam Richards is Director of Oxford CYM and has been training Christian youth workers for more than 20 years. As a youth worker and Director of Oxford Youth Works, she worked mostly with unchurched young people. She enjoys spending time with friends, reading, being outdoors, chocolate and laughter and belongs to the mayBe community, an emerging church in Oxford.

Bert Roebben is Professor of Religious Education at the Faculty of Humanities and Theology, Dortmund University. His research interests include the theology of religious education and youth ministry, religious diversity and education, and practical theology. He is the President of www.iasym.net

Andrew Root is the Olson Baalson Associate Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary, St Paul, Minnesota. He writes and researches in areas of theology and youth ministry. A prolific author, his most recent book is called The Relational Pastor (InterVarsity Press, 2013).

Nick Shepherd is the Chief Executive of the Institute for Children, Youth and Mission. He has over 20 years’ experience in Christian youth work, from face-to-face work through to policy development and strategy. Nick holds a PhD from King’s College London, where he undertook research into young people’s participation in Christian youth work. His current research interests include the use of action research to investigate ‘theologies of practice’ in youth ministry. Nick is editor of the Journal of Youth and Theology and lives in South London.

Andrew Smith is the Director of Interfaith Relations for the Anglican Bishop of Birmingham. Since 2000 he has been pioneering a model of work with Muslim and Christian teenagers. He is the founder and Chair of Directors of The Feast, a charity formed to bring together Christian and Muslim young people. He has written a number of books and articles on Christian–Muslim relations and youth work and is a regular speaker on interfaith issues.

Graham Stanton was the founding principal of Youthworks College, Sydney, where he taught systematic theology and youth ministry. He is an ordained minister in the Anglican Church, Diocese of Sydney and has worked in youth ministry for over 20 years.

Jeremy Thomson worked in engineering, student and church ministry, bookselling and counselling, before discovering the joys of theological education. He has taught on several academic programmes, published theological and biblical materials and is currently Principal Lecturer in Theology at Oasis College, London. He is Chair of the Mennonite Centre Trust.

Anna Thompson works supporting urban ministry practitioners for the Eden Network in the UK and also as a freelance facilitator, writer and teacher. She is in the final stages of a doctorate in practical theology researching perceptions of transformation in urban communities and lives in Openshaw, East Manchester.

Graeme Thompson has been in youth work for over 25 years as a volunteer, social worker, and since 1997 with the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, where he consults with churches, resources and trains leaders. He completed his PhD in 2012, examining the retention and faith of young people from the perspective of covenant theology.

Jo Whitehead is Assistant Director of Midlands CYM, where she teaches youth and community work and practical theology. She is an experienced youth and community worker, church leader, facilitator and writer and is currently undertaking doctoral research into whole-person learning. Her publications include Youthwork After Christendom (Paternoster, 2008), Skills for Collaborative Ministry (SPCK, 2008), and Facilitation Skills for Ministry (SPCK, 2013).

Introduction

Let the wise also hear and gain in learning, and the discerning acquire skill.

Proverbs 1.5

We wanted to begin this book by sharing our personal stories.

Although looking back with the wisdom of years I (Sally) would say I had a process conversion as a young person; I also had a crisis conversion at the age of 14 and was baptized at Wycliffe Baptist Church in Reading. This changed my life. Being part of the youth group at that church is one of my happiest memories of adolescence: the acceptance, the welcome, the engagement with mission (thanks to Campus Crusade for Christ), the Bible study, the volunteering with younger children. Much of what I learned about ministry I learned there, as well as on my first mission trip overseas at 17 – working with the Church Army running holiday clubs for children whose parents were in the army in Germany. I am sad to say that I have lost touch with all of those people, and they will never know how formational they were in my life. I certainly didn’t have the words or courage to express it when I was 18 and leaving Reading for university. Perhaps the seeds of wanting to work with young people were planted then – it is what I have done throughout my life, although for much of it I have trained people to be youth workers too.

I (Jo) didn’t have much experience of Christian youth work, as I didn’t come to faith until I was 18. For a few months after that, though, before heading off for university, I spent some Sunday evenings with the youth fellowship of St Peter’s Church in Shipley, West Yorkshire that my friend Julie attended. Anne was one of the leaders of the group, and we met in the attic room of her house. Although I knew her for such a short time, she was incredibly influential as I began to learn what it means to be a Christian. She had lost her husband while working as a missionary in South America and had returned to England with two small children. I was fascinated by her lack of bitterness and the way she embraced life and spoke of Jesus with passion and commitment. Her eyes literally shone, and I wonder if she thought I was a bit odd, as I was fascinated by them and probably stared far too much at her face! She was patient in listening to me and responding to my questions about God; she was full of laughter and fun and had warmth and hospitality which touched me deeply. She was a very ordinary person, and yet the impact she made on me was disproportionate to the amount of time I spent with her.

Most of us will probably have stories like this, of people who influenced and spent time with us when we were young. Some of us may have chosen to become youth workers or youth ministers, because we wanted young people to have the experiences and opportunities we did. Hopefully, many of us will have the privilege of hearing young people reflect on ways we have impacted and influenced, encouraged and inspired them through our work.

In many ways the things we do in youth work and ministry are very ordinary – we talk to young people, listen, share life, encourage and support, pray for them and share God with them. Youth work and ministry, however, goes far beyond that and encompasses attitudes, values and skills that can be learned, developed and honed. This book seeks to equip people who are on this journey in youth work or ministry, whether it is those who are taking initial, tentative steps as volunteers or those with years of experience. Whether you are at the beginning of the journey or have many years behind you, we hope you will be open to learning and willing to reflect and be challenged in order to stay fresh, authentic and passionate in your role.

The impetus for this book came from three main sources. The first was identifying a whole lot of topics where we wanted to be able to point students to some thinking on a key youth work issue from a Christian perspective. The second was wanting to model reflective practice and theological reflection, which is why we have a response to each chapter. This response may be in the form of a critique, a commentary, examples from practice or an alternative perspective, but hopefully it serves to generate further thinking and conversation. The third was the opportunities we have had to meet with fellow educators and practitioners within Children, Youth and Mission and more widely, particularly the International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry Conferences (http://www.iasym.net/). We have found conversations with colleagues locally, nationally and internationally informative and stimulating, and as we have edited this book have continued to be fascinated by the differences and the shared experiences that emerge from the different countries, cultures and contexts represented here.

Nick Shepherd sets the context for the book and explores what it means to be a Christian youth worker, drawing on the metaphor of wells and challenging us whether the well we draw from is Christ. The response by Graeme Thompson explores what youth workers may do and emphasizes the importance of the location of youth work within communities, while affirming the importance of drinking from the right well.

In Chapter 2 Sally Nash highlights the importance of self-awareness, reflexivity, discernment and being part of a community of practice in the pursuit of fruitfulness and wisdom, as we seek to become reflective practitioners and lifelong learners who are sustained long term in ministry. Responding, Fuzz Kitto draws on over 40 years of full-time ministry to emphasize the importance of continuing to learn, challenging scripts and the role of the Holy Spirit within our learning.

Andrew Root, in Chapter 3, offers a theoretical introduction to youth culture, drawing on the writings of Raymond Williams and suggesting that we need to engage in dialogue and take culture seriously, if we are going to engage theologically and ministerially with young people. Simon Hall in response discusses the adaptations youth workers and the Church need to consider, if we are to engage with the changing cultural context.

In Chapter 4 Jeremy Thomson offers an overview of theology as an essential underpinning discipline for our work with young people. Drawing on the analogy of a kitchen, he summarizes the main ingredients we need to consider and reflect on to do theology. He then discusses how we might engage young people in thinking theologically. Graham Stanton’s response challenges us to combine ingredients in the right way that lead us to seeing theology as a tool that helps us reflect on all of life and point young people towards Jesus.

Chapter 5 sees Graeme McMeekin drawing on the Bible and the writings of Augustine, Moltmann, Hauerwas and N. T. Wright to offer an insight to the significance of the kingdom of God for Christian youth work. What emerges is how our practice is influenced by our theology and how different our youth work might look depending on the perspective we favour. Reggie Nel then examines how we might explore the kingdom of God with young people in practice starting from the bottom up with those who never read the Bible but are shaped by other cultural media, particularly music.

Inclusive youth work is the theme of Chapter 6, and Andrew Smith grounds this in a case study of The Feast, an innovative project working with Muslim and Christian young people in Birmingham (UK). He articulates an inclusive theology and practice as a gospel imperative and roots this in a theological understanding of the term. In response Paul Fenton offers a challenge as to what else we might need to consider as inclusive youth workers, focusing on the here and now and the importance of going to where young people are, not just expecting them to come to us.

Amy Jacober, in Chapter 7, provides an overview of some of the latest thinking on identity development in adolescence, emphasizing the need to integrate rather than deny our particularities and locating theory within a theological framework as well as exploring how media can shape identity. Becca Dean draws on her own practice to discuss case studies that focus on the use of social networking in work with young people.

In Chapter 8 Sam Richards draws on a comprehensive exploration of the nature of friendship to consider the ways in which youth workers are ‘like a friend’ to young people and the implications of this for personal and professional boundaries. Ali Campbell uses his own experience as a youth worker to reflect further on some of the issues raised, highlighting the importance of acceptance, love, guidance and significance as foundations for effective work.

Chapter 9 takes the theme of Church, and Matt Brain considers this through the lens of the four marks of ‘one’, ‘holy’, ‘catholic’ and ‘apostolic’, exploring each of these in turn and drawing out implications for youth ministry. Bård Norheim draws on historical perspectives in his response, highlighting key marks of the Church for ministry today, in response to one of Brain’s closing questions, ‘Where is the Church?’

Jo Whitehead considers young people’s spirituality and faith development in Chapter 10, proposing the use of contextualized spiritual practices to encourage young people to develop spiritually in ways that affect the whole of life. Bert Roebben responds with some pedagogical perspectives on this important issue.

In Chapter 11 Karen Jones works creatively with the biblical metaphor of the shepherd and the sheep to explore key issues around pastoral care, engaging with how different understandings of the incarnation might inform and shape the ways in which youth workers might holistically care for young people. Jon Jolly’s response picks up on the analogy of the shepherd, using it to reflect on the practices and priorities of youth ministry.

In Chapter 12 Terry Linhart gives a considered overview of issues around mission,