Youth are called by the Holy
Spirit through Word and Sacrament to full partnership in the community of faith, and
challenged to full participation in the life and mission of Christ and his church. This
means:
- Youth ministries are centered in baptism, the proclamation
and study of the Word, and participation in the Lord's Supper;
- Youth are the church of today as well as the church of the
future;
- Youth ministries are by, with, and for youth;
- Youth share in shaping the church's response to the
gospel in both its theology and mission to the world; and
- Youth ministries are integrated with and not separated from
the mainstream of the church's life and mission.
Youth ministries attend to the full range of life issues of
the youth of the congregation and community. This means youth ministries:
- are person-oriented;
- are family-conscious;
- look beyond the youth group to the youth of the congregation,
local community, and world;
- emphasize witness and service as well as nurture and
community; and
- see all of life included in the reconciling gospel of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
Definition for Youth Ministry
Youth are people from the early adolescent years through the
young adult years.
Youth ministries are youth and adults working together that
youth might grow and participate in their baptismal relationships with their Lord,
themselves, and the world through the means of grace and the congregation's ministries of
proclamation, teaching, worship, community, witness, and service.
Emphases
Youth ministry happens when youth live their Christian faith
by:
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Youth realize the significance of their baptism into
Christ and join with other Christians and peers for fellowship, fun, mutual support,
and growth, including people of all cultural communities, and all physical and mental
abilities. |
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Youth worship and respond to God through the
Word and
Sacraments and gather together in thanks and praise. |
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Youth grow in understanding themselves, their personal
relationships, and their Christian faith in the context of the total Christian community
including persons of all ages and abilities. |
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With the help and by the power of the Holy Spirit, youth
tell the good news of Jesus Christ in words and actions, affirming and sharing their faith
with others. |
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Youth minister to the physical, spiritual, and social
needs of others by visiting the sick and imprisoned, befriending those who are alone, and
attending to the needs all their neighbors. |
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Youth study the scriptures and our Christian heritage,
developing God-given talents and skills and becoming committed to leadership and ministry
in the church and community. |
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Youth live faithfully as caretakers of God's world,
respecting the earth, managing self and possessions, and giving time and personal
resources to God's work in the world. |
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Youth respond to the call of Christ to work for fairness
and a just way of life for all people, especially the poor, oppressed, and forgotten. |
(Adapted from
the original document produced by the ELCA transition team for Youth Ministry,
1988.)
Questions, comments or
suggestions concerning this page? Send email to
rod.boriack@elca.org
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