The Future of Youth Ministry

In my last blog I wrote about the cultural shift that has taken place in our country.  Some behaviors, cohabitation and homosexuality have become acceptable.  The millennial generation is leading the cultural revolution.  Over 60% of millennials not only view cohabitation as acceptable but advantageous. They have a similar perspective on the Gay-Lesbian issue.  As I noted, I still view such behavior as being contrary to God’s desire for his people.  I also believe a majority of my peers share that opinion.  As stated in the blog entry, I still maintain the local church needs to stand with parents in equipping young people to make choices that run according to God’s plan.  That begins by not only teaching young people God’s Word but applying it.  It also means standing with them as they grapple with the application of God’s Word in their life.

 

As I pointed out at the close of that article, I still view a strong youth, college and young adult ministry .  Trained youth and education professionals can play a vital role in that process.  I aone of the key components ism a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) and within our denomination that role in many cases in filled by directors of Christian education (DCE).  DCE’s and others who fill such positions are not “Pied Pipers” but trained professionals who equip others to join them in their ministry. 

I am blessed to be member of the Texas District of the LCMS.  Texas has more trained DCE’s than any other district.  Our local DFW-DCE Cluster has over twenty active members.  A major factor in the strong DCE presence in Texas is that Concordia University of Texas trains more DCE’s than any other school in the Concordia University System.  We also are blessed to have a District President who is strongly supportive of Christian education and youth ministry. 

While I feel fortunate to be in such a fertile area when it comes to DCE and youth ministry, I have a concern for the church at large.  DCE’s are rostered by our church body as Commissioned Ministers but I fear an effort to downplay that office of the ministry.  I sense a desire to centralize training so that all workers are trained at the seminary.  Men are trained to be pastors and women are trained to be deaconess. 

I most certainly do not want to downplay the role of the parish pastor; lest I offend my two sons both of whom are ordained.  The reality is that most pastors are generalist.  Even those who have a passion for youth ministry usually have to shoulder other responsibilities.  While many DCE’s are generalist, a good number are children or youth ministry specialist.  In such cases, their focus is mentoring young people in the faith and equipping others to do the same. 

Equipping and supporting DCE’s and those who play similar roles is an important component in passing the torch to the next generation.