The Role of Youth Pastor
Doug Jones is musing about the changing role of the youth pastor on his website. link He read my earlier post and was including his thoughts. Great stuff.
"I remember one day on a retreat writing down all the different roles I played as a youth worker. It was out of control. I didn’t save the list, but I know that the following were on it - roles I fulfilled over one months time.
communicator
counselor
trainer
concert promoter
activity director
janitor
leader
event planner
administrator
program director
caterer
travel agent
The roles didn’t include other things outside of my job - like father, son, husband, friend…
To say that the calling on youth workers can get confusing is an understatement. There are many expectations among those we serve and among those we work for. Youth Workers themselves don’t always make it easy either, they can bring a bit of baggage to the role, as well (another set of competing hopes, dreams and expectations!). What I see when I look at such a list (like the one above) is that we can think in terms of the calling to youth ministry as something we fulfill by what we DO rather than something of the person we ARE BECOMING. When we think in terms of youth ministry we seem to act like the greatest thing we can offer others is something we DO for them - and honestly this is where things get mixed up. We find outselves on a hamster wheel of youth ministry activities and events. I believe those in youth ministry need to rethink the activity assumption. We need to consider that the calling of youth ministry might be a calling to offer others who we are becoming.
What if the call to youth ministry is a call to offer others the very thing we see Jesus offering the disciples, an offer to be with Him (Mark 3:13-14). The sharing of our life. The glimpse at our flaws and at God’s gracious work taking shape in us. To share our journey of becoming more like Christ. To offer commentary on how God is shaping our story.
Responding to God’s call to minister with/for youth by being who we are in the midst of a community of students is a profound new way to think about the primary role of youth pastor. This doesn’t mean we DO nothing; but it does mean we don’t DO everything. It means that lots of activity doesn’t necessarily mean that ministry is happening. It means rethinking the shape of youth ministry staffs, programs, and traditions. It means re-pacing the ministry seasons and years. It demands a review and revision of the typical job description and enlarging our vision of the skill set and demeanor of a youth ministry candidate. It requires that churches seriously consider the priorities of what the church should offer it’s youth. It requires a team approach - it is the church body’s obligation to minister to it’s people, not merely a church employee’s. Much more could be said about this, and over time I am sure (and hoping) that it will be said, by more and more who love the church and love her youth!"
"I remember one day on a retreat writing down all the different roles I played as a youth worker. It was out of control. I didn’t save the list, but I know that the following were on it - roles I fulfilled over one months time.
communicator
counselor
trainer
concert promoter
activity director
janitor
leader
event planner
administrator
program director
caterer
travel agent
The roles didn’t include other things outside of my job - like father, son, husband, friend…
To say that the calling on youth workers can get confusing is an understatement. There are many expectations among those we serve and among those we work for. Youth Workers themselves don’t always make it easy either, they can bring a bit of baggage to the role, as well (another set of competing hopes, dreams and expectations!). What I see when I look at such a list (like the one above) is that we can think in terms of the calling to youth ministry as something we fulfill by what we DO rather than something of the person we ARE BECOMING. When we think in terms of youth ministry we seem to act like the greatest thing we can offer others is something we DO for them - and honestly this is where things get mixed up. We find outselves on a hamster wheel of youth ministry activities and events. I believe those in youth ministry need to rethink the activity assumption. We need to consider that the calling of youth ministry might be a calling to offer others who we are becoming.
What if the call to youth ministry is a call to offer others the very thing we see Jesus offering the disciples, an offer to be with Him (Mark 3:13-14). The sharing of our life. The glimpse at our flaws and at God’s gracious work taking shape in us. To share our journey of becoming more like Christ. To offer commentary on how God is shaping our story.
Responding to God’s call to minister with/for youth by being who we are in the midst of a community of students is a profound new way to think about the primary role of youth pastor. This doesn’t mean we DO nothing; but it does mean we don’t DO everything. It means that lots of activity doesn’t necessarily mean that ministry is happening. It means rethinking the shape of youth ministry staffs, programs, and traditions. It means re-pacing the ministry seasons and years. It demands a review and revision of the typical job description and enlarging our vision of the skill set and demeanor of a youth ministry candidate. It requires that churches seriously consider the priorities of what the church should offer it’s youth. It requires a team approach - it is the church body’s obligation to minister to it’s people, not merely a church employee’s. Much more could be said about this, and over time I am sure (and hoping) that it will be said, by more and more who love the church and love her youth!"
Labels: youth ministry
posted by mark at
8:41 AM
3 Comments:
Why is it Pastors constantly need to let people know the roles they fill?
All the roles you mention are what ministry people do. Are you called to that position or not?
Any job, be it one you are called to or serving coffee at 7-11 requires the person to fill multiple roles. It's reality.
Next time a Pastor wants to make lists of all the many roles they fill maybe make a list of all those roles, plus working a secular job, butting the grass, repairing the furnace, AND THEN perform volunteer ministry roles.
Pastors need to spend less time whining and more time seeking God's guidance for their role in the Church.
anonymous,
i appreciate your thoughts. (though I disagree) i'd appreciate them more if you left your name. You seem to be passionate about your ideas, put your name to them if this is the case.
mark
anonymous -
thanks for the thoughts... many might use such an approach to "complain" - that was not my intention. I was merely trying to help readers understand that many youth workers get into a trap of keeping activity going, and in the midst of that activity become disconnected from the role of being with kids (fully present)... being a model and example of Christ.
And I hear you - I am a volunteer in my current ministry and keep a full-time and part-time job going... it is definitely a challenge - and makes me even more diligent to keep the focus on what am I becoming and what can I offer youth from who I am becoming- rather than what I can do for them...
Thanks again for the thoughts.
Doug
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