The Theological Turn in Youth Ministry Part 1 - The Necessity of Theology
I was thrilled to receive a review copy of The Theological Turn in Youth Ministry by Kenda Dean and Andrew Root from the folks at InterVarsity press. Thanks!Dean is professor of youth, church and culture at Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ and Root is associate professor of youth and family ministry at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN.
In the first few pages The Theological turn in Youth Ministry, Dean and Root provide (among other things) an overview of how youth ministry is changing. It's clear that youth ministry is moving away from program-oriented, fun-and-games-centered, youth-aren't-really-part-of-the-church ministry. Certainly youth ministry thus described is still practiced by a large number (maybe even the majority) of congregations but the leading edge of youth workers all sense that something new is coming.
The book is divided into two sections:
- Part One: Theological Starting Points briefly surveys the history of youth ministry leading to the present day and then, via a series of previously-published essays, proceeds to situate the contemporary practice of youth ministry squarely within both the practice of the entire church and within the discipline of practical theology. Youth ministry for Dean and Root is not merely a 'program' for teaching Christian doctrine as typically conceived to young people. Rather, it is a practical theological journey that prepares young people to exercise their role as living members of Christ's body in the present.
- Part Two: Theology Enacted explores the logical outcome of youth ministry as practical theology. Youth ministry, it turns out, is one of the best places to start if we want church people to "think theologically" about what it means to be a person in today's world.
So far, I like what I'm reading. The authors of course do more than just provide an overview. Indeed, they jump directly into the theological task with gusto. This is no lightweight, fun-and-games youth ministry textbook. The authors take seriously the theological task and the ways in which youth workers can become "local theologians" and equip the young people and adults they work with to do the same.
Moreover, they do not shy away from the use of theological language. This is not something that I expected even though the word "theological" is in the title of the book. Typically, books on youth ministry don't really mean "theology" when they use the word -- what is typically meant (in my experience) is "spirituality" or simply "asking good questions." But Dean and Root are not afraid to drink deeply from the waters of Barth, Bonhoeffer, Tillich, Ray Anderson, Douglas John Hall, Luther and others. Nor are they afraid to insist that, yes, personal spiritual development is important but so is sustained theological reflection if we who "do youth ministry" are to be taken seriously and if we are to be sure that the work we are doing is actually worthwhile. No, not every youth worker needs a theological degree (though that wouldn't hurt) but we do need to develop habits of deep prayer, critical thought and intentional engagement with the Bible, theology and the social sciences if we are to say that we are doing ministry in a way that takes the complexities of postmodern culture seriously.
Both authors are able to skillfully connect the concrete and pastoral realities of working in ministry with young people with research from theology and the social sciences in a way that does not obscure the call of God to proclaim the Gospel of Christ in our ministries and our lives.
As I continue reading, I'll continue writing about my impressions of The Theological Turn in Youth Ministry. In the meantime, if this sounds like a book you'd like to buy, you can check it out at Google Books and even pre-order it on Amazon.com (it doesn't come out until October).
You can also see Dean and Root talk a bit about the book itself below:
Moreover, they do not shy away from the use of theological language. This is not something that I expected even though the word "theological" is in the title of the book. Typically, books on youth ministry don't really mean "theology" when they use the word -- what is typically meant (in my experience) is "spirituality" or simply "asking good questions." But Dean and Root are not afraid to drink deeply from the waters of Barth, Bonhoeffer, Tillich, Ray Anderson, Douglas John Hall, Luther and others. Nor are they afraid to insist that, yes, personal spiritual development is important but so is sustained theological reflection if we who "do youth ministry" are to be taken seriously and if we are to be sure that the work we are doing is actually worthwhile. No, not every youth worker needs a theological degree (though that wouldn't hurt) but we do need to develop habits of deep prayer, critical thought and intentional engagement with the Bible, theology and the social sciences if we are to say that we are doing ministry in a way that takes the complexities of postmodern culture seriously.
Both authors are able to skillfully connect the concrete and pastoral realities of working in ministry with young people with research from theology and the social sciences in a way that does not obscure the call of God to proclaim the Gospel of Christ in our ministries and our lives.
As I continue reading, I'll continue writing about my impressions of The Theological Turn in Youth Ministry. In the meantime, if this sounds like a book you'd like to buy, you can check it out at Google Books and even pre-order it on Amazon.com (it doesn't come out until October).
You can also see Dean and Root talk a bit about the book itself below:
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