1. Sponsored by the MidAmerica Region:
Prairie Star, Central Midwest & Heartland
Districts
Nancy Combs-
Morgan, ncombsmorgan@uua.org

3.  Can you just give us some good ideas?
 Can you keep our youth ministry from failing?
 Do you understand how different we are?
 Will you help my congregation understand it’s
not just about the numbers?
 Can you keep the politics away from youth
ministry?

4. o How we define this is a
reflection of our
congregational vision
o Keys to remember – is
your vision for youth
ministry:
spiritual, inclusive, mu
ltigenerational, faith
forming, and justice
seeking?

5.  One youth staff can
handle it.
 With a new youth
director, our
volunteers won’t have
to work so hard.

7.  Creates “Safe Space”
 Engenders a culture of creativity
 Nurtures theological reflection
 Integrates youth into the life of the congregation
 Provides an authentic, fun and passionate community
of belonging.
 Has a team of adult youth leaders who are growing in
faith
 Is part of a congregation where people are visibly
invested in youth (Kenda Creasy Dean)

8.  Control documents –
annual events calendar,
job descriptions, master
recruiting list,
curriculum template
 Youth ministry
mission/vision statement
 3 year plan
 Statement of values

9.  Emotional health – self
awareness is a key
 Appropriate boundaries-
use a team approach
 Intentional spiritual
practices
 Accountable
relationships –
institutional and
personal

10. Youth ministry is the
congregation’s
ministry, not just that of
specialists who can
relate to teenagers. The
mandate to BE THERE
for young people
belongs to the whole
faith community.
Kenda Creasy Dean

11.  Teams are crucial to
the long-term success
of youth ministry.
 The first step of calling
volunteers is the
hardest.
 Blanket appeals and
mass announcements
don’t work!

12. Start early – at least 6 months before volunteer
term begins
Identify your needs – RE
teachers, advisors, event
leaders/organizers, planning committee
members, small group leaders
Be strategic in recruiting
Develop master recruiting list for future use
Start smiling and dialing!

13. Sustainable Approach Traditional Approach
 Long-term focus on single o Episodic
issue focus, disconnected
 Responsibility shared by a meetings
team
o Responsibility carried by
 Regular meetings
 Working a plan
a youth staff person
o Concerns raised
 *Rev. Mark randomly and reactively
DeVries, “Sustainable o Expectation of quick fix;
Youth Ministry” reacting to anxiousness