Book, workshop address effective youth ministry

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
July 15, 2004

Since youth ministry was introduced in the United States about 30 years ago, like most things, the ministry has evolved. Researchers recently released their findings in a book titled Effective Practices for Dynamic Youth Ministry.

Kay Morrissey, the director of the Office of Faith Formation in the Diocese of Sioux City, attended a workshop this spring in Kansas City that centered on the book's findings. A series of workshops, a joint project between St. Mary's Press and the Center for Ministry Development, were held throughout the country to inform ministers about Effective Practices for Dynamic Youth Ministry.

"St. Mary's Press and the Center for Ministry Development had done a national study of 90-some parishes that showed effective youth ministry," she said. "Those parishes varied by geographic location, size, diversity of persons/cultures. It was broad-based."

In addition to gathering input from youth ministers and youth, researchers spoke with parents and other parish leaders.

Morrissey pointed out that the United States Catholic Conference in 1997 published a document on youth ministry titled Renewing the Vision. The idea behind the study by St. Mary's Press and the Center for Ministry Development was to determine how that document was being implemented and whether any dynamics of youth ministry had evolved since the document.

"In each chapter they tell what they found and give some practical suggestions for implementing those things as well as questions for assessment," she said.

The first chapter looked at parish support for youth ministry. It stated that youth feel at home in the parish when they are known and liked by parish members. It stressed the importance of integrating youth into the full life of the parish - committees, ministries and organizations -rather than only keeping youth as a separate entity.

Some practical steps to develop the parish/youth relationship include finding ways for youth to be involved in ministry, leadership and service; developing collaborative relationships and mutual support for other ministries in the parish; and strengthening the relationship between youth ministry and the pastor.

"When youth ministry began, it was seen as something that happened parallel to parish life. It intersected with parish life when it could, but it was mainly separate," noted Morrissey. She added that the paradigm that permeates through this book is the reality that for youth ministry to be truly effective it must impact total family units. "The thing that came through in all the parishes they visited was the fact that youth ministry was not seen as separate from parish life."

The second chapter looked at qualities of effective ministry. It determined that for programs to be effective they must be responsive and innovative to real lives, needs and interests of youth.

The book revealed that partnership with families is critical. Effective leaders connect with families by providing support services of consistent community about youth ministry, relationship building with parents and opportunities for parent/family involvement. At the same time, youth ministers need the support of parents.

The third chapter focused on program elements the researchers found to have special significance in strong programs. They determined that effective faith formation was a key component along with extended trips, liturgy, retreat experiences and Christian service experiences.

The research found that the spirituality and authenticity of the people working with the youth made a huge difference in the quality of the program. The components of evangelization and pastoral care were not found to be as prevalent in the research study as were envisioned in Renewing the Vision.

The fourth chapter looked specifically at leadership for effective youth ministry. Leadership of effective coordinators is based in an understanding of church mission, values, reflection on the components of youth ministry and an understanding of comprehensive youth ministry. Good coordinators were found to have these characteristics: healthy and well-balanced, dedicated and enthusiastic, good communicators, approachable, trustworthy and be a team-player within the parish. They know that youth ministry is the responsibility of the whole parish. They invite youth and adults, advocate for young people's place in the church and the programming that youth need.

"For the people that attended the conference and had been looking at the book, it became a hope-filled reality because it affirmed for people that they were on the right track," noted Morrissey. "It also gave them practical suggestions for what they might want to do if they found there were opportunities for growth in a particular area."

Morrissey recently sent out to pastors, pastoral ministers and youth leaders an overview of the book.

"I also gave assessment questions from the book and gave them some other reflection questions that they might look at, at the local level," she said.

The book also addresses that no one model for youth ministry will fit for every parish, with this in mind Morrissey hopes the suggestions and reflections offered in the book will help parishes and/or cluster establish an effective program that needs their unique needs.