tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933657345140990360.post5343813980128814705..comments2010-04-19T10:44:20.912-04:00Comments on Generation Yes: News & Spirituality for Unitarian Universalists Under 40: Share Your Faith #12: On Young Adult MinistryUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933657345140990360.post-57818780017076001332010-04-10T02:51:11.665-04:002010-04-10T02:51:11.665-04:00I believe that we need to meet half way. I know pe...I believe that we need to meet half way. I know personally as a young adult i have a very hard time trying to fit church and church events into my schedule, most young adults have unconventional jobs with unconventional hours that make it hard to go to church on Sunday. However i believe that i personally would make more of an effort if i felt like i was more welcomed and understood by the church. <br />Also Personally i find it hard to walk into a church that doesn't really have anyone my own age, yes, there are people close to my age but still that few years gap is hard.Jessicanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933657345140990360.post-68436887176288924862010-04-07T16:22:22.942-04:002010-04-07T16:22:22.942-04:00Our 20s/30s group at UUCAtlanta has around 380 peo...Our 20s/30s group at UUCAtlanta has around 380 people on our email list. I'd say the way to get young adults to come for a second week is go have a place they can go to meet others like them - a young adult group. <br /><br />Yes, tokenism is a problem. Our group went through a phase other Church groups asking us to "help us move tables" before we got to the "help us pick a new minister." Now members of our group have pretty much infiltrated every church committee out there inside our church. We just don't do anything at all with young adult groups outside of our church.<br /><br />There have been attempted to have RE classes on more life skills (like, buying a house for the first time) that are applicable to young adults - I would have attended some of them if it hadn't been for my work schedule. I would say that having some sort of social group is the first step, and then watch what comes out of the group. Ours kept growing and then exploded our members all over the church :DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933657345140990360.post-8484706788767613612010-04-07T00:01:31.006-04:002010-04-07T00:01:31.006-04:00I think forming a community is one of the biggest ...I think forming a community is one of the biggest ways to retain young adults. For me, having a strong youth group throughout high school was the biggest reason I kept going back. But going to virtually no UU community when I reached college was a huge shock. I ended up staying involved by joining larger organizations, and staying active with big, national things like Young Adult Caucus at GA.<br /><br />Thankfully, I did come back to UUism because I had such a strong upbringing in it. But even having a college group, or a young adult community at the church near my college would have made staying connected so much easier.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933657345140990360.post-47841468842363882132010-04-05T19:44:50.712-04:002010-04-05T19:44:50.712-04:00I also agree with Audra that the "pouncing&qu...I also agree with Audra that the "pouncing" factor is a turnoff. It is tough though when a church is so anxious to fill in the age gap and you are the minority. I remember when I was in my late teens and 20s not wanting my traditional church to become "trendy" on my behalf. I much preferred knowing I had a supportive community to come home to every week. And I definitely think it should involve the minister in some capacity - it just makes you feel taken seriously.Elizabethnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933657345140990360.post-81982796542593054662010-04-05T17:31:08.936-04:002010-04-05T17:31:08.936-04:00One thing that has really kept me connected to my ...One thing that has really kept me connected to my UU congregation as a young adult was the amazing experience I had in church school. I created bonds and friendships with many members, which has made me feel welcome to come back to services when I am able to.Embernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933657345140990360.post-12539207608232261642010-04-05T15:52:03.028-04:002010-04-05T15:52:03.028-04:00I agree with Audra, that the congregation should a...I agree with Audra, that the congregation should allow young adults to just be in the the church without demanding things of them. As a young adult myself, I definitely want to be welcomed to the church and noticed, though, rather than feel invisible. I agree that the church should not have to change, but it should make an effort to add programming specifically for the demographic, and to offer support. At my young adult group we are self sufficient, but look towards the leadership of the church for guidance and seek to be more involved with the church rather than just having our separate group. I want to feel fully welcomed and part of the the congregation, and I do feel supported by our minister. He and the lay leaders have been open to our concerns about wanting to be more active in the church, and they have fully embraced that. Now some of us are RE teachers, ushers, deacons, and on other committees. Those who do not have much time still go to Sunday Services. Our services incorporate singing with acoustic instruments, and a time for meditation that I personally find very spiritual and did not have in my church growing up. I would also love to see different districts getting together for YA workshops.sara d.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05279772242617130241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933657345140990360.post-1985669990876769982010-04-05T13:56:57.172-04:002010-04-05T13:56:57.172-04:00Very interesting and well thought out questionsVery interesting and well thought out questionsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933657345140990360.post-70415072422866311922010-04-04T21:26:06.294-04:002010-04-04T21:26:06.294-04:00This is a really difficult question. On one hand,...This is a really difficult question. On one hand, I don't think that church should have to change to fit young adults. On the other hand, the lack of young adults in the pews suggests that the church has to do *something*. The one thing I can think of from my own experience (and I mean this in the nicest possible way) is that churches need to make more of an effort not to pounce on new people the second they walk in the door. Of course this happens with new congregants of all ages, but I think it intimidates young adults (who might be walking into a church for the first time in their adult lives) most of all. Let young adults set their own pace of involvement. Don't automatically assume that they want to host coffee hour, do RE stuff, babycare or a committee. It could be that they need to take for a while before they have the desire/energy to become givers. Young adult ministry does not have to include anything extra. I think it can just be understanding that these people walking through your doors might be in the middle of multiple life changes. It could be that they just need to be able to sit in quiet meditation for an hour and leave. Eventually, many of them will become more involved-but let them decide when that will be and what that involvement entails.Audranoreply@blogger.com