The Workshop Will Begin in a Moment

Midsize Mania

New Ideas in UUYoung Adult/Campus Ministry

Introductions

This Conference Is Being Recorded

New Ideas in Unitarian Universalist Young Adult/Campus Ministry

Kayla Parker, UUA’s Campus Ministry Associate, kparker@uua.org

Nancy Combs-Morgan, MidAmerica Coordinator for Emerging Youth and Young Adult Ministries, ncombsmorgan@uua.org

Where do we start:Trends in Young Adult Ministry

Young adults in the 18-35 age range primarily self-identify themselves as being “spiritual and not religious”

In the last 10 years (since 9/11) young adults are seeking virtual and face to face opportunities to explore spiritual values; spiritual practices; values exploration and opportunities to demonstrate their values in action, i.e., social justice experiences.

What informs our understanding of critical trends in YA ministry?

www.faithformation2020.net

Driving Forces

Driving forces are the forces of change—social, economic, political, technological, educational, cultural, and religious—that are most likely to affect the future shape of faith formation.

The trends in this study indicate a need for congregations to incorporate a greater intentionality around multigenerational programming, especially expanded offerings for young adults.

Expressive Communalism

Young Adults have embedded their lives in spiritual communities in which their desire and need for both expressive/experiential activities, whether through art, music, or service-oriented activities, and for a close-knit, physical community and communion with others are met.

Creating deeper community through small groups

Making a difference through service Experiencing worship – reflecting their

culture (visual, musical, artistic, experiential)

Exploring religious tradition with depth, questioning, and applying faith to life

Utilizing technology to communicate the message and to connect people

Building cross-generational relationships

Forming spiritual practices & disciplines

www.faithformationlearningexchange.net

UU Young Adult Ministry

We are poised to respond to these trends in young adult ministry.

Report on Young Adult Ministry, Eric D.Dawson, http://www.cbd-mbd-uua.org/content/young-adult-campus-ministry

“Standing on the Side of Love”, http://www.standingonthesideoflove.org

“Our Whole Lives” for Young Adults – exploration of sexual health/ethics (MidAmerica training, last week of August 2012, St. Louis, MO), http://www.religiouseducation/curricula/ourwhole/

UU Campus Ministry

The Spiritual Life of College Students: A National Study of College Students’ Search for Meaning and Purpose

Higher Education Research Institute

Graduate School of Education & Information Studies

University of California, Los Angeles

Multi-year study beginning in 2003, surveys 112,232 entering first-year students attending 236 diverse colleges and universities in the U.S.

4 in 5 indicated “having an interest in spirituality” and “believing in the sacredness of life” AND have attended religious services in the past year

UU Campus Ministry

Doubting 10%

Seeking 23%

Conflicted 15%

Not Interested 15%

Secure 42%

UU Campus Ministry

Religious Preference . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PercentRoman Catholic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28None . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Baptist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Other Christian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Methodist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Lutheran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Presbyterian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Church of Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Other Religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Episcopalian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Jewish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Buddhist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Eastern Orthodox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Hindu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Islamic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1United Church of Christ . . . . . . . . . . 1Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) . . . . . . . .47th Day Adventist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Unitarian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Quaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

UU Campus Ministry

What does campus ministry look like?

Sending valentines day cards/exam care packages Inviting students to justice events Offering rides to worship and other events Inviting students over to dinner

Regular worship on campus Regular covenant group on campus OWL on campus Support of interfaith group on campus

UU Campus MinistryBest Practices

Institutional SupportFrom a congregational staff personFrom a dedicated lay leader/team of lay leadersIntegral part of what the congregation does

• Great neighborhood outreach Project

Support and recognition from congregation of individuals heading up this ministry

Institutional RelationshipMinistry to a particular group of students who need our ministry

nowLong-lasting relationship with another institution, two traditional

pillars of the community

UU Campus Ministry

Being More Visible, Changing More Lives

Start Campus Ministry Crew Start-up Questions and Answers

Build Campus Ministry Visioning Becoming Official Attracting and Retaining Members

Sustain Activity, program and curriculum examples

Resources for UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry

Campus Ministry UUA Campus Ministry Website:

http://www.uua.org/religiouseducation/campusministry YACM-Leaders Listserv:

http://www.uua.org/religiouseducation/youngadults/112286.shtml Campus UUs Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/CampusUUs

Young Adult Faith Formation 2020, http://lifelongfaith.com/faithformation2020.htm Ministry for Youth and Young Adults of Color/Mosaic Report,

http://www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/mosaic/index.shtml Young Adults, Spirituality and Service,

http://www.uua.org/action/service/index.shtml YA Service Journal,

http://www.uua.org/documents/yaya/11_ya_srvc_journal.pdf

Q & A

Thank You