I was recently asked to submit a proposal to teach two
online seminary classes. Not
a surprise they want me to focus on Youth Ministry. I generally think that a ton of the skills you learn in the
Student Ministry world translate pretty well into the rest of the church so I’m
trying to broaden the potential scope of at least one of the classes.
Here’s where I could use some help. The class that I think could have the
greatest reach outside of the youth Ministry world is the class I want to call “Technology in the Church: the changing
world and how we interact with it.”
I want this class to be more than just a Facebook primer
though. You can help me by giving
me some things you would want to learn in a class like this and what types of
books and learning outcomes you would most be interested in. I’m specifically looking for project
ideas and what books you have read that might fit.
I hope this doesn’t sound like I’m asking you to plan this
class. My teaching style is all
about practical theology and real world help and solutions. Because of that I don’t want to rely on
just myself to come up with ideas.
I could put this together but it might not have the greatest reach that
I’m hoping.
The second class I’m kicking around is a more basic Youth
Ministry: Leadership type class. In this one I’m hoping my experience as a
youth pastor at several churches as well as my network of friends and other
youth workers will give me huge resources to draw on to provide multiple models
and ideas to help youth workers develop their leadership style. I’m hoping to do quite a bit with some
gift assessment resources that help the youth worker develop a model of
ministry that both fits their personality and gifts as well as meets the need
of their church. This might be one
of those classes that you take where you realize that your gifts are really
suited for the model your church has and something might need to change.
There you have it.
Professor Rood and his ideas. Tear them apart or give me some better
ones. I’m interested in helping
the youth ministry world and this is a great opportunity for that to happen.
I probably wouldn’t take a technology class. (I am currently in seminary) My current experience is most kids have a facebook, many use it, many don’t. I know how to do reach those that do. Most kids don’t Twitter. They don’t email. They text. If I want to be sure to get the kids attention, I text them.
I would be interested in a leadership class that works with my style. Most leadership classes work with a basic this is how you should do it, but I haven’t seen one that shows ME how to lead with my gifts and strengths. I’d really be interested if you used Strengths Finder and worked with those strengths.
Thanks Beth. Thats really helpful. I wonder if using the word technology in the title would scare people away. Good insight. I appreciate your help.
Sent from my phone
My leadership class in seminary was one of my favorites. We worked with Henri Nouwen and started with the soul of the youth worker. We concentrated mostly on kind of a “primus” model where the youth worker functions as a leader of leader among leaders. Spent a lot of time talking through how that looks in real life. Good stuff.
As something of tech dude myself and a long time youth minister, I have made all the mistakes that are related pushing the bounds of good theology because I found “such a great video clip” for an illustration. I guess the point is that all we do using technology creatively still deserves to built on the groundwork of solid, biblical theology. A class that teaches practical uses of technology paralleling rules of biblical interpretation and teaching (Howard Hendricks: Living by the Book)is one suggestion off the top of my balding head.