Christian Mission in the 21st century

Some reflections and resources from the Rev. Greg Bezilla, Chaplain at Rutgers State University of New Jersey and Campus Ministry Coordinator for Province II. Please share the links and feel free to comment and begin some conversation.

Below are more than seven resources for understanding better the changing context of ministry with emerging and young adults and for discerning what might be effective for Christian mission in the 21st century:

1. Religious affiliation is declining, especially for people under age 30:

National Public Radio is broadcasting a series of reports “Losing Our Religion” about the rising number of the religiously unaffiliated. A third of people under age 30 report no religious affiliation!

Listen to a discussion about the reasons for trend toward no religious affiliation:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/01/14/169164840/losing-our-religion-the-growth-of-the-nones

Listen to young adults discuss the loss of faith:

http://www.npr.org/2013/01/15/169342349/more-young-people-are-moving-away-from-religion-but-why

The NPR series interviews Robert Putnam, author of Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community – an influential work describing the decline of membership in all institituions of American society and the weakening of all institutions in American society:

Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community

2.  Sex, booze & Facebook:

College bars are no longer popular as meeting places; read and reflect on profound changes in the lives of emerging and young adults that can be traced to the influence of mobile technology and social media:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/27/fashion/for-college-students-social-media-tops-the-bar-scene.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Dating is very different today – it may be disappearing. Read about “hook up” culture of emerging adults:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/13/fashion/the-end-of-courtship.html

Perhaps the most insightful reckoning with technology and social media and of the losses for intimacy and community is MIT professor Sherry Turkle’s Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other.  Listen to an interview with the author:

http://www.npr.org/2012/10/18/163098594/in-constant-digital-contact-we-feel-alone-together

3. The way forward begins by acknowledging that our Christian institutions may be experiencing a “dark night of the soul”:

In “Dark Night of the Church” by L. Roger Owens and Anthony B. Robinson (Christian Century, Dec. 26, 2012) learn from St. John of the Cross  and reframe Christian leadership  as spiritual direction: enabling us as a church to sit in safety and acknowledge the brokenness of declining institutions and the ineffectiveness of many religious programs in a time of rapid cultural change.  Note that reading the article online requires a paid subscription (but if you’re interested, I can share with you copy of the text): http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2012-12/dark-night-church

4. If religious institutions are broken or declining, then who can be saved?

As a doctoral student at Princeton Theological Seminary, David Lohse ministered in several New Jersey congregations; today, as a professor at Luther Theological Seminary, he reflects on institutional inertia, the renewal of the Church, and what we all might learn from the book and film Moneyball about asking better questions for the future of the Church:

http://www.faithandleadership.com/blog/01-10-2013/david-lose-its-time-think-differently

5. The most important time of faith formation may be childhood and the most important influence on young people is the influence of adults in their family – that’s a principal finding of the most singificant study of religion in youth and emerging adults, the National Study of Youth and Religion.  For a list of related publications: http://www.youthandreligion.org/publications/books.html

See especially Christian Smith’s Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers.  There is a related DVD that is an engaging discussion starter (and I have a copy I’d be glad to loan to your church) – view the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqGkiToWBs0

6. The place to engage youth, emerging and young adults is mission outside the walls of the church.  An excellent resource for engaging the theological imagination for reflection, discussion and experimentation in ministry is Dwight J. Zscheile’s People of the Way: Renewing Episcopal Identity.   It’s the 2013 One Book for the Diocese of New Jersey, and there are a limited number of copies available FREE to churches in the diocese by contacting Sarah Paige at Diocesan House: spaige@newjersey.anglican.org

7.  What’s in your cup?  Do you know about “Darkwood Brew”?  This weekly webcast originates from a Midwestern coffee house and features a jazz band, live audience, social media interactions, and Skype interviews with theologians and ministers from a variety of churches and traditions: http://darkwoodbrew.org

What’s working in your churches or ministries.?  What’s broken?  What insights and understandings would you like to share about ministry with emerging and young adults?  What are your questions?

Yours in Christ,
Greg+

Three Students

Check out this short video about a few of the students at Rockwell House!  We had a lot of fun making this!

Interfaith Progressive Dinner

One of the annual traditions at UC Davis is to have an Interfaith Progressive Dinner each November.  Held the week before Thanksgiving, it gives students the chance to come into four different ministry centers: CA House (Methodist, Presbyterian, and UCC ministry), Hillel, the Islamic Center, and the Belfry (Lutheran and Episcopal) - my ministry.  At each house we pair up with another ministry – the Unitarians, Newman Center, Sikhs, Buddhists, etc. – so that everyone is represented.  It takes about 2 1/2-3 hours to go to each house and eat, etc., but it is always a highlight of the school year.

As with any progressive dinner, the meal is served in courses: appetizers in one place, soup & salad in another, main course at another stop, and finally dessert.  To accommodate religious food restrictions we agree to have all food be vegetarian – no meat at all.  We also agree in advance that this night is not about proselytizing.  Our goal is to have the students meet each other and to share/learn something about each faith tradition.

This year, each group shared whatever would be their traditional food blessing.  Not all groups have a prayer like this that is universally accepted, but some definitely do.  Our group sang the doxology.  The food is always delicious and it is so nice to be welcomed into each ministry space.  It demystifies what happens behind the doors of each center and allows everyone to see and hear something about what each group does.  Students routinely ask for more events like this by the end of the night.

This is one way we have interfaith dialogue and collaboration on our campus.  How does it happen on yours?

Appalachian State University

The Rev. Beth Turner talks about moveable feasts and a new “community design” project in the Diocese of Western North Carolina.

Read more about the Diocese of Western North Carolina’s work with young adults

Read more about FTE’s Vocation Care Practices

4 years later…

In October of 2008, I was just beginning my first full year of ministry as Campus Chaplain at UC Davis.  And we were in the home stretch of the election.  It seemed as if politics were everywhere on campus.  The various campaigns were represented on campus each day, political signs, t-shirts, bumper stickers were pervasive.  We even had a “No on Prop 8” sign in front of the Belfry (which was stolen, and brought at least one angry person inside questioning how a Christian ministry could be in favor of same sex marriage).  Students gathered in the Belfry living room to watch the debates together, which turned out to be a natural community builder.  The twists and turns of the election were common post-worship dinner fodder, and I was impressed at how the students could discuss these serious issues in a serious but meaningful way, without alienating each other.

Now, in October of 2012, the fact that it is an election year is mostly strangely absent from campus.  Certainly there are pockets of interest, especially in certain statewide propositions.  But the general interest level in things like the presidential debates is relatively low.  Bill Clinton spoke at a rally on campus last week, and that was one of the few big signs of this being an election year I’ve seen thus far.  Thousands of people gathered on the quad to hear Clinton, but it’s hard to know if they were there for the political rally or to hear a former president speak in person.

It’s really strange.  When asked, students express interest in the election, but it doesn’t seem to be on their minds, bodies, backpacks, etc., the way it was in 2008.  Which makes me wonder, what is it like this year on your campus?  Are students engaged in the election the way they were in 2008 or is this year different?  And why is that?

5 Trends You Should Know About To Be A Better Chaplain

As the new school year has begun and the academic church year is on its way I thought it would be a great time to catch you up on a few trends sweeping the undergraduate community.  You might think these trends are irrelevant and meaningless to doing ministry on campus, but as you might know, context isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.

If you are interested in last year’s trends CLICK HERE!

5. Pinterest 

Pinterest isn’t exactly new, but it’s certainly feels new.  No status updates, quizzes  or silly games taking up your timeline on Pinterest, it’s just a collection of what people like!  It has taken social media and made it beautiful.  The collage of images and ideas enhances the internet experience, and undergrads are all over it!

4. Mumford and Sons 

Mumford and Sons isn’t just a blip on the radar.  It’s seriously good music and students know it!  It may not be on everyone’s iPod, but it’s certainly a better representation of music than, let’s say, LMFAO.  

3. Riding Boots are the New Uggs

I’m not fashion expert, but the days of sweat pants and Uggs have been replaced by tights and riding boots.  Young women all over campus are asking their moms and dads to head out to the barn to dust off those Ariat English Riding Boots and to send them to campus in a care package ASAP! And I don’t blame them.  They are very classy and simple and they surely look better than the oh so tired combo of Uggs and sweats.      

2. Memes

The Urban Dictionary defines a meme as “an idea, belief or belief system, or pattern of behavior that spreads throughout a culture either vertically by cultural inheritance (as by parents to children) or horizontally by cultural acquisition (as by peers, information media, and entertainment media).”  Basically it’s taking something that is relevant (iPhone 5 maps disaster as pictured on Columbus Day) and spicing it up with a little snark.  Memes can be fun, often funny, but unfortunately they (like so many other things on the internet) can be predictable and boring.  But their still hot and I’d imagine that they will continue to stay hot.  

1. Gangnam Style

I don’t even know how to describe this.  And I’m not really sure if it’s even appropriate to acknowledge that it exists.  But it does and everyone knows about it, so you should too! 

  

Apply to be on a CCAB!

The Episcopal Church needs YOUR voice! Nominate yourself or someone else to serve on a churchwide committee, commission agency or board this triennium. Applications are open to lay and clergy members of the Episcopal Church. Committees cover a variety of topics including women’s rights, social justice, liturgy and music, communications, health, world mission and many others. A great way to get involved, learn more about the incredible work of the Episcopal Church, and bring your gifts to the service of the wider body. Deadline for nominations is August 1.

Read more:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/notice/nominations-open-until-august-1-continue-work-general-convention

Here is a list of the CCAB’s you can be nominated for:

SC means Standing Commission, ECC means Executive Council Committee
SC/Anglican & International Peace with Justice Concerns 1st Choice
SC/Communication & Information Technology
SC/Constitution & Canons
SC/Ecumenical & Interreligious Relations
SC/Health
SC/Lifelong Christian Formation & Education
SC/Liturgy & Music
SC/Ministry Development
SC/Mission & Evangelism
SC/Small Congregations
SC/Social Justice & Public Policy
SC/Stewardship & Development
SC/Structure
SC/World Mission
ECC/Anti-Racism
ECC/Audit
ECC/Corporate Social Responsibility
ECC/Economic Justice Loan
ECC/Episcopal News Service Advisory
ECC/HIV-AIDS
ECC/Indigenous Ministries
ECC/Investment
ECC/Jubilee Ministry Advisory
ECC/Science, Technology & Faith
ECC/Status of Women
Task Force/Older Adult Ministries

Hazel Johnson at Why Serve 2012

Singing I Need Thee Every Hour at the Culture Night liturgical celebration

Building Your Résumé

College is fantastic, right?  Well, maybe not for all.  I suppose it can be a bad experience.  But for most of the students I encounter it is a period of fun mixed with intense study and intentional exploration. 

For six years I’ve watched a culture of young adults gather in a community focused on academics.  Of course, that’s the stated obvious focus but it’s often not the whole.  Extracurricular activities such as playing sports, watching sports, acapella groups, debate teams, student councils, theatre groups, community service groups, fraternities and sororities, and yes even campus ministries can shape and set the tone to a student’s college experience…not the actual school work.  Academics are always at the core but rarely are they the whole. 

Usually it’s rare to meet an 18 year old who knows what they want to do the rest of their life, but at Wash U. it seems to be the norm.  High school students with high aspirations and blemish-free report cards and résumés land in a sea of students with equally impressive résumés.  This sets the stage for a very competitive and intense atmosphere in the classroom and in the social construct. 

It’s chaotic and very entertaining to be a witness to this very competitive environment.   It’s not only in the classroom, but it’s in sports (best overall NCAA DIII school in the nation), the acapella groups, councils, and the million clubs.   Students are out to succeed and they mean it. 

The spirit of success is great, and I certainly support it.  In fact, I believe most of the students at Wash U. not only want to succeed, but they want to contribute to the world in a manner that will only make it a better place. 

Recently a group of students from Wash U. found a running clothing company called Janji that not only makes awesome running clothes, but it’s a non-profit movement that aims to end the global food and water crisis.  Through selling their running apparel they fund solutions and raise awareness to brining clean water and food to the world. 

If this isn’t inspiring I’m not sure what is. 

What is most inspiring to me is that these students were called to create something beautiful in the world and they followed this call.  Sure, the most obvious route might have been to wait until they graduate and follow the standard path (grad school), but the Janji founders didn’t follow conventional wisdom, and took their love of running and made an impact in the world…all while still in college! 

I love this story because to me it’s not just about the résumé.  It’s more than about getting straight A’s.  It’s so much more than just looking good on paper.  I worry that too many students are so fixated on being perfect on paper that they lose touch with other valuable, artistic, cultural, spiritual, philanthropic aspects of life that give a person character and show a person’s care for the world. 

I completely support students who strive for academic perfection, but when it comes at a cost of only doing things that make you look better, I can’t support it. 

I know most of us have a little overachiever in us.  I have it, my wife has it, my kids have it, my students at Mizzou had it, and my Wash U. and SLU students definitely have it too.  It’s not a bad thing, but it can be if it’s the whole of your substance.  I know I want to find a wholesome balance in life that helps me help others.  It’s what God calls us to do…and it’s through this lived discipleship that we show our love for God and each other, not through building our résumés.   

Why Serve 2012

A Vocational Discernment Conference for Young Adults of Color (Ages 18-30)

June 6-10 just outside Washington D.C.

Hosted by Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, VA

 Register today!

Discernment, Leadership and Spirituality in the New Community

We are all called by God, but what does that mean for you?

Young Adults (age 18-30) from the Asian, Black, Latino and Native communities of the Episcopal Church will gather just outside DC this summer for five days of fellowship, training, discernment, self-care, and a whole lot of laughter as they explore this question. Wherever you are on your journey, young adulthood is a time of transition and choices, but you don’t have to go it alone.

So whether you are feeling called to be a priest, a vestry member, a nurse, a father, or a cook; whether you’re in school, working, or just in-between; whether you’re a regular church-goer, a used-to goer, or a seeker, we hope you’ll join us for this transformative experience.

Together we’ll engage these and other questions:

The New Community – The face of our church is changing and we are being made a new thing. How do we renew ourselves as leaders and celebrate our diversity without repeating past mistakes of power inequality, an ethos of scarcity, and the exclusion many of our communities faced in the past and continue to face today?

Identity – In order to take our place as ministers and leaders we must know who we are. What does it look like to be a young adult Episcopalian of color? What does it mean for you to embrace your evolving and complex identity as a child of God?

Advocacy – We’ll take a day to see the sites of DC and explore what it means to be a person of faith engaged in our civic and common life. Who are the least-of-these that you are called to Advocate for?

The Rev. Angela Ifill, Black Ministries

Sarah Eagle Heart, Indigenous Ministries

The Rev. Anthony Guillen, Latino/Hispanic Ministries

The Rev. Fred Vergara, Asiaamerica Ministries

For more information please contact Angie Cabanban at 212-716-6186 or acabanban@episcopalchurch.org

Registration: $65.00 (Includes meals, lodging and conference costs; does NOT include travel)

The deadline for registration is Sunday, May 15, 2012