2022 Resolution #5:
Task Force on Young Adult Ministries
Secretary of the Convention
Last Update: September 23rd, 2022
Status
This proposed resolution has been reviewed by the Committee on Resolutions and is in its final form. The committee intends to report it to the Convention for its consideration.
Resolved, That the 173rd Convention of the Diocese of California hereby forms a Task Force on Young Adult Ministries to consult with the Faith Formation Working Group, to gather information on the ministry needs of young adults in the Bay Area, and to make recommendations to meet those needs in the Diocese of California;
Resolved, That this Task Force shall be appointed by the Bishop or the Bishop’s designee, shall consist of at least seven members, and shall include a high school student, an undergraduate student, a graduate student, a young adult who is not a student, and a current or former campus minister; and
Resolved, That the Task Force shall report its findings to Diocesan Convention in 2023 and 2024 and to the Program and Budget Committee of Executive Council by February, 2024.
Explanation:
Young adult ministry is an important way the church keeps its baptismal promise to support persons in their life in Christ. It also serves a unique role in supporting people through a period of transition and change in their lives and is an important form of evangelism, one of the three pillars of the Beloved Community. Campus and young adult ministries provide a culture where individuals can imagine and explore possibilities for ministry necessary for the continued vitality of the church and God’s work in the world.
The scope of this task force is centered on young adults (late teens, twenties, and thirties) in recognition that people in this age group may or may not attend college with a campus ministry or move away from their family and church of origin. The work of the task force may include surveys, interviews, and consulting with experts in the wider church.
There is also a particular and acute need for LGBTQ+ affirming ministry on many campuses, where Christian life might otherwise be represented by non-affirming groups. As Covid and remote schooling have upended the experience of young adulthood, this is a particularly important time to assess the needs of and how we minister to this demographic. At the same time, it is vital for the church today to develop strategies to support, lift up, and invest in young adults and cultivate practices that strengthen them as leaders in our diocese. Their diverse perspectives and lived experience can enrich the Church’s work on issues such as racial reconciliation, creation care, and disability sensitivity.
Submitted by:
Laura Curlin, Delegate, St. Cyprian’s San Francisco, lecurlin@gmail.com
Rev. Hannah Cornthwaite, Vicar, St. Cyprian’s San Francisco, vicar@stcyprianssf.org
I think this is a great thing to do! The Church is hemorrhaging members, especially in this age group. It is important to minister to them for our future. Thank you for this resolution. If I were younger, I would want to serve on the task force.
One of my cousins and his wife worked for Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) for more than 10 years, ministering to this exact demographic in the U.S. and Australia with a great deal of success. We might want to take a look at how that organization garners the devotion and enthusiasm of so many diverse people and apply the best of their methods to our own ministry.