"Hope and Validation"

Made a 45min presentation to our 'Council of Synod' or state and territory wide policy making group about FOUR Challenges facing youth ministry in the future:
CONTEXT picking up Gen Y research and the missio dei
RURAL/REGIONAL and CROSS CULTURAL/GENERATIONAL ISSUES
CONSUMER FAITH CULTURE
THE FUTURE OF THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH WORKER
This last one was the focus of the time alongside context as a way to emphasise the need for skilled and gifted approaches.

As a part of the time we listened to "How to Save a Life" by The Fray as an example of young peoples explorations of identity and spirituality and where answers might be sought or trusted.

I also struck on "Hope and Validation" the Bernard Fanning song as a mood and lyric that described for me how I felt about our future and that we have perhaps seen enough false hope and dodgy plans to know that things are crook!!

The Assembly decisions in this regard help other synod/s sort out issues they have which we had largely tracked a path through or at least had the potential to be better at through administartive and support processes. BUT the real side of the discussion needing energy is what the church wants/needs and is willing to change to help the focus on youth and young adults happen!!

"Hope and Validation"
Plans and preparations are decided in vain
Think we've seen enough now
Hope and validation are united again

Higher than the buds that bloomed
I've seen it hanging in your face
you may need time to think it over

Set a new direction for the harvest ahead
think we've seen enough now
Built the resurrection of a bond nearly dead
Seen enough now

Higher than the windswept moon
I've seen it hanging in your face
You may need time to think it over

Plans and preparations are decided in vain
Hope and validation are united again
Set a new direction for the harvest ahead
Built the resurrection of a bond nearly dead

Think we've seen enough now
Think we've seen enough now
Think we've seen enough now
Think we've seen enough now
Bernard Fanning from 'Tea & Sympathy'

Essentially our next steps include some planning and responses to the challenges with further work being brought later on alongside funding and change proposals to help the situation!!

BUT for now I sit with the poignancy of this lyric as a closer for the day and a time of prayer and reflection!!