i don't know, i wasn't there, but i have an idea. i was just perusing a posting at christianity today that was pulled from scum of the earth church. their thought, that the emerging church is more alike to 80's youth ministry than anything.
I see it all as ‘80s youth ministry grown up. The emerging church movement is as varied as the youth groups of the 1980s. Youth pastors tailored their ministries to the kids God put in front of them. The Presbyterian Church in the suburbs had a totally different tack than the inner-city storefront church. Youth pastors adapted a missionary mindset depending on the "tribe" of kids they were reaching. Those various tribes each had their own music, slang language, dress codes and even moral codes so each youth ministry looked different.
i don't know if the youth ministry of the 80's has an influence on the emerging church.. i wasn't really in youth group till the later part of the 80's. however, i've always said churches like vineyard are youth group churches. boomer churches that wanted a youth group feel that was centered more around a contemporary music set than a set theology.
so i don't have any problem with this analogy, except to say.. i am, as a youth minister, trying to seek out different ways to "do" church & subsequently youth ministry far away from the ways it was profiled for me in the 80's. the conversation of the emergent church is one way, my life of monastic practice, and an immersion into the community & missional life of the church.
i saw that there was a disconnect with the youth being separate from the congregational body of the church. before what i thought was needed was cool music, a secular analogy, and some damn game that had nothing to do with anything. today, it's getting involved in choir (not just youth choir), being liturgist, multi-aged bible studies, surrounding with adults, a youth gathering that is liturgical in nature, teachings of the traditions and stories of the church & scriptures. all this to allow youth to find places into church life that are familiar, meaningful, inspiring.. far from lame
the church can adapt, but a whole new church isn't needed. not if we see our ministry of the church as full participant into the life of the youth. but then again, i don't know, i wasn't there... at least in the 80's. maybe i should revisit this is 2026
