Disclaimer: Read this First! November 11, 2007, I wrote the original version of the post below as part of a larger series on a new way to do youth ministry. I have copied and pasted it with a few slight edits to make it applicable to this year’s ELCA Youth Gathering. So, please understand that my impetus for writing this originally was not to launch an offensive against the Gathering. But since there has been a lot of buzz about the Gathering as it approached, I thought reworking that original post would be a timely contribution to the conversation. I have more thoughts, and may share them if necessary.
I am quite skeptical of the big-event circuit in American youth ministry. Here’s the typical recipe:
- Large stadium (anywhere from 3,000-60,000 people)
- “National speakers” (whatever that means)
- The “hottest” Christian bands (if DCB isn’t on the docket, don’t even bother). If you’re Lutheran, Lost & Found is a must.
- Maybe some dramas or comedians (or both)
- Extremely expensive A/V systems, lights, lasers, smoke machines, etc.
Events like this bother me for a few reasons:
- The first problem is that for whatever reason these events tend to become normative for the Christian life. Students who go to events like this think that the Christian life is the most real, most alive, most vibrant at events like these. Faithfulness to God is associated with emotional highs and feel-goodyness. We are left thinking that God is not present in homework, chores, friendship squabbles, and other stuff of “real life.” (By the way, Eugene Peterson has been instrumental in helping me develop a theology of the everyday. You must read him. Everything he has written. No joke. I’m working my way through his stuff.)
- Because of the above, I am worried that these events are put on by organizations that must turn a profit in order to stay alive. When normalcy is determined by a group of people who must make X amount of dollars to sustain themselves, I get nervous. (I’ll take this point to say that churches are a little different in that they (should) rely on gifts, not selling things, to sustain themselves. However, I do believe that most churches operate at much too narrow of margins.)
- These events are divorced from local contexts. Identical events happen in Louisiana, California, Florida, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere.
- In my experience, these events appeal to the emotions, but not the passions, of teenagers. Teenagers are extremely passionate people, and we should be tapping into that passion. But passion is different than emotion. Emotions tend to be the end. People think the emotion is real. Passion tends to spur action and impact. (This isn’t very well thought out, but I’m leaving it in.)
- You shouldn’t have to pay $1,000 per person to get “recharged” once every three years. I remember going on a certain trip every summer that was quite expensive, but my friends and I looked forward to it because it was where we got recharged every year. But recently I have been thinking about practicing sustainable faith. If our faith is based off of one yearly event, we aren’t sustaining ourselves throughout the year. There is something missing in much of our ministries when we and our students aren’t practicing the kind of faith that can sustain them in their everyday lives.
- Many of these events are quite repetitive in nature. They don’t change much from year to year and have almost identical messages. I know of one specific “national” youth event has been saying the same thing for the past 10 years.
- They all claim to change your youth group’s lives. If they really did, they would work themselves out of a job.
- These events create Christian celebrities. There is no need for Christian celebrities. Period. Yes, there are certain people whose wisdom and discernment can change the landscape of Christianity, but that is because they have been gifted by God, not because they are just “really cool.”
Instead of “outsourcing” our big events to organizations that don’t know us, our kids, our churches, and all the rest, we should strive to make our ministries local and contextual. My favorite way of going about this for “big events” is retreats. I think retreats planned by people in our churches are great ways to connect at a deeper level with our kids. You also get to spend a lot more time with your kids at a retreat than at a large event where your behind is stuck in a chair all day. In fact (and I didn’t plan it this way on purpose, I just realized it as I was writing this post), as thousands of youth are in New Orleans for the ELCA Youth Gathering, I will be with my youth and adults on a Peer Ministry training retreat. Cost per person: $10 plus a little money in the youth ministry budget.
This might be a good time to make a disclaimer that I’ve made before: in no way am I questioning the purity of motivation of people who organize, lead, or attend events like this. I believe most people love Jesus deeply and are trying to do what they can to follow him. I simply think that pure motivation isn’t enough. We aren’t given the scriptures for motivation, but for obedience (among other things). If youth ministry is going to change, that means that we will have to quit doing some things that we used to do. For me, that means steering clear of big events.
Local. Contextual. Yeah, your kids might not get butterflies in their stomachs from being so close to the stage that David Crowder was spitting on them, but I think that’s a good thing.
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Haha, thanks.
We’re not going this year either, but that is the choice of the young people – nobody wanted to go. I did not make that decision for them, nor I believe, should you.
Your complaints are nothing new, heard them for 20+ years. And I have seen a few churches who depend upon these events as the focus of their youth program. For those church’s your complaints have some merit.
But this is not all youth in church do. We go on mission trips. We do local mission. We get together with other youth in other churches. We have Sunday School. And once in a while –not every three years, we go to the churchwide.
Consider small town youth who will probably live their whole lives in a small town in Iowa. This may be their only opportunity to see so many other LUtheran young people together. You scoff at “nationally known” speakers, but three years ago they were inspiring and gave uplifting messages. I like to think I give an uplifting message every Sunday in church, but come on, you honestly never like to get out of town and hear a nationally known speaker yourself who makes you see the world differently? If you don’t you should and if you do, why deny youth the opportunity?
I thought going to San Antonio was a wonderful opportunity for our little church youth group. They didn’t see it as ho hum as perhaps someone like you who gets to do something like that every three years. Maybe you need to go with a group like mine and and see the impact of it you would perhaps be less dismissive of it.
If churches are depending upon these events and not doing other things, the answer is not to do away with large gatherings. It’s to do a better job of developing other programs and see the large group as a supplement. But it is good to see that the church is more than your little local club and there is a bigger world than your little community. When people wax eloquent about “local” context, just remember I see the small world my own little club other side of that and am grateful for the opportunity to get kids to see another part of the world.
Joelle, thanks for your thoughts. I’m not saying there aren’t upsides to big events like this. Yes, they might get at a few angles that other sorts of events don’t, but in my estimation they’re not worth it in the long run. I’ve done events like this but for the past three years have not participated in large events. So far, I don’t think we’re missing out on much.
Perhaps the fact that the Gathering happens only every three years dulls the normative affect that I talked about, which is good. As I said, when I was a teen, we had a yearly event that really did become the cornerstone of our faith life, and I’m not sure how helpful that was. I have seen the impact of such events, and I’m not so sure I like it.
I’m all for people who are talented speakers and have a level of wisdom unmatched my most. My problem is with making these people into celebrities. This is something that, from what little I can tell, the ELCA Youth Gathering has less of a problem with than our evangelical counterparts.
Just so you know, we’re a pretty tiny church with a small youth group. We don’t have big budgets or do anything fancy. And I don’t think we need to.
The one thing that I commend the ELCA is that in my opinion, they have a few “stars” but that is not the focal point. For example, our kids are going to The Gathering and they could not name one speaker or one worship group leader or one concert event that is occurring; it is not on the radar for them.
Also, I was very impressed last year with the Extravaganza and the speakers, the workshops, the variety in worship and there were “some big names” however they are “big” in a way different context then other large conferences.
I understand and agree with most of what you said. We are traveling by a 15-passenger bus so we are together (10 of us) for 18 hours each way and we will be spending a lot of group time in NOLA.
Jeff, as I said to Joelle, I think the Youth Gathering is a little bit better about not making Christian celebrities out of people than other events, and for that I am grateful. I’m not against people who are skilled and talented, I am against a system that turns them into celebrities.
Another critique: The “service” portion of these type of events though I understand the gathering is trying to change that tends to be not very meaninful in attempt to keep thousands busy (understandably) instead of a focus on local transformation.
Another critque: Also the mass movement of groups tends create less community when you are just trying to get everyone through the McDonalds food line to make it back in line for the next event instead of breaking bread together in conversations.
Though many of my dear friends particpate and run the gathering, and I enjoyed my particpation in leading a large gathering several years ago I think the long term transformation reality is so limited when only 1 in 5 of the youth attending this event will be in any church at all in 10 years according. I think it’s time for our church to ask what is next?
well, you’re not the only one (or the first) to share this type of sentiment regarding these events. they can be extremely exciting and uplifting in a “recharging” sort of way; i think the disappointment lies in the fact that they are so many other local and contextual things that occur in our daily lives that should have the same effect, but don’t.
and what if you were to ask people if they got the same “recharging” effect from a regular old sunday morning worship service (and asked them to be completely honest about it)? that’s where i’m always left shaking my head. retreats and extra activities aside (as an added bonus), we get together as a community to recharge every week. think about all the churches that try to duplicate the same kind of event “show”, with all the bells and whistles, in order to generate the same kind of emotional experience. not really sure where exactly i’m going with this, but recharging my faith…(for me) is not really about me and how good i feel, or reaching some highly charged emotional peak, or focusing on how charismatic a particular speaker is, or lights and loud music…if you know what i mean…
so i guess i’ll just say….”yeah, what matt said; good post”
“Yeah, what matt said; good post.” I’ll take whatever I can get!
i am so torn on these sorts of conversations. the lcms has a large gathering similar to the ELCA and i am friends and colleagues with many of the gathering planners.
i fully connect with the spirit and intent of what you share. i have personally sworn off industry conventions for personal professional growth and don’t use any sort of gathering in my ministry to JHers (not the target age of most gatherings).
however, i know many people who have come to faith through the gatherings. my rural church was not equipped much for youth ministry, but we went to the gathering and there i learned a different, i would even say, passionate side of faith. i remember few names (celebrities), but I remember messages, words, connecting to my faith and friends.
after every gathering, my friends will share the stories of young people who have chosen not to take their life, has chosen not to abort their child, have asked to be baptized. I think the life-changing element has been valid and very well still could be.
i think the gathering has a context. do i agree with every aspect? no.
oh, the shades of gray.
Alaina, I’m totally on board with you that there are good people who do hard work for these sorts of events. I would hate to put people out of a job, but the fact is that change is always painful. You can’t have change while keeping things that same. I’ve weighed the options, and for now this is where I land in the land of gray.
Another angle that I have looked at Gathering from someone who served small town and country churches in Iowa and Texas is the class issues that inevitably arise from a big ticket Gathering. It is great for kids in small towns to see a larger Church. It was especially important for my kids in Texas who were isolated as mainline Christians. Fortunately, San Antonio was in our backyard.
The problem arose in these congregations that we could not afford to spend $1000 a kid on Gathering, and most of our families couldn’t find that cash either. My question becomes, “Who gets left out?” due to socio-economic pressures. Especially at this time of recession. At the same time, the last two Gatherings have emphasized Earthkeeping practices. What is sustainable about the amount of resources required to make Gathering happen? (travel resources, paper products, energy for the buildings, etc.)
NOLA is a good place for service as so much is needed. However, one day of service may not be as effective as a week. I also don’t know much about how they are contextualizing the service. It is being billed as service-learning. However, service-learning practice is based on mutuality and partnership with one’s community – hence the community partners as teachers. I’m not sure even NOLA can provide that kind of partnership on a one-day basis.
There has to be a better, more sustainable solution.
Wow Matt! You said things that I’ve felt for years but didn’t know how to say it. Agreed 100%
I went to the 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans this year. We just returned home today. It was AMAZING. The speakers, music, bishop, community projects, learning centers, and interaction centers were awesome! It was the most fun i’ve had in a long time and I learned so much. I met so many people from all different states and became closer to Christ. New Orleans is a city I will never forget. It was so inspiring seeing so many people there be called by God to help out the victims of Hurricane Katrina. I cannot begin to believe that someone would not want to be a part of something this wonderful. It was a terrific experience and something I will never forget.
AMEN
Matt,
I’ve just returned from the National Gathering in NOLA and therefore a little behind on reading blogs. Generally your comments are right on regarding mega gatherings, I would just point out a few things that I experienced at the ELCA Gathering that proved to be different than your statements.
-The gathering in NOLA and San Antonio were both very contextual to their location. In San Antonio the Mexican culture and the issue of immigration were a large part of the program. In New Orleans justice issues, both related to Katrina not, permeated every part of the Gathering.
-Big name speakers were not the focus of the mass gatherings. In fact, the nationally known speakers seemed to have just as much time on stage as non-professional speakers telling their own stories of justice (our kids related much more to the second group).
-Every participant at the gathering did one day of service. For many, this is a taste of what they can do and may change how they can see their world once they return home. The same cannot be said for listening to a speaker or doing wacky song motions.
-The gathering was expensive, good point. I didn’t get the sense that anyone was making money except the hotels and restaurants, but I could be wrong.
-The ELCA gathering specifically is an extension of communities that exist all over the country. Our kids hung out with kids they had met at other camps, etc. Our adults met old friends for coffee. A new community was fostered and developed over the week. The young Lutherans spread the joy of Christ into every shop, restaurant, and hotel in NOLA. Community was fostered, I’m not sure if that happens as every large event.
-You’re writing from the perspective of an experienced, educated youth minister. Others value the “outsourcing” of the program (not the relationships) here much more than you and I, and others feel they cannot offer a similarly transformational week on their own (volunteers, solo pastors, etc).
-The ELCA gathering made significant changes this year to better suite their context. The program was not identical.
-I did not feel that any of the speakers were emotionally manipulative. Sure, they were having fun and getting the kids to sing and dance. Our kids ate up the energy.
Good thoughts, just wanted to point out how my week was different.
i just wanted to say that, it is worth every penny. That are trying to get us to follow god in a way that we like. They are trying to make us feel like just cuz we are into that kinda rock music that it isn’t terrible that god wont be disturbed by that. Also are youth group decided together we wanted to go to learn and help out others. we could have stayed home and sat on our butts but we chose to go and help learn and to spread the word. I come from a small town 2,000 people around, and our group had more than the city next to us that has 67,000 we met up with that group from around us, they had about 15 teens. Our tiny town came with 30 kids ready to learn about god.
I am very much in favor of these events. They give teens a chance to meet other people their own age from across the country that share the same beliefs they do. A lot of these teens at home, are outcasted for their religious views in this Ungodly world. Its an awesome experience for them to have this fellowship with others. NOT TO MENTION…I was in high school during the 2001 New Orleans trip. I am from California and met a girl from Michigan who turned out to be the love of my life. We stayed in contact all throughout the remainder of high school and now are HAPPILY MARRIED!