DESCRIPTION: This course focuses on youth ministry as a creative crucible for the formation of church cultures. Starting with questions of contextualization and culture, students will explore the idea of youth ministry as a place for generating the cultural practices, organization, and communication of the contemporary church. With an overview of the history of youth ministry as a site for cultural production, the course moves on to consider the links between a consumer culture and contemporary worship and the future shape of the church. The consideration of youth ministry as the creation of ecclesial culture will be linked to theology of communication rooted in contemporary Trinitarian theology.

COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will (1) understand key theories in cultural studies; (2) begin to relate theories of culture to the practice of youth ministry; (3) build connections between contemporary culture and the Christian subculture; (4) develop an analytical framework for understanding youth ministry as a creative environment for the future of the church.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: The course will help those preparing for youth ministry to reflect on the significance of their practice for the wider church. Creativity within youth ministry needs to connect to culture and also to theology. This course will enable students as they seek to make these contextualizing connections. The course will also encourage a critical and analytical engagement with contemporary Christian subculture and styles of worship and their influence on the future shape of the church.

COURSE FORMAT: Lectures, class discussion, and group work will make up the class time. Each student will complete a detailed final paper. The class will meet daily for four-hour sessions for two weeks.

REQUIRED READING:

Bevans, S. Models of Contextual Theology. Orbis, 2004.

Du Gay, P., S. Hall, L. Janes, H. Mackay, and K. Negus. Doing Cultural Studies: The Story of the Sony Walkman. Sage, 1997.

Pahl, J. Youth Ministry in Modern America: 1930 to the Present. Hendrickson, 2000.

Ward, P. God at the Mall. Hendrickson, 1999.

________. Liquid Church. Hendrickson, 2002.

1. Three two-page reflections on the readings (due the first Friday, June 23).

2. A final paper of 15-20 pages which reflects a programmatic interpretation of the course content. In the paper students should reflect upon the set assignment title in relation to the practice of youth ministry, contemporary worship, and the doctrine of the Trinity (due September 8).
   a. "Youth Ministry is the Future of the Church": Discuss.
   b. "Consumer Culture is the Friend Rather Than the Enemy of the Church": Discuss.