One writing project that I've been thinking about has been a theology of youth ministry. Dean Borgman has a great practical theology of youth ministry, When Kumbaya Is Not Enough. It's one of my favorite youth ministry books, because it takes issues in youth ministry--such as humor or families--and goes to work on discovering what Scripture has to say about the subject. I think this type of theological work is lacking in youth ministry, although we have come a long way.
Here are some of the issues I hope to write about and do some solid theological work on:
- Peer relationships
- Parents in Youth Ministry
- Evangelism and discipleship
- The role of teenagers within the Church
- The role of the youth pastor
- Counseling
- Transition from adolescence into adulthood within the Church
- The role of volunteers within the ministry
- A theology of play and games
- Faith development in adolescence
- Worship within youth ministry
- Short-term mission trips
- Retreats
- Teaching/Preaching in a youth meeting context
That's a good start I think. Are there any that you would add to the list?
Of course, I would love to develop this into a book. However, I wonder if I lack the maturity, experience, and experience in the field of theology to do this. There's no fluff in good theology, and I know I have a long way to go in my thinking and pastoring. I would love to see this subject covered by a veteran of youth ministry with a sharp mind.
