I sometimes post stuff over on on a blog called Slant 33. It’s a blog where 3 people give their slant on an issue at hand that relates to youth ministry and youth pastors.
I recently posted an article in response to the question, “How do you find safe friendships at church?” Here’s part of what I wrote.
Let me just start by affirming two things: 1) We all need safe friendships at church. All of us. 2) When you’re the youth pastor or youth leader, they are hard to find.
Part of this is because you spend a lot of time with teens, and teens are not safe or healthy for accountability for you. So, the group you work with—unlike an adult ministry—is not a possible option for a safe friendship. Another reason is that, unless you’re at a really big church, if you’re the youth pastor, the pastors on your team are often people you answer to. Try as you may, it’s really hard to have a safe friendship with your boss who signs your checks or, when you confess your sins, doesn’t also muddy it with your leadership responsibilities. Which leads us to another reason we both need and find it hard to have safe friendships. Everyone around us is looking to us for leadership and guidance, and a safe friendship is one where you can be the uninhibited you. In a safe friendship, you share joys without creating jealousy and failures without creating judgment. So it’s hard. Understanding all of that, here are a few thoughts about how…
Well, now next week I have another slant that is due, and this time, I’m wondering if you have thoughts you might want to contribute to the process. Here’s the next question I have until Nov. 21 to post a response to:
WHAT YOUTH MINISTRY CLICHE NEEDS TO GO AWAY?
Weigh in through the comments if you want. I have a few ideas of my own, but what are some of the cliche’s that come to mind from your vantage point?
