Rozella White Sessions 1-4

Rozella White (ELCA Staff Young Adults)

Session 1: Towards a Theology of Accompaniment: Young Adult Ministry in the 21st Century

Before you ask how to get young adults in your church, how about spending some time reflecting on who they are, where young adults spend their time and why young adults are NOT in the church. Many individuals and congregations are disconnected from the cultural reality of young adults, which leads to a misunderstanding of how young adults view faith and life. Let’s take some time to explore the sociocultural landscape and engage in theological discourse about what it means to be in authentic relationship with a segment of the population that has much to offer our congregations and our world.

Sessions 2-4: Walking Together in Solidarity: A Theology of Accompaniment
The ministry of accompaniment is the sacred act of being in authentic relationship with others. The purpose of this ministry is to allow individuals, groups and organizations to grow in love and compassion towards each other. Accompaniment calls congregations to listen deeply to their contexts in order to discern how best to walk alongside the community. This accompaniment provides a reciprocal relationship of giving and serving that builds the bond between the community and the congregation. This way of being in relationship calls the congregation to take the needs and the wisdom of its context seriously.