05 Integrating Theological Perspectives on Youth

What theological perspectives on youth and adolescence have shaped Christian ministry among young people? What perspective (or combination of perspectives) should shape Christian ministry among young people?

 

Youth ministry veteran Graham Stanton asked himself these questions and published an article about it in the Journal of Youth and Theology: ’Towards an Integrated Theology of Youth’. In this article he describes eight theological perspectives on youth and young people that you can find as foundational for approaches in youth ministry practices. He also proposes a theological framework that integrates contrasting perspectives on young people in a meaningful whole, by asking the right questions.

 

There are not many current overviews of theological perspectives on youth, let alone viable ways to fruitfully integrate them, so reason enough for us to have a conversation with Graham Stanton. You will hear about his journey into youth ministry practices, training and education and academic research as the background and embedding for this research. It is also a journey of a theologically trained practitioner into practical theology.

 

In this conversation you will hear how the dynamic between distinct theological perspectives works. Also you will hear why it is necessary to have a better insight in theological perspectives on youth and young people and how it helps to focus our thinking about young people.