It was 6 years ago, that I had just started my job as Director of Youth Ministries at Living Waters Presbyterian Church in Wendell, ID. After being there for just a couple months, a few of us from the church drove through the night from Wendell to get to Sacramento for the National Youth Workers Convention. And I loved it: all those bands, funny skits, persuasive speakers, free junk (okay – not all was junk…), the Exhibitors Hall, my free Youth Specialties bag…yah, it was great! It was there that I read a sampler of some of the first Emergent-related books (Dave Tomlinson’s “The Post-Evangelical” was one of them) and my first experience with the Prayer Labryinth was what eventually pushed me into my interest with .bE and alt.worship.
Well, today I’m heading up to Sacramento again (this time with Matt) for the National Youth Workers Convention (NYWC). I’m both looking forward to it and a bit ambivalent. I know many of my friends will be there, and it will be good to connect with some folks like Adam McLane, Marko, Lilly Lewin and everyone else who will be there. I’m looking forward to hearing Shane Claiborne and Phyllis Tickle speak (it’s been awhile since I’ve heard them speak) and am hoping Phyllis will give Presbymergent a shout-out if she mentions the “hyphen-mergents.” I also think that some of the seminars will be helpful as I’m now back in full-time ministry again and frankly, need some help with stuff like coming up with games, managing time, etc.
But I’m also aware that I’m a much different person than I was 6 years ago. I’m not as “wow-ed” by Christian bands, I’m sure I’ll have plenty of theological issues with some of the speakers, my theology has changed on so many topics…so, we’ll see. I love the stuff YS does and really respect a lot of the people there – but the organization is still coming from a different theological place than I am…so, we’ll see.
The big question is do I bring my political-LGBT-supportive t-shirts…that’s the question.
If you’re going to be there – please grab me (not literally) when you see me and we can connect up. I’ll be Twittering a lot through the Convention and you can follow that Twitter feed here.
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as someone who’s first ys was about the same time ago, but has been to a few since then, i find the nywc is more about reconnecting and networking with friends plus making some new networks. i might attend a workshop, spend a lot of time in the prayer room and a few of the general sessions. i am sure you will enjoy for the most part.
Please wear your LGBT shirts. It will encourage so many whose voices are now silenced from nwyc.
I stopped going to NYWC in 1996 or so (which really only shows how old I am). While I learned a lot of good information there and generally enjoyed the conference, after a while I found myself unwilling to put up with the sexism that seemed to flow through much of the conference. In a “using video in ministry” workshop led by some one named Joel from Tucson, a woman asked a question and he said, “isn’t that just a question a woman would ask.?” He and some of the men in the class laughed, and then he didn’t answer the question. He also suggested we make videos where we pretend to be Chinese by pulling our eyes out from the corners and saying, “ahhh sooo…today we visit Jimmy’s house and hope he has a fortune cookie for me!” That is just one example. From the podium speakers (with the exception of Tony Campolo who was always great) on down, I always had the feeling that I was a second class citizen. I really hope that things have improved in the last ten years.
Marci,
I was in Joel’s youth group in Tucson and can say without doubt that his comments betrayed his feelings about people. He was not perfect, but he was great at bringing people from all different perspectives together.
Definitely, wear the shirts.
Like you, I think participating in these things is a tough call. Similar thing with youth-oriented Christian music festival type events. There simply isn’t an equivalent with a more progressive, inclusive vibe. I must say back in the days when I was doing youth ministry stuff (geez that was a long time ago now) I eventually just couldn’t bring myself to go. But your presence would be a far better witness than my absence.
(Hi Marci. We seem to only see each other on other people’s blogs. Why is that?)
Adam,
I will be attending the NYWC in Pittsburgh PA at the end of the month and I feeling much of the way you described in you blog about attending – excited but a little ambivilant. I’m in a new ministry positon, new place mentally – theologically and personally. Maybe a little wiser now than I was then. And yes, I walked my first Labyrinth at the YS convention too!
I think I’ll pack my ordinary radicals shirt… and make you proud.
Tara