Young Adult Ministry
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) embraces a vision of young adult (YA) ministry that is as diverse as the young adults we serve. The young adult time of transition and discernment is a universal experience, but one that is different for every person, and ministering to young adults means partnering with them wherever they are in their search for truth. Our young adult programs must be grounded in the hopes and needs that young adults articulate as they move through their transitions, and programs will change as the needs of young adults change.
Young adults represent a tremendous opportunity to expand our faith’s ministry through new approaches, forms and identities. The YA experience is a microcosm of our congregations and our faith at large. Healthy ministry of any kind occurs through constantly evolving intentional community and is built by listening deeply and supporting each person wherever they are on their journey.
For more information, contact: youngadults@uua.org
Get Connected
Communicate with others involved in young adult ministries to learn, teach, share ideas and support one another.
- Visit Blue Boat, the blog hosted by the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the Unitarian Universalist Association. It is a space to share stories, successes, resources and information for youth, young adult and on-campus groups and individuals, as well as the advisors, staff and adult allies who work with them.
- Contact your district staff member to learn about area events and other young adult programs in your area.
- Reach out to neighboring congregations to see what they are doing and how you can work together.
- New Media
People of all ages, and especially young adults, communicate in new ways through online social networking services like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and blogs. These are important tools for reaching many young adults. Check out the UU Young Adult Spirituality & Service Facebook page. See the UUA's Social Media Resources page for tips on how to use new media and improve your online presence and communications. The UUA's New Media for Unitarian Universalists blog is also helpful.
- Contact a congregation certified as a Young Adult and Campus Ministry Anchor Congregation to learn how they have formed successful young adult ministries.
- Organize an event, conference or camp to build relationships with other young adults in your district or region. Keep track of who’s coming and their information with a registration template powered by Google Forms and provided to you by the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. Search “Unitarian Universalist Young Adult Conference Registration Form” in Google Docs Template Gallery, and edit to suit your needs.
- Subscribe to the Young Adult News newsletter and sign up for an email list hosted by the UUA.
Get Inspired
Look through these resources, which provide ideas for worship, discussions, activities and how to structure your group.
- Young Adult and Campus Ministry Covenant Group Manual and Curriculum
This resource will guide you through creating successful young adult focused small group ministry or covenant groups. Accompanied by two covenant group curricula, UU Identity by Kate Tweedie Erslev and Finding Your Path by Rev. Dr. Michael Tino, these documents are all available as free online downloads.
- Articulating Your UU Faith
In this creative five-session course, Barbara Wells and Jaco B. ten Hove help guide participants through a series of engaging exercises that equip them to discover and articulate their beliefs, including personal reflection, role-play, discussion and even the creation of a worship event. Participants work with each other to learn to talk about Unitarian Universalism, their own theologies and what our faith has to offer the world. Originally written for young adults, it is suitable for any age group wishing to explore how they talk about their faith.
- Our Whole Lives (OWL) for Young Adults
Grounded in a wholistic view of sexuality, Our Whole Lives provides not only facts about anatomy and human development, but also helps participants to clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality. Resources include a book of age-appropriate workshops and an accompanying guide, Sexuality and Our Faith: A Companion to Our Whole Lives, of spiritual value components to enrich the Our Whole Lives experience in a faith-based environment.
- Code of Ethics for Peer Leaders in Young Adult and Campus Ministry
Read and uphold this Code of Ethics, which the UUA Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries and the Continental Unitarian Universalist Young Adult Network (CUUYAN) abide by and present as a model.
- Popcorn Theology for Mature Audiences: Exploring Theology and Ethics Through R-Rated Movies
For this engaging and educational resource, Director of Religious Education Michelle Richards compiled a list of R-rated films and developed activities and discussions to accompany each one. College students, in particular, will find the movies relevant and the discussions thought-provoking. This resource capitalizes on the use of media as a means for entertainment, learning and community-building.
- WorshipWeb
WorshipWeb is a user-driven resource organized in interconnected modules. As Unitarian Universalists continue to share our worship resources with one another, the number of these modules - as well as the amount of content within them - continues to grow. Upload your own worship guides in the newly created "Young Adult" module!
Get Going
Helpful resources for Unitarian Universalist (UU) young adults seeking to express and explore their faith through practical action.
- UU Young Adult Spirituality & Service Program
This vital new program includes a directory of domestic and international service trips and opportunities offered by organizations that have been researched and informed by the UUA Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. These web pages also contain a number of resources helpful to young adults considering a service trip, as well as those adults who want to be allies in their experience.
Get Smart(er)
Read these books to enrich your young adult ministry group and yourself!
- Big Questions, Worthy Dreams
Dr. Sharon Daloz Parks covers many topics in this compelling book, namely the importance of mentoring. As UUs, we do a wonderful job of offering our youth and young adults the freedom to explore their inner and outer worlds, but rarely do we stay beside them as they do it! Parks, through her insight and research, guides the reader in developing the mentoring muscle to be an effective and accountable adult ally to young adults.
- Tribal Church
This book, subtitled "Ministering to the Missing Generation," suggests a way for churches to approach young adults on their own terms. Outlining the financial, social, and familial situations that affect many young adults today, Presbyterian Pastor Carol Howard Merritt describes how churches can provide a safe, supportive place for young adults to nurture relationships and foster spiritual growth.
- Mosaic Project Report
The Mosaic Project Report offers recommendations to help congregations, districts, and Association create an environment that effectively supports Youth and Young Adults of Color both in their development of a healthy identity and through the transition from childhood to adulthood. The positive impact of creating such an environment can reach beyond the Youth and Young Adults of Color community into all ministry areas. An essential read for all those working with youth.
- Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?
Beverly Daniel Tatum analyses the different stages and forms of racial identity development in whites and People of Color in the United States. This book provides deep insight into understanding race and racism in America and how we can develop stronger anti-racist identities in ourselves, in our children, and in our communities.
- The Death of Josseline: Immigration Stories from the Arizona-Mexico Borderlands
The Unitarian Universalist "Common Read" book for 2010-2011, Margaret Regan presents a series of intimate stories from immigrants, activists, human rights workers, and border patrol people. Through their stories, the book explores the ethical, moral, and spiritual challenges presented by the complex immigration issues on the border, evoking our human response, rather than a political or policy debate. Discussion guides were made as part of the "Common Read" project and can be found in the above link.
Get Funding
Don't let a lack of funds get in the way of expressing and exploring your faith and making the world a better place!
- Young Adult Ministry Grants
The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries offers a number of grants for districts, local congregations, and groups. We are always seeking to fund innovative, accountable, and sustainable young adult programs around the continent.
- Young Adult Service Trip Fundraising Manual (PDF, 21 pages)
Money does not have to be an obstacle to expressing your faith through service. This handy manual will guide you step-by-step through how to gather funds to make the service trip of your dreams a reality.
For more information contact youngadults@uua.org.
This work is made possible by the generosity of individual donors. Please consider making a donation today.
Last updated on Wednesday, April 18, 2012.
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