Youth and young adult ministry is a minority interest in wider youth culture
The survey was conducted online throughout May 2020 during lockdown. It was designed by the coordinators of the Foundational Leadership Programme (FLP) for young adults which has representatives from the Archdiocese of Dublin, the United Dioceses of Dublin & Glendalough and other ecumenical organisations. These include Gerard Gallagher, Brother Martin Bennett OFM Cap., Greg Fromholz (Dublin & Glendalough Young Adults Officer), Christina Malone, Natalie Doherty, Ameera Ahmed, Victoria Ronke Oyewole
The target audience was young adults who connect with and engage in faith based activities. A total of 256 people responded to the 10 question survey and 84% of those were under the age of 34.
In the conclusions to the report, the authors note that the public square of the internet and online Church and faith expressions are now part of a joint reality. However, they add that young adults in their faith lives use online resources for entertainment but not to publically communicate their faith.
“Whilst many respondents have personal faith and relationship with God, it remains personal. Youth leaders and Church leaders need to reflect on what is needed to assist this generation to find ways to express their faith online as digital disciples and in real life as ordinary disciples,” the report states.
The authors also observed a certain ‘politeness’ towards the rush of Irish churches of all traditions to go online as a means of bring mass, services or prayers to their communities. They suggest that this may have resulted in many young adults gravitating to international faith sites and apps from religious leaders who have a digital faith presence.
The report suggests that the Church has to reflect on a multi-faceted approach. As churches reopen for public worship, they cannot just cease a virtual resource to resume a real resource. Rather a dual approach needs to be reflected and refined, it states, urging a professional approach with upskilling provided for online faith leaders to enable them to communicate to a generation that is connected online but not necessarily to church or faith.
“The evangelisation of this generation of young adults and younger people, will require leaders able to exist and navigate both territories. This will require training, trust and time,” the authors contend. “Youth and young adult ministry is a minority interest in wider youth culture. A reimagining of all approaches to youth and young adult activity needs to reach out to all young people and those who don’t normally encounter our work and ministry. Rather than assume people are following us, there is a need to be proactive and reach out to the ‘ends of the earth’ in bringing the message of the Gospel to the whole of society and not just to our followers online.”
They conclude: “Our Church will look different post Covid 19. We need to be ready to cast our nets out into deeper waters. Jesus invited his followers personally, one by one with the words ‘Come and See’. It is now time for further, deeper reflection by all those engaged and interested in younger generations to reflect on our approaches towards youth and young adult and their online faith experiences”.
The authors plan further analysis of the responses to the survey over the coming months.
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