Youth Ministry Council

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Youth Ministry Council

• Definitions and Strategies for success...

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What is a Youth Ministry Council?

• A group of youth and adults selected and/or
  enlisted to represent and involve all of the
  youth of the church in planning, conducting,
  implement-ing and evaluating the overall youth
  ministry of that church.

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Strengths of a YMC...

• Allows youth representation on a recognized body
  of the church.
• Involves youth in their own ministry.
• Can be a dispenser of information.
• Teaches youth responsibility.
• Helps adults focus on the needs of youth.
• Affirms youth as leaders in the church.

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Weaknesses of a YMC...

• It can become a popularity contest.
• The council can end up doing all the work.
• You can end up with twelve (more or less)
  immature youth for a year who dont want to work
  or be together.
• It can be thought of as just another committee.

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Why have a YMC?

• The YMC can provide students with a sense of
  participation...
• in the church in leadership in ministry.
• The YMC can provide those students in your church
  who have leadership capabilities with an
  opportunity to grow under the guidance of
  committed adults
• developing skills in leadership with sound role
  models to observe and work alongside.

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Why have a YMC?

• It provides the students serving on the council
  an opportunity to share in koinonia as one body
  in Christ
• the council becomes a community of leaders
• they can experience oneness in Christ
• they, then will be more likely to lead with one
  mind and in one spirit.

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Why have a YMC?

• The YMC can serve as a LINK with the church body
• To support the youth minister or coordinator.
• To help plan the youth ministry calendar and
  coordinate the church calendar.
• To help the youth minister or coordinator plan
  for budget needs.

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Why have a YMC?

• The YMC can serve as a link between the youth of
  the church and the adult leadership of the youth
  ministry.
• In this instance, each member of the YMC actually
  represents the youth from the grade s/he is in,
  i.e. 9th grade Sunday School, Acteens, Youth
  Choir.
• Adults are provided with insight from the youth
  who may not approach an adult with a problem or
  concern.

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The Youth Ministry Council is...

• Coordinator
• Enabler
• Motivator
• Instigator
• Example
• Sounding Board
• Open
• Sensitive

• Dedicated
• Advisory group
• Planning group
• Evaluation group
• Hub group
• Action group
• Organizers
• Serving group

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The Youth Ministry Council is NOT...

• A board of directors
• A censoring body
• An approving agency
• A sponsoring agency
• A pressure group
• A power block

• A panel of all-American do-gooders
• A bunch of snobs
• A clique
• Popularity winners
• A work group

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Advantages of Working with a Planning Council

• Shows respect for the abilities of teenagers.
• Shows respect for the thoughts and abilities of
  adults.
• Utilizes teenagers insights into the needs and
  interests of their age group.
• Allows members to feel ownership in the youth
  ministry.

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The YMC Concept is...

• Consistent with a healthy view of the insights
  and abilities of both teenagers and adults.
• Consistent with an expanded ministry to the
  parents of teenagers.
• Consistent with a youth ministry centered around
  youth organization.

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Organization of the Youth Ministry Council

• While there is no established method of electing,
  selecting or appointing members of the Youth
  Ministry Council, there are several options you
  might want to consider that may (or may not) work
  in your church...

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Option 1

• The Youth Minister or Volunteer Adult Youth
  Coordinator appoints members as s/he sees fit.
  The adults on the council can be selected by the
  Church Council or be designated as a result of
  their position of leadership in the various youth
  ministry organizations.

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Option 2

• Members are elected from each of the youth
  ministry organizations, i.e., Sunday School,
  Discipleship, Missions/Acteens/Challengers, and
  the Youth Choir.

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Option 3

• Members are elected from each of the Sunday
  School departments and/or classes. Also, you
  might wish to consider allowing the adult youth
  coordinator the option of at-large selections
  to broaden the representation on the Youth
  Ministry Council.

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Option 4

• Members are elected from each grade level (or as
  a representation of the entire youth ministry)
  corresponding to their grade in school.
• (Note These options may be used separately or
  together depending on the needs of each
  individual church.)

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What Do I Do As An Adult Working With A YMC?

• Be present at meetings regularly.
• Youth Need to see adults working with them to
  achieve their goals, not for them.
• Your presence conveys approval of their efforts
  you represent the adults of the church to them.
• Lend guidance at meetings.
• Encourage the YMC to have a written agenda to
  follow to expedite meetings.
• Encourage decisions when meetings wander.

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What Do I Do As An Adult Working With A YMC?

• Be what Erikson has called an adult guarantor.
• Be warmly authentic.
• Have a spirit of optimism and confidence when
  considering the future.
• Have a lifestyle that inspires respect, trust and
  communication with your students.
• Have an open door policy be available to them.
• Do not make their decisions for them allow them
  to make their own as much as possible.

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What Do I Do As An Adult Working With A YMC?

• Let them know that what they are doing on the
  Youth Ministry Council is important to the church
  (because it is!) if the church is the body of
  Christ, then the youth ministry can be the legs
  that hold it up.