New Directions in Youth and Young Adult Ministry Leadership: Where Have We Been and More Importantly Where Are We Headed?

Catholic youth and young adult ministries have evolved vastly since they began in the 1930s. Throughout this ministry’s history, a story of change is told. This article will explore three questions. First, what does the history of this ministry tell us about the future? This will include an examination of the past twenty years of research and trends on youth and young adult ministry and the ministry leaders serving them. Second, what are the current realities informing our new directions? Third, what are the new directions being called for regarding the Catholic Church’s ministry to youth and young adults, and those that serve this ministry? Undoubtedly, Christus Vivit has shaped this conversation, and a large part of this direction includes a call for evangelization and accompaniment. Regardless, the key to moving in a new direction is understanding both the framework or characteristics for the pastoral ministry and the evolved role responsibilities of youth and young adult ministry leaders.

The Child in Our Midst: The Shifting Trends in Ministry with Children and Families over the Past Forty Years

For the past 40 years, the field of children and family ministries has emerged, developed, and been strengthened through the intentional engagement of various teaching/learning approaches, the influence of developmental theory, and the rise of a children’s ministry leadership vocation. The significant growth and development with children and family ministries have contributed to the movement away from a narrow and simplistic view of children to a deeper understanding of how children’s spirituality and faith develops. Yet, more diverse research and improved ministry practices are needed. Integrating children as full participants in the faith community, along with continued evaluation of and improvements in teaching and learning practices, integral partnerships between home and family, and additional voices and diverse perspectives will all aid in better understandings and practices in ministry with children and families.

Gender and Race in Ministry Leadership: Experiences of Black Clergywomen

Despite the increase of seminary training, Black clergywomen continuously undergo subjugation, degradation, and humiliation in ministry leadership due to gender and race bias by clergymen. This article reports the findings of a qualitative study that examined the experiences of Black clergywomen regarding obstacles in ministry leadership and how these clergywomen ascribed meaning to their experiences. The two primary research questions were, “What are the experiences of Black clergywomen regarding obstacles in ministry leadership?” and “How do Black clergywomen attribute meaning to their experiences regarding obstacles in ministry leadership?” The results of the study indicated that bias of gender exists among clergymen; however, the Black clergywomen learned to embrace the experiences and learned from them. The conclusion of this article includes a discussion regarding the practical implications of the education of clergymen and clergywomen, and the re-evaluation of the perception of Black clergywomen and their experiences. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of Black clergywomen pertaining to challenges in clergy leadership and to explore how Black clergywomen attributed meaning to their experiences regarding challenges in ministry leadership.

Gender and Race in Ministry Leadership: Experiences of Black Clergywomen

Despite the increase of seminary training, Black clergywomen continuously undergo subjugation, degradation, and humiliation in ministry leadership due to gender and race bias (Leslie, 2013) by clergymen. This article reports the findings of a qualitative study that examined the experiences of Black clergywomen regarding obstacles in ministry leadership and how these clergywomen ascribed meaning to their experiences. The two primary research questions were, “What are the experiences of Black clergywomen regarding obstacles in ministry leadership?” and “How do Black clergywomen attribute meaning to their experiences regarding obstacles in ministry leadership?” The results of the study indicated that bias of gender and inequality exists among clergymen; however, the Black clergywomen learned to embrace the experiences and learned from them. The conclusion of this article includes a discussion regarding practical implications of the education of clergy; and the re-evaluation of the perception of Black clergywomen and their experiences. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of Black clergywomen pertaining to challenges in clergy leadership and to explore how Black clergywomen attributed meaning to their experiences regarding challenges in ministry leadership.

Born from below: Urban regeneration through incarnational theological formation in Guatemala City and beyond

This article sets out to describe the development of and engagement with a global training collaborative around the formation of urban ministry leadership committed to the act of loving cities and working for peace. The collaborative is an initiative of Street Psalms called the Urban Training Collaborative and each urban training hub has agreed to be shaped and formed by an Incarnational Training Framework (ITF). The ITF was constructed over a 20-year period in the midst of a global missional community made up of leaders from cities all over the world. The ITF is infused by an incarnational theology as interpreted from below and focused on the message, method and manner as exemplified in the life and mission of Jesus Christ such that messengers are free of fear and unleashed to love their cities and seek their peace. The Incarnation of Jesus Christ animates faith-based engagement around the complex issues of poverty, injustice, social inequity and violence, and shifts paradigms from scarcity to abundance, theory to practice and rivalry to peacemaking. To shed light on the practical outworking of an incarnational theology from below, we will critically reflect on Guatemala City as a case study to illustrate how the formation of a city-wide missional community was developed through engagement around the aforementioned ITF which led to the corresponding paradigm shifts and then subsequently seeding a global training collaborative

The One Who Equipped the Saints: A Reflection on Vuyani Gladstone “Vido” Nyobole

On the important occasion in the life of the Black Methodist Consultation (BMC) as it turns 40 years, it was indeed with great privilege and a single honour that I had to reflect on the life and work of Rev. Vuyani “Vido” Nyobole. This essay seeks to share the knowledge I gained, as well as the knowledge that others gained when interacting with “Vido”, both in Church and society, as I reflect on his personal profile, Ministry, leadership, gifts, and experiences.

Reflections in Honour of the Reverend Ernest Nkatazo Baartman

I count it a special honour and a singular privilege to be asked to write an essay on the life and contribution of this esteemed honourable son of the soil, the revered, Rev. Ernest Nkatazo Baartman—a personal intimate friend, brother and spiritual guide. Writing an essay on our esteemed leader, mentor, teacher, prophet and a fearless fighter, the Honourable Reverend Ernest Nkatazo Baartman was not easy as no amount of words can fully capture and describe who he was—his leadership contribution, work and witness in Church and society, what he means to most people who have been touched by his personality and Ministry—Yingwe emabala bala (“multi-talented’’). The aim of this essay is to briefly capture the life, Ministry, leadership and contribution of Baartman in Church and society, locating that narrative in the socio-political context in which his Ministry and personality found roots and blossomed.