Overview

In Youth Ministry and Theology Shorthand, David Bailey explores the dialogue between practice and theological education through the lens of youth ministry. This qualitative study illuminates how youth ministers talk about their work amongst young people. Through the slowing down of the youth ministry process it is discovered that youth ministers speak in theological shorthand. Theological shorthand is a paradox: it is both meaningful--it fuels long-term sacrificial service amongst young people--and it is problematic, as it risks untethering youth ministry from the wider narrative of the Christian story. The book will appeal to youth ministers, clergy, academics, graduate and post-graduate students, but also informed volunteers involved in youth ministry. Through the discipline of practical theology, it correlates the voices of the youth ministers, a set of materials used to deepen faith, and contemporary expressions of sung worship. These are then brought into conversation and explored via different aspects of Trinitarian theology to deepen the theological grammar within contemporary youth ministry and to help develop theological literacy.

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9781498219419

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Reviews

Youth Ministry and Theological Shorthand offers invaluable insights into the relationship between theological formation and the practice of ministry. Bailey provides a robust account of the way in which theological understanding is framed by practitioners, and how this might be more effectively developed through ongoing development. This book will be valuable for ministers in reflecting on their own work, and those involved in training and developing lay or ordained ministers. --Nick Shepherd, Program Director for Setting God's People Free at the Church of England In this book, Bailey challenges us to think about how we talk about God: to consider the words that we use and to understand more fully why we are using them. Through rich empirical study Bailey investigates how youth ministers talk about their practice with young people and discovers a paradox. --Jill Rowe, Oasis Ethos & Formation Director Too often youth ministers have settled for paddling into theology instead of pursuing greater depth. This has sometimes led to misapplication, but often it has resulted in short-changing themselves and the young people they serve. . . we are able to draw closer to our Triune God and our young people can experience a greater depth of the theological ocean available! --Pete Telfer, Degree Team Leader at Reign Ministries UK and Youth Minister Youth Ministry and Theological Shorthand is a fascinating book that achieves the feat of both celebrating and critiquing the theological expression of evangelical youth ministry practices. By framing these practices as icons of epistemology, David Bailey draws our gaze through them toward an even richer theological understanding of ministry inspired by Kevin Vanhoozer's Trinitarian theology. This book is methodologically rigorous, rooted in practice, and theologically engaging, making it valuable for theological educators and students as well as youth ministers and church leaders. --Mark Scanlan, Lecturer in Theology and Youth Ministry, St Mellitus College, London

Youth Ministry and Theological Shorthand offers invaluable insights into the relationship between theological formation and the practice of ministry. Bailey provides a robust account of the way in which theological understanding is framed by practitioners, and how this might be more effectively developed through ongoing development. This book will be valuable for ministers in reflecting on their own work, and those involved in training and developing lay or ordained ministers. --Nick Shepherd, Program Director for Setting God's People Free at the Church of England In this book, Bailey challenges us to think about how we talk about God: to consider the words that we use and to understand more fully why we are using them. Through rich empirical study Bailey investigates how youth ministers talk about their practice with young people and discovers a paradox. --Jill Rowe, Oasis Ethos & Formation Director Too often youth ministers have settled for paddling into theology instead of pursuing greater depth. This has sometimes led to misapplication, but often it has resulted in short-changing themselves and the young people they serve. . . we are able to draw closer to our Triune God and our young people can experience a greater depth of the theological ocean available! --Pete Telfer, Degree Team Leader at Reign Ministries UK and Youth Minister Youth Ministry and Theological Shorthand is a fascinating book that achieves the feat of both celebrating and critiquing the theological expression of evangelical youth ministry practices. By framing these practices as icons of epistemology, David Bailey draws our gaze through them toward an even richer theological understanding of ministry inspired by Kevin Vanhoozer's Trinitarian theology. This book is methodologically rigorous, rooted in practice, and theologically engaging, making it valuable for theological educators and students as well as youth ministers and church leaders. --Mark Scanlan, Lecturer in Theology and Youth Ministry, St Mellitus College, London

Author Information

David Bailey is the Theology and Learning Specialist at Oasis and also Senior Lecturer in Practical Theology at Oasis College of Higher Education, London. Peter Ward teaches at King's College, London, where he is involved in research into popular theology and culture. He is the author of a number of books, including Liquid Church, God at the Mall, Youthwork and the Mission of God, and Youth Culture and the Gospel.

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