Starting Right: Thinking Theologically about Youth Ministry

by Kenda Creasy Dean, Chap Clark, Dave Rahn

This is among the very few academic textbooks on youth ministry that blends solid research with real-life experience. It is an excellent resource for undergraduate or graduate courses in youth ministry or for youth workers who want to ground their ministry in solid theology.

Genres: Theology, Nonfiction, Religion, Leadership, Reference

400 pages, ebook

First published February 25, 2001

About the author

Kenda Creasy Dean is an ordained elder in the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference (United Methodist) and professor of youth, church, and culture at Princeton Theological Seminary, where she works closely with the Institute for Youth Ministry. A graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary, she served as pastor in suburban Washington DC and as a campus minister at the University of Maryland-College Park before coming to Princeton Seminary. She is currently appointed as the coordinating pastor of Kingston United Methodist Church in Kingston, New Jersey.

Reviews

[Steven Chen · Rating 3 out of 5]

它是一本針對青少年事工所寫的書，但也很精彩地介紹了如何運用實踐神學的方法進行反思，全書採用美國實踐神學家Don Browning在A Fundamental Practical Theology(1991)使用的思考四步驟：(1)明白現階段現況 (2)反思當下的實踐 (3)辨別當下神學前設且評估之 (4)嘗試建立一個更忠實的事工。

　　此反思方式在Browning的年代已經開始盛行，之後更是成為顯學，無論是
富勒Mark Lau Branson的Churches, Cultures and Leadership: A Practical Theology of Congregations and Ethnicities、Ray Anderson還是亞伯丁John Swinton的Practical Theology and Qualitative Research還是Cardiff 大學Paul Ballard 的《實踐神學導引：服事中的神學思考》以及普林斯頓Richard Osmer的Practical Theology: An introduction都談到類似於這的反思方法。

　　比較主要的差別在於第二階段的反思對象，在此是針對教會的實踐，而Osmer則嘗試花更多心力探索現象背後的成因。也就是說，在「What’s going on?」(第一步)後，Browning會問的是「What are we doing」而Osmer則會問「Why is it going on?」

　　在第一步「明白現階段現況」(有些作者把它放在第二步)部分，需要採用多種專業、從多面向對單一現象加以分析，因此本書廣邀學者、牧者貢獻自己所長：第一步就用了社會學(全球化、都市化)、社會科學、發展心理學、人類學、史學種種方式；這也顯示出了實踐神學這樣的方法事實上很難一個人獨力完成，它需要團隊合作、個人貢獻自己的專長，才有可能針對一現象找到較全面的審視，以及擬定出較合宜的新措施。

　　本書最精采的還是Kenda Dean所做的，不但在開場鋪設了實踐神學的方法，處理了基督教平信徒與神學、青少年與神學、實踐神學與其他神學學科的關係，在書中也頻頻出手、銜接各部分，事實上她才是主要編輯(goodreads放Chap Clark在學術上是有些不公平的)。

　　本書適合給教會中的青年工作者讀，但也適合給想看看實踐神學方法是怎樣串連事工與神學的人看。

[Cameron McCartney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book was OK. It was very long and I found it a bit of a wrestle trying to finish it. I personally wasn’t a fan of the copious sidenotes, which made me feel like I was reading a different book within the book. I found the title of the book quite misleading, and wasn’t really sure if the book achieved the purpose for which it was written. Although, I still took a lot of new and helpful things away from this book.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for a class. Probably should read it again so I can actually remember what it all says. Lot's of pieced together info from some really great leaders/teachers. Some times it can be dry but it is helpful for anyone in youth ministry!

[Dan Mayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good compliment to intro to youth ministry. It'll get you thinking. Take your time and do some of the side bar exercises.

[Chad Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

As can be expected from a book w/ lots of contributors, chapters range from insightful to vapid. Out of four sections, the first two ("Understanding the Concrete Situation" and ("Reflecting on Present Practice") generally have the more worthwhile chapters (the third and fourth sections aren't as cohesive and feel kinda random, but mostly just weren't as helpful). The section "Reflecting on Present Practice" was especially helpful, each chapter proposing a different youth ministry focus (Evangelism, the Family, Christian Practices [maybe my favorite chapter of the entire book], Student Leadership, Critical Consciousness, Community, Innovation).

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good, doesn't read like a textbook