By Alison Pope
Associate Director, Office of Evangelization and Catechesis
Those we call young adults are a complex, diverse group. They are students, working professionals, single, married, widowed, divorced, childless, and young families. The USCCB includes all those between the ages of 18 and 39 years of age as young adults. Some would argue that this age group is the hardest to minister to because of their diversity and complexity. I would contend that, despite their varied stages of life and backgrounds, they are all looking for similar things from the Church. However, before we look at what young adult ministry can and should be, we must look at what it is not.
Young adult ministry is decidedly different from youth ministry, both in its scope and approach. Youth (typically junior high and high school students) and young adults are obviously in different life stages. Youth are still under the authority and direction of their parents. Young adults have more autonomy and freedom. Youth ministry is about familiarizing youth with basic teachings and encouraging them to develop Christian witness to peers. Young adult ministry is geared towards equipping them for leadership right off the bat and should provide opportunities to build and find a home within the church. That does not mean that those approaches cannot overlap, just that the intent for each age group is different.
When working with young adults, we must keep in mind that the lives of college students, 20-somethings, and young couples are transient. That means ministry leaders who focus on this age group need to be pillars of consistency in the midst of the changing culture. It also means that those working with this age group must not only understand this reality but learn how to minister to those whose lives and circumstances often cannot accommodate a more traditional ministry model and schedule.
One reason that so many young adults find it difficult to fit into a traditional ministry schedule is because of the large numbers who rely on what is known as the “gig economy” for their livelihoods. Some studies say nearly half of all millennials (those born 1981-1995) participate in the gig economy, which includes freelance and temporary work. These unconventional jobs mean unconventional work hours, affecting when they can participate in ministry activities.
Whole populations are missing from our church communities because they cannot accommodate the traditional ministry schedules. Our job as ministers is to find ways to reconnect these missing populations to the community, not to respond with, “Well, I made it work when I was their age” or any similar sentiment. We must be creative and think outside the traditional box to new ways we can engage young adults today. The church must come to grips with the culture and minister to young adults in a way that considers this reality.
In considering how we can reach young adults we must take into consideration their needs. Too often we assume what their needs are rather than truly engaging them, building relationships, and listening when they tell us of their needs. We cannot know their needs if we are not engaging directly with them. The 2019-2022 Diocesan Pastoral Plan identified engaging young adults as one of four priorities for the entire Diocese of San Angelo. Within the first year, the plan calls for every parish to have a parish-wide conversation about engaging more young adults, with guidelines provided by the diocese. Those guidelines have been developed and were sent out to all priests at the beginning of July. It calls for a dialogue between young adults, both active and non-active, and others in the parish to address the young adults’ experiences of church at the parish level, and how the parish could help to address the needs of the young adults in their community.
Young adult ministry, at its basis, should be about integrating those in this age range into the larger life of the faith community. “Effective ministry invites young adults into the life of the church and collaborates with them to identify specific initiatives for the young adult community” (Sons and Daughters, p. 26). Yes, we need to offer some events and programs specific to their stages in life, but still within the larger context of the adult programs in place. For example, if your parish has an active small Christian community ministry, the young adult small groups should fall under that larger ministry. We must remember that young adults are, in fact, adults and treat them accordingly, rather than treating them as post-high school youth. The church has the responsibility to build trust and show acceptance of young adults, their experiences, and their doubts. We must engage them as the adults they are, rather than treating them as overgrown adolescents.
At times, we may also have to help the young adults understand that youth ministry and young adult ministry are different. When students graduate high school with misplaced expectations that the church will continue to create a crutch of sorts that allows them to participate in an isolated ministry and avoid larger church integration, we set them up to fail. That is why youth ministry should also be working to integrate young people into the larger faith community so that they won’t be floundering to find their place when they are young adults.
Sons and Daughters of the Light: A Pastoral Plan for Ministry with Young Adults from the USCCB tells us that, “The church recognizes the Holy Spirit working through them in their energy, creativity, participation, and leadership. … The church must be open to learn from their experiences, anxieties, uncertainties, and honest and constructive questioning” (p. 21). Yes, having young adults active in our communities may mean they challenge us to rethink how we do certain things. They may not let us continue something simply because that is how it has always been done. We must advocate for mentorship in parish ministries. Pairing a young adult with somebody who is already established in a ministry allows both to learn from each other. Mentorship allows wisdom and institutional memory to be passed on while new ideas are given a place and value. This means we all must be willing to learn from each other, regardless of age or background.
One easy way to expand ministry to young adults is to invest in places where young adults are already being engaged in the parish — RCIA, marriage prep, baptism prep, and liturgical ministries to name a few common ways. We can work to ensure that these become moments for mentoring and to build relationships. Use these opportunities to welcome young adults to the community and begin to find out their needs.
When working with young adults, we must not get discouraged by what we see as a lack of response or even lack of commitment. When trying to initially engage young adults, the invitation to participate may need to be repeated. Young adults may not believe that they are truly being invited because of past experiences. We must also not assume that there is a low commitment by the young adults. Rather, we must remember that this generation looks at commitment in a more calculated way; they recognize their time is limited and consider a variety of priorities, options, and previous commitments before engaging in something new.
Most young adults will respond more positively to short-term commitments. For example, a six-week small group study rather than a year-long Bible study. If there are ongoing events, they should be flexible. A lectionary-based program allows for people to more easily drop in when their schedule permits than does a set book or program that builds on each previous week’s lesson or discussion.
Ultimately, when engaging in any ministry, it is not about numbers but about helping to make connections and grow in faith and community. It is not about programs, but about relationships. We must engage in the realities of people’s lives, building trust through listening and accompaniment.