Can church support it's youthworkers?

I have heard a lot about youth workers ‘burning out’ and although I’m sure this happens I have never heard a specific story. I have however met plenty of youth workers who have stopped working for a church because they are unsupported, disrespected and downright ‘pissed off’.

The church in the UK is one of the biggest employers of Youth workers in the country and since the establishment of CYM, now trains more qualified youth workers than any other organisation (secular or religious).

This is fantastic news in many ways. At a time when local authorities are prioritising spending away from youthwork leading to the cutting back of a number of statutory posts and projects, the church is, in many places filling the gaps and pioneering new forms of youthwork.

But whilst there is much for the church to celebrate, many youth workers are still experiencing a great deal of pain, misunderstanding, as a result of working for a church.

A few initial thoughts as to why this is.

The personalities of clergy and youth workers are often polar opposite.

Professional youth workers are mostly being managed by amateurs who think they are qualified as they helped out with the leading of a church youth group a number of years ago.

The church wants bums on seats in exchange for their cash investment.

Working for a church leads to the perception that you have around 100 line managers (often more!). Every one has an opinion on what you are doing.

There is a diversity of opinion with the community as to what the purpose of youth work is.

Anyway please add to this list if you have any other thoughts on this one. And I will keep chewing it over in my present state of dissatisfaction.

Final thought …

We need to be training church leaders in the theory, practice and management of youth work as well as training youth workers.

Comments

[Brodie]

Ben - is there a difference between burning out and feeling so unsupported, disrespected and downright ‘pissed off' that you just can't go on, so you drop out?

[ben]

thanks Brodie
I have always assumed the phrase ‘burn out’ referred to over work and sheer volume of work. Now I know plenty of youth workers who work hard, some very hard but they don’t seem to ‘burn out’ with regard to the amount of work they do. If we include being unsupported under the heading of ‘burn out’ then I know lots who have burned out!
Thanks for the insight.

[Tim Butt]

My take on things is that there are too many youthworkers who aren't. What I mean is, there seems to be a popular feeling amongst church leaders and church members in general that if you're under 35 you should be involved in either/both kidswork or youthwork. What's more, there's an accompanying assumption that fulfilling this expectation serves as a qualification for when you've grown up (are closer to 40 than you ever wanted to be!) and so are 'ready' to do 'church leadership proper'. It sucks!
I'm 27 and definitely not called to be a youthworker, but do feel called to church leadership. I recently wrote, "I greatly respect the specific God-given calling of those who are youthworkers and recognise that that is not a calling I own."
Taking this right back to your original point, Ben, my view is that expectations are screwed and so youthworkers get chewed up and spat out at will. I'm sorry.

[Ling]

I never get involved in church leadership, but i always participate in most activities of the church..

Feeling of being'Pissed off' by the 'adults' is one reason why they don't want to involve in church leadership. It happens here

[BenMizen]

Ben this blog entry is superb. There is a lot of work to be done in the area of management, communication and expectations between church-based youth workers and church leaders.

The journey may be a difficult one as people will have to listen to each other. I have blogged about your entry here: http://d3parture.blogspot.com/2005/05/worth-reading.html

I think that many churches will dabble with youth work and projects and avoid discipleship (a process of growing leaders some might argue). If churches took discipleship seriously would there be less conflict in vision and more understanding of shared goals? Discipleship also has inbuilt support structures and is about learning in humility rather than "bums on seats".

I like your point about maximising investment. It strikes me as a bit of a con that churches can be so shrewd about returns on youth work and actually not worry about money being poured into flower guilds and refurbishments. If churches really believe that young people are our future ("yuk")then surely we need to invest in leadership structures and styles that won't produce results within current expectations.

[Sarah H]

Really interesting analysis here.

I think the answer must be in the training of clergy in the issues of youth work and also the management and development of staff. Unfortunately our training institutions seem woefully inadequate in giving that kind of training.

I think you miss out one vital problem: Clergy don't really know what youth workers ARE. They're not sure if youthworkers are really the SAME as them or different and I don't think that many of the church structures which privilege CLERGY help that.

On a more positive note though.. I think things are getting better. Youthworkers are getting more respect for their own particular ministry without it being viewed as something somehow inferior to adult ministry just because the "clientele" are younger. I still think that ultimately we need to be moving (curiously in a circular way I suppose) to having MINISTERS some of whom are youth specialists and all employed, managed and supported by the central diocese rather than by local churches. That's just me being radical!

[Lev]

Interesting discussion! Seems to be "clash of expectations" sums up what many feel - the difference between the youthworkers and the churches/senior leaders.
Tim's point is important too - it worries me that younger people who want to go into ministry seem to chose youthwork over ordination or other paths.