Whist at the UYWI conference I had the pleasure of meeting Larry Acosta who is the founder of the Institute. He spoke of his passion for specifically investing in youth workers who were not part of the dominant culture 'i.e. not white and middle class'. The diversity of conference delegates was something that I'd never experienced at a Christian conference and was a significant factor for me - A demonstration of unified urban diversity.
Larry also spoke of the importance of investing in 'bi-vocational' youth workers. We call them volunteers in the UK. I'm not sure this term will catch on at my project but I'm keen to explore similarly affirming terminology.
To describe someones role simply by reference to their status with regard to financial renumeration seems to miss the point. Our church used to have an NSM - a Non Stipendiary Minister, the same person is now described as a 'Self Supporting Minister'. It seems to me that the CofE haven't got is right yet (or come anywhere close) when referring to priests who aren't paid to be priests.
I'm keen to try and do better and seek to empower the bi-voactional members of our team here at Urban Hope in Islington.
Larry also spoke of the importance of investing in 'bi-vocational' youth workers. We call them volunteers in the UK. I'm not sure this term will catch on at my project but I'm keen to explore similarly affirming terminology.
To describe someones role simply by reference to their status with regard to financial renumeration seems to miss the point. Our church used to have an NSM - a Non Stipendiary Minister, the same person is now described as a 'Self Supporting Minister'. It seems to me that the CofE haven't got is right yet (or come anywhere close) when referring to priests who aren't paid to be priests.
I'm keen to try and do better and seek to empower the bi-voactional members of our team here at Urban Hope in Islington.
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