{"id":1522,"date":"2009-10-01T23:10:23","date_gmt":"2009-10-02T03:10:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/practicalmattersjournal.ecdsdev.org\/?p=1522"},"modified":"2016-05-26T14:08:22","modified_gmt":"2016-05-26T18:08:22","slug":"intensity-and-sustainability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pmcleanup.ecdsdev.org\/2009\/10\/01\/intensity-and-sustainability\/","title":{"rendered":"“Intensity and Sustainability” Consultation on Youth in Religious Practice, October 12-14, 2008 at Candler School of Theology, Emory University"},"content":{"rendered":"
Download PDF:\u00a0Bischoff, Intensity and Sustainability<\/a><\/h5>\n
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Organized and sponsored by the Concentration in Religious Practices and Practical Theology. Held in conjunction with the Candler School of Theology Fall Conference, “Re-envisioning Leadership for a Hope-filled Future.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Candler School of Theology, Emory University
\nOctober 12-14, 2008<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In popular consciousness, adolescence is a time of storm and stress, particularly when it comes to identity, religion, and sexuality. Those who have “made it through” their teens may give thanks that the intensity of youth is not sustained into adulthood, whereas others may long for the time when everything mattered so much and seek ways to sustain the passion of their younger days.<\/p>\n

Those who minister with youth are not strangers to questions of intensity and sustainability. Youth directors journey with youth on intense mission trips and then wonder how to help youth sustain their fervor for justice once they return home. Scholars studying the religious lives of youth make proposals about how faith communities can better support and nourish the faith both of young people who face extraordinary situations such as war or abuse and of those who deal with more quotidian pressures to fit in and succeed. The Consultation on Youth in Religious Practices and Practical Theology gathered a diverse group of scholars, practitioners, and students to engage deeply with one another on issues of intensity and sustainability both in the lives of youth and in the religious traditions and practices with which youth interact.<\/p>\n

A youth “speak out” opened the consultation on the first evening, with five youth from Atlanta churches and colleges sharing their experiences, voicing concerns facing youth, offering visions and dreams for their own futures and the future of the Christian church, and answering questions posed to them by consultation participants. Participants and youth then dined together, continuing this conversation in an informal setting. Beginning the consultation this way set an important tone, reminding us of the significance of being responsive listeners to the lived experiences of the young people with whom we work.<\/p>\n

After dinner, participants attended the opening keynote address of the Candler School of Theology Fall Conference offered by\u00a0Marion Wright Edelman<\/a>, president of the Children’s Defense Fund. The first evening concluded with a check-in session, where participants were introduced to\u00a0Practical Matters<\/em>\u00a0and to each other. The sharing of personal narratives about what had brought us to this consultation provided a foundation for collaboration and understanding for the rest of our work together.<\/p>\n

The second day opened with graduate student presentations in three small groups organized around shared loci of interest. Instead of presenting finished papers, students shared ideas in progress and received formative feedback from practitioners, senior scholars, and other students. Presentations were made in the following groups:<\/p>\n

Gender, Embodiment, and Healing:<\/p>\n