Clik here to view.
Beyond Words
Photo by Greg Dunlap Along with a lot of other Christians, Presbyterians are too damn in love with words. Though celebrating the life of the mind as a way of faith is one of the things that drew me to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
God is Not an Idea
Photo by Hey Paul Studios Today I am beginning the series of one-on-one meetings I have each year with confirmands during the two weeks leading up to our confirmation Sunday. I love this time with our...
View ArticleClik here to view.
LGBT Boy Scouts
Scouting was a meaningful activity of my youth. I advanced all the way to Eagle Scout and have always been proud of that accomplishment. I still hold scouting in high regard and hope that my sons will...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Sacred Conversations
There was a time, not so long ago, when confirmation within mainline Protestant churches was a primarily dogmatic exercise. Students were expected to memorize and recite creeds and catechisms. These...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Retreat
Most youth retreats are as over-programmed as the everyday lives of the teens they are designed for. Every minute—often including “free time”—is scheduled and planned. But for the second year in a row,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Finding Our Place in God’s Big Picture
“Veins in the Desert” by Ron Reiring (30,000 feet over Factory Butte in Eastern Utah) Back in March, as I was in the midst of the one-on-one meetings I do with our confirmands before confirmation...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Conference on Progressive Youth Ministry
For over a year I have been floating the idea of a conference on progressive youth ministry, and I’m pleased to say that this idea is finally coming together. I’ve been working with Tony Jones and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How to Be Church in a Culture of Narcissism?
Photo by Jan Lee This week I’m taking a DMin course at McCormick Theological Seminary called “Why Church Matters in a Culture of Narcissism,” taught by Lillian Daniel. This is a class that I’ve been...
View ArticleClik here to view.
18 Years
Photo by Kyden Several weeks ago I had coffee with a woman whose wisdom and insight I greatly respect. She is the mother of three children, one of which is in high school, one of which is in college,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Who Are Progressive Youth Ministry Leaders?
As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been working with the JoPa Group to plan a conference on Progressive Youth Ministry at Fourth Church on March 19-21, 2014. I’m really excited about the potential of this...
View ArticleBack to School
If it hadn’t already been on my radar, the increased traffic around our neighborhood schools was a good reminder that today is the first day of school for many students here in Chicago. As a youth...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Mental Health and Youth Ministry
Photo by Kristina Alexanderson Last year a college student that I only knew briefly in high school committed suicide. Last month a young man that I knew much better when he was in high school also took...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Sacred Responsibility
Image by Dimplemonkey Reading: Deuteronomy 6:16-25 Reflection Several years ago, when my wife and I were waiting to bring our firstborn son home from the hospital, I found myself holding him in my arms...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Progressive Youth Ministry
There are many things that I’m looking forward to in this coming year of ministry. One of the most exciting is a conference on Progressive Youth Ministry that I have planned with Tony Jones, Doug...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Eighth Grade Faith Questions
Photo by Oberazzi For me, faith is as much (or more) about the questions than it is about the answers. Each year at the beginning of their confirmation experience, I ask our 8th graders to list their...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Putting the T in Progressive Youth Ministry
H. Adam Ackley Last week, when I laid out my hopes for the Progressive Youth Ministry conference I’m organizing with the JoPa Group, I mentioned that one of my goals is to directly address issues and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why Does Church Matter?
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to talk with a group of parents at our church’s fall Family Camp. I used our time to explore with them a question that is central to this blog: does church still...
View ArticleInstructor-Assisted Deployment
I spent this past weekend in Ontario as the guest of my friend and Doctor or Ministry colleague Peter Bartlett. He was being installed (though they much more appropriately call it a covenanting...
View Article20 Things, Luck, Derrick Rose, and Gratitude
Here are four good YouTube videos I used in our youth worship service yesterday. Kid President is just straight up funny and right on target. I used this at the very beginning of the service to get...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Something We Still Need in Post-Christendom
Photo by Ken Bosma Last week, right before Thanksgiving, I experienced one of the darkest moments of my church life. I read this article in The Presbyterian Outlook about accusations of sexual abuse...
View Article
