Youth Ministry as Theory and Practice

Experience from youth ministry practice

TAM301, TAM302, TAM303, and TAM304

Knowledge

The candidate

• has specialized knowledge within the academic field of youth ministry (historically and current)
• has specialized insight in key phenomena in youth ministry - in ecclesial contexts, in the public sphere, and in a family setting
• has advanced knowledge about the role of a youth minister as a practitioner and as a scholar
• has thorough knowledge of theory formulation and method development in youth ministry research
• can apply theological and inter-disciplinary knowledge in an innovative manner in the field of youth ministry and as a reflective practitioner in youth ministry

Skills

The candidate

• can analyze phenomena and practices in youth culture and youth ministry and bring this analysis into a wider theological discussion
• can use and assess practical theological research methods in an independent manner, relevant to the field of youth ministry
• can analyze and deal critically with various types of sources and use them to structure and formulate scholarly arguments
• is sufficiently equipped with theory and methodology from the forefront of youth ministry research in order to design a limited research project of his/her own

General competence

The candidate

• can relate to professional ethical problems relevant for youth ministry in a reflexive manner
• can apply his/her knowledge and skills about youth and youth ministry in order to carry out assignments
• can communicate scholarly work and masters language and terminology of the academic field of youth ministry
• can participate in scholarly discourses in academia, the church, and in wider society about youth and youth ministry
• can contribute to new thinking and innovation processes in youth ministry and youth culture

In TAM321 the student learns to understand youth ministry from emic and etic perspectives, critical and constructive perspectives, diachronic and synchronic perspectives, cultural/anthropological and theological perspectives, and in the contexts of church life, family life and life in the public sphere.

The course is structured to equip students to observe, understand, and respond to phenomena and practices in youth ministry and youth culture. This course takes as its starting point phenomena open to empirical inquiry and help students analyze critically, understand deeply, and respond constructively to the phenomena at hand. With concepts, theories and methodologies acquired in the first year of study (TAM301, TAM302, TAM303, TAM304) TAM321 will give attention to the following areas:

• Problems and trends that have shaped youth ministry
• Child/youth theology and the young person as learner
• Contemporary worship: word and sacrament
• Ecumenism and inter-religiosity
• Engagement in society: systems of problems and possibilities

The course also aims at working on the identity and reflexivity of the youth minister, both as a practitioner and a scholar.

The course equips students methodologically and theoretically for writing Master Thesis in the field of youth ministry.

• 80% attendance at the learning session in each course is a requirement. (Alternative assignments will be provided for students prohibited from attending, often in the form of an extended book report).
• 8 minor online assignments. (Extended submission deadline can be provided students unable to submit on time).

English.

Alternatively, one of the Scandinavian languages.

Other languages could be accepted by application.