Vocation and Youth

I am working with a team of fantastic people on a project developing Youth Ministry in Tromso, Norway. One of the major activities of the school year is a Confirmation Project. Three area congregations spend three months together in different groups based on a central theme.

This year we have chosen, "Called and Sent."

I am writing the primary Bible study and lesson plans for all the groups. This is an exciting and fascinating topic; helping youth see where God is working alongside them is central to who i am as pastor.

In preparing for a presentation on the topic to the adults who will help facilitate the project, i read this quote:

Vocation, in the words of Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann, is “finding a purpose for your life that is part of the purposes of God.”

Brueggemann's description of vocation has been ruminating in me ever since. In the church we have done a poor job of helping to teach this notion of vocation. If we have talked about vocation we have almost exclusively limited the discussion to pastors or maybe nurses. And there has been little--if any--inclusion of youth.

In many ways we have said--directly or indirectly--that vocation is something to worry about when you are older.

If we read Brueggemann seriously (and Luther and Jesus, for that matter!) then we must examine our thoughts on vocation. If we are all called to share in the purposes of God for the world, and Jesus says as a child we are to receive the kingdom of God, than how can we do anything other than work to find a place for youth as well?

I am making the presentation tomorrow to those adults. It should be an interesting discussion to follow!