Blue Boat of Youth and Young Adult Ministries4 Year Leadership Track for Youth
Ever think to yourself, “ACK! There are too many awesome Unitarian Universalist youth opportunities out there, how am I ever going to do them all!?” Sometimes it feels like a high stake game of checkers where you just can’t figure out the strategy.
Luckily, programs are offered year after year so you don’t have to do everything by your next birthday. Freshman, use can this infographic to map out your four year plan. Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors, use can this same infographic to track your progress along your leadership journey. (See the year-by-year breakouts below.) If it still feels overwhelming, do not hesitate to reach out to us in the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, we can help you plan your course. Staying connected to Unitarian Universalism doesn’t end when you bridge. At the bottom of this infographic there are suggestions for continuing your connection as an emerging adult.
Note: the youth programs and opportunities listed in the infographic are open to youth 14-18 so even if it recommends attending a specific event in your second year of high school, for example, you can still attend it in your third or fourth if you didn’t do it as a Sophomore. Many of these opportunities can be repeated year after year. Lastly, this is not a complete list. Make sure you check with your Minister, Director of Religious Education and regional Congregational Life staff for other opportunities.
Year 1 Opportunities
Spiritual Development
Participating in the Sunday service is a great way to feel more connected to your faith and other UUs and get a sense of the “behind the scenes” effort it takes to put on a worship service. If you serve as usher, light the chalice or do a reading in the service, someone might tap you to be a member of the Worship Arts Team in the future.
Community Leadership
In addition to opportunities in your congregation, district or regional conferences (called cons or rallies) and camps are a great way to feel part of something larger and meet people from different areas. Attending General Assembly, the largest gathering of UUs in the world, and participating in the Youth Caucus can be a transformative experience. Who knows, someone might invite you to serve on a con or rally planning team, as a camp counselor or to apply for Youth Caucus staff.
Social Justice
Many congregations host an annual service-learning trip where you can learn about other communities and work with them. This is a great way to bond with your community as you step outside your comfort zone. Every year the UU United Nations Office hosts an Intergenerational Spring Seminar in New York City where youth and adults gather to explore some of the most challenging issues facing humanity today. And, don’t just learn about social justice – do justice at Activate! GA a UU College of Social Justice event before General Assembly.
Year 2 Opportunities
Spiritual Development
Many congregations invite their youth into the pulpit at least once a year to do a youth lead worship. Planning a worship is a great way to get connected to your minister, share your ideas and discern whether you might want to make ministry a career one day. Attending the Chrysalis Chaplain Training which may be hosted by your regional Congregational Life staff is a great way to do some spiritual discernment about how you can best serve others. By leading a worship service or attending a chaplain training, someone may recommend you for leading a worship service at GA or applying for Summer Seminary.
Community Leadership
Kick your community leadership into high gear in your second year. Some districts or regions have committees you could serve on, perhaps your district/region’s version of a Youth Adult Committee that may plan conferences or support the wellbeing of congregational youth ministry. For Youth of Color, attending Thrive Youth will help you explore your racial and ethnic identities, practice transformative leadership skills, and create authentic, supportive community. Many districts/regions host youth or intergenerational leadership schools that prepare you for a long life of leadership. After you have had a couple of experiences join Luminary Leaders, a network of exceptional youth leaders from across the nation.
Social Justice
The UU College of Social Justice hosts a number of Activate! trainings: in Boston about climate justice, Tucson about immigration justice and New Orleans about racial justice and Beloved Community and can take your congregation’s service-learning trip to another level.
Year 3 Opportunities
Spiritual Development
After you’ve gotten some worship experience in your congregation, at a conference or a camp, consider serving on the Worship Arts Team at General Assembly. It takes many people to coordinate worship arts at GA, so contact the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries to get you connected with the right people.
Community Leadership
Now is the time to put your leadership skills into action by teaching religious education (RE) in your congregation. RE is not just for children, middle school and high school youth, you could even partner with an adult to teach an adult RE class. Your congregation may host a summer camp and there are tons of UU camps across the nation, consider serving as a camp counselor at one of these transformational camps. If you’re interested in joining an intergenerational team to serve the over 300 youth who attend GA every year, apply to be on Youth Caucus staff. Running for Youth Observer on the Board of Trustees is another excellent way to put your leadership in action. This is a two-year position, elected annually. You serve with another youth so first you are mentored by another youth and then you mentor another youth.
Social Justice
After you’ve experienced a taste the UU-UNO’s Intergenerational Spring Seminar, consider serving on Spring Seminar staff. If you had a good time at Activate! last year, or missed the opportunity last year, you have another chance of attending one of these transformational programs.
Year 4 Opportunities
Spiritual Development
Now that you’ve gone out and experienced what the world of Unitarian Universalist youth leadership has to offer, bring it back to your congregation and join the worship arts team to bring alive the spirit of Unitarian Universalism on Sundays. If Unitarian Universalist leadership calls to you as a profession, apply for Summer Seminary, which is an immersion program for youth interested in perusing a career in Unitarian Universalism.
Community Leadership
Now that you’ve gone out and experienced what the world of Unitarian Universalist youth leadership has to offer, bring it back to your congregation and co-facilitate your youth group, perhaps using Be the Change!, youth multiculturalism and anti-racism project or a Tapestry of Faith curriculum like A Chorus of Faiths or Virtue Ethics. Join your congregation’s Board of Trustees or a committee or team to practice your leadership skills in partnership with other UUs. For Youth of Color, return to Thrive Youth as a staff member. And return to your district or region’s leadership school as a staff member.
Social Justice
Now that you’ve gone out and experienced what the world of Unitarian Universalist youth leadership has to offer, bring it back to your congregation and join your congregation’s social justice ministry, reaching out to positively impact your community.
Beyond the Youth Years for Young Adults
Spiritual Development
Whether you’re staying at your home congregation or venturing to another city, state or country, find a deeper connection to your congregation by joining the Worship Arts Team or a small group ministry. Wherever you are, you can participate in Meaning Makers, a yearlong spiritual development program for UU young adults. Through in-person retreats, virtual small group ministry and mentorship, emerging adults will explore the central questions “Who am I and how can I live my Unitarian Universalist (UU) faith in the world?”
Community Leadership
Whether you’re staying at your home congregation or venturing to another city, state or country, find a deeper connection to your congregation by teaching religious education classes to children, youth or other adults. Consider facilitating or participating in a Small Group Ministry or young adult group. If you are going to college, start or join a campus ministry. For Young Adults of Color, don’t miss Thrive Young Adult where you will build transformative relationships with other Young Adults of Color, learn community organizing skills and craft a strategic vision for anti-racism work within and beyond our Unitarian Universalist faith.
Social Justice
Whether you’re staying at your home congregation or venturing to another city, state or country, find a deeper connection to your congregation by joining your congregation’s social justice ministry. Reach beyond your congregation and join young adults from across the nation working for climate justice with the UU Young Adults for Climate Justice (UUYACJ). Continue your relationship with the UU College of Social Justice by doing one of their awesome summer internships or attending GROW Racial Justice. Stand on the Side of Love wherever you are by bringing the campaign to your congregation.
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