Young People In The Church

I’ve been sitting in a meeting of Young People in the United Methodist Church.  One of the greatest concerns I keep hearing from the people is the need for more money and resources.  Secondly I hear from them that they want to be given leadership in the church.  I maybe misquoting a bit, but, of course, each person says it differently.  I feel as though these students and young people are waiting for something to happen.

Even during the meetings through which I sat the students would ask permission about everything.  I think about groups that have wanted to have leadership in the past.  Women never asked permission to have a division of their own in the church, but when given boundaries and limits they pressed against them.

Young people in the church have spent a lot of time in the last two decades or so talking about issues and talking about being leaders and talking about being the church of today, not just of tomorrow...  Young people need to stop waiting for something to happen and stop expecting entitlement.  When I say this, I mean myself, too, of course.

How do we make something happen?  Well, money isn’t the answer at all.  When we look at the history of the church, young people empowered themselves most when they were an unfunded group.  The disciples with Jesus didn’t have major funding sources.  Young people who are exponentially growing the church in South and Central America are not doing so with the help of the mainline or Catholic church with money, they are a pentecostal movement without a structure or money.

Right now the church gives young people just enough space to feel that they are opposing the church’s current structure and aiming for change, but at the same time the church is training us young people in the ways of the institution.  I want us to think radically about what church means beyond convocations or church worship or even walls of a church building but to join with other young voices shouting for a new kind of church experience with radical expressions of love and abundant freedom to commit to “Kingdom of God works” as Jürgen Moltmann would say.


Title Photo:  Some goofing around between session of the DMYP (Division on Ministry with Young People).  By Scott Carnes, 2009

Jr. High Alive Camp

I wasn’t really sure about whether I would enjoy Jr. High Camp.  I sound like a child, right?  “Mom, NO! You just CAN’T make me go to camp.  I don’t know ANYONE!”  The truth is that I didn’t know if I could enjoy Jr. High camp as much as I did Sr. High camp.  I’ve been volunteering at Night Owl camp for the past several years and enjoy working with the high school kids and just didn’t know if I would have enough patience for the younger youth for a week straight.

The truth of the matter is that I had a wonderful time!  The youth were extraordinary and I’m still coming down off of the ‘energy high’ that I get from a week at camp.  I wonder how many people (especially pastors) are out there thinking what I was thinking, “I don’t have enough energy,” “The kids won’t relate to me,” or (this is the big one) “I don’t have enough time.”  I hope that both lay people and pastors in churches will take time to call the camping office and volunteer for one week next summer.  It doesn’t take any special skills, except the desire nurture children in christian fellowship and discipleship. In fact, each year I leave for camp stressed and wondering how I ever thought I could have time to take a week off, getting to camp and enjoying the experience, and then coming home renewed and refreshed.  It does as much for the volunteer as for the campers!

Racism And Politics

I’ve been watching the Republican National Convention and I’m startled by the contrast between it and the Democratic National Convention.

I’m watching Mike Huckabee’s speech right now and as the cameras move about the room it is predominately old white people (many men).  He stands in a room full of white people in positions of power he then talks about the evils of racism....  I guess he wasn’t talking about institutional racism and tokenism that seems to be pervasive in the Republican Party.

Now don’t get me wrong, I struggle with our party system.  Democrat and Republican party organizations have systematic problems and neither is any more perfect than the other......but when a man like Barack Obama stands up and starts talking about hope and brings a new vision of self, country, and responsibility...and he is made fun of by a bunch of [predominately] old white people I feel sickened.

In one of the video ads by the Obama Campaign “Signs of Hope and Change” one of the men on the video says, “I don’t want a country for me, I want a country for everyone.”  That is what I want.  I want a country that will take seriously the need to inspect our exclusivism, racism, sexism and hopefully one day we will begin to cope with our materialism as well!

Mike Huckabee attacked Barack Obama for going abroad.  I could have imagined (not agreed with) Mike (for) attacking him for wasting money or some other issue in relation to the European tour...but Mr. Huckabee attacks Senator Obama by sayng, “It’s not what he took there that concerns me.  It’s what he brought back.  Lots of ideas from Europe he’d like to see imported here.”  First of all, why not ‘import ideas’ that might make health care more accessible and bring better services (such as preventative care) to our citizenry.  There is an idea to laugh at!  How about ‘importing’ some ideas from countries with better economies, schools, and longer life expectancy than the United States?  There is an idea to laugh at.

Looking at the camera pans back-and-forth, here is what I see:  white Americans who have healthcare and money for good educations  LAUGHING at people who are willing to say, “I don’t want a country for me, I want a country for everyone.”

The Republican leadership in the white house have heard that there are other ways of seeing the world and we know what they do.  They Laugh.  When most of the world says, “no” to a war in Iraq they laughed and ignored them.  When their own citizen’s raised concerns they laughed and said those are just the bleeding heart liberals.  Lastly, when even the republican base withdrew their support of the war and the white house what did they do?  The laughed.

Yes, Republican leadership call Obama an elitist.  They call him incompetent, inexperienced and, of course were happy to circulate the rumor that he was a “secret muslim.”  We have a man standing up with new ideas and a new direction for our country.  This young but competent man, each day, teaches our young people by example that one person can instigate change in the world.  We have a presidential candidate who has proven that he can hear the needs and views of others.  We have a candidate who has already demonstrated his intent to be diplomatic.  Most importantly, if one actually listens to Barack Obama’s acceptance speech in it’s entirety, Obama has a concrete and, in fact, ambitious agenda for this country which speaks to personal responsibility of citizens, fiscal responsibility of the government, and social responsibilities of all.

We have serious issues facing America today and we will have to work hard to address them.  Laughing at other people’s problems, dreams, and hopes doesn’t seem like an effective way to make our country a better place.  I do respect John McCain, but I hope he can find some republican leaders who don’t just laugh at problems, should he be elected to the presidency.

Great Floods

I lived near the Mississippi growing up and still remember the flood of ’93.  Today I took a bike ride to photograph some of the Rock River flood of ’08.  I know it isn’t quite as mind boggling as housing falling into the river (Wisconsin Dells) or entire towns underwater to their roofs (Mississippi flood of ’93), but I found the overabundance of water pretty amazing.  Especially since I now live just a few blocks from the river.

I wonder how Noah and his contemporaries felt as the water rose?  As we consider the destruction that has already occurred and consider the destruction that is still to come, we should consider God’s continual covenant relationship with us.  Over and over again God has been with us as we endured pain, suffering, loss and destruction.  Some people might need to curse and scream at God.  Fine. That can be healthy, look at Job who remains faithful to God despite all of his losses.  When we are rebuilding, however, we must also be thankful to God for the chance to start again.

Baptism is deeply connecting to creation and flood.  By the water washing over us we have symbolism of the water destroying our sins.  As we rise up out of the water we rise up to re-creation.  A new life begins.  Out of destruction can come new life and new opportunities.  We must stay hopeful for this in 2008.


Title Image: A young girl ponders the flood waters in Janesville.  Photo by Scott Carnes, Copyright 2008, All rights reserved.

Door-to-door 4 God

Nope, we’re not Jehovah’s Witnesses or anything, but last Sunday I sent my youth door-to-door.  We didn’t hand out anything, by the way, either.  We collected stuff.  We played a well-known youth game called “Bigger and Better.”  Each group got a paperclip and then went door-to-door.  At the first house they would say, “We’re from Cargill United Methodist Church and we are playing a game called bigger and better.  If we give you this paperclip would you help us with something “Bigger and Better?”

It was  lot of fun.  This kids came back with tons of stuff including: chairs, 2 microwaves, a bench, 2 car seats, hats, toys, a clock, lots of non-perishable food and over $30.00 in cash.  Not bad for a walk around the neighborhood.  We’re going to take the stuff we collected to Echo, the Salvation Army and the Hospital thrift shop.  We are also going to take the money we collected on our mission trip to St. Louis so that we can purchase classroom supplies for the Kingdom House (a social services outreach of the United Methodist Church for low income families which provides low-cost childcare and preschool).

What would happen if we all went door-to-door 4 God?  In this case we proclaimed the name of our church, acted out our faith, and challenged others to help us.  It doesn’t have to be difficult, but it is often uncomfortable to walk up to people in this day-and-age regarding faith issues.  If North American Christianity is to survive, though, we must learn to step out of our comfort zone and take part in world-changing and attitude-changing behavior.

Take a moment to think about how you might share your faith today. Might you invite a friend to church?  Could you challenge someone to do acts of kindness for others?  What would the church look like if we all began acting out our faith and unashamedly proclaimed our love of God?

Evangelism does not have to be “in-your-face,” but it is also not “just” doing Good Works.  Evangelism is different things at different times, but I believe that it can include: Sharing our faith story with individuals or groups, Helping others in the name of Christ, showing love in our daily lives with no expectation of reward or recognition.

Music To My Eyes

Sometimes I like to just pull out my guitar and strum.  No matter what I’m playing (or attempting to play), I find myself relaxed.  What is it that you do to relax?

It is important to relax.  Reading is the way that I used to relax, but now that I’m at seminary I find myself with an inordinate amount of reading and writing.  When a person spends all of their time reading theologians and Biblical commentaries it is hard to find the time to enjoy a Harry Potter book, for example.

I hope that you will take a moment to think about the last time you were truly and completely relaxed.  Don’t think of it as a luxury - but as a necessity - and make time to relax more often!

Overwhelmed and Tired

It is difficult to balance school and work, especially this week.  I had a great week when it comes to being “Scott Carnes, Coordinator of Student Ministries,” but I have fallen far behind in being “Scott Carnes, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminarian...”  As of earlier today, I had three papers to write.  I finished my assignment for tonight, but I am struggling as I try to catch up.  There just seem to be too few hours in the day.

I am also in the midst of scholarship and tax season!  I am trying to apply and re-apply for scholarships and it is clear that I can not (and should not) expect the same level of financial support from my home church as I received during this past year.  I guess I am just feeling very stressed out.

The good news is that I am where I want to be.  I have a kind and loving home church who support me from a distance.  I have a wonderful job at a church which is immensely supportive and accommodating of me as I work through seminary.  Lastly, and most importantly, I am in school and receiving an education is primarily where I want to be right now and I am thrilled to be learning at seminary.