Youth Ministry Listening Session Minutes

Strategic Planning Committee

Saint Michael and All Angels

Tuesday, May 24, 2005 ~ 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

•         Because of the number of different schools that our youth attend, it is a difficult task to pull them all together in youth programs, Sunday school, etc. Try to come up with programs (outings, retreats, mission projects) where the kids are purposely grouped to help them learn more about each other.

•         Sunday night can be a tough time for some youth….the homework catch up depending on what other activities they are involved in during the weeks (i.e. sports).

•         Sunday School programs for 7^th – 12^th needs to be a stronger program with more youth input and leadership. Sometimes kids don’t want to hear parents teaching, they just want to talk the topics or issues. Kids want to talk, but even more want to be heard. Maybe more teachers and more training.

•         Space is an issue.

•         “Project Ole” – an outreach project in San Antonio for youth to work with kids in poverty areas for summer activities and lunch. The youth would many times have the same kids for consecutive summers. Helps to provide youth with identity.

•         Need more “projects” – activities for the youth to do together. As the youth work together on “projects” it helps to bring them together, but more importantly to help them start to understand what their faith is teaching. (Lock-ins, outreach to Jubilee or any other need in Dallas, overnight trips for either fun or outreach.)

•         Need a project every month – mixed between get-togethers and outreach.

•         Have EYC from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Sundays.

•         Get ALL parents more involved. But maybe more behind the scenes, because youth don’t want their parents around. Want to be independent from parents.

•         Sometimes the church seems too regimented around rules.

•         Have Sr. High be mentors for Jr. High. Have some time of big sister/little sister activity but do it on a family basis – matching up families.

•         Need Summer activities. SMAA dead in the summer. Other churches continue to have summer programs. Open the Gym more – year round and have scheduled activities.

•         VBS – ask Jr. & Sr. High to volunteer. They are never asked. Only 4^th and 5^th graders.

•         Get Young Couples or Young Singles involved with teaching.

•         Directed Giving is an issue. The church does not promote designated giving even though it goes on all the time in all areas of the church. Maybe we should rethink the approach and ask directly for designated giving over and above stewardship. If parishioners are asked to give in addition to their stewardship pledge for a very specific need that they identify with, they will give.

•         Transportation is a problem. Church has no vehicles and renting buses is expensive. Engage more parents to be volunteers and help.

•         More opportunities for Jr. High mission trips – overnight to 3 days. Can be somewhere in Texas or close by.

•         Communication is a big problem. We need more email contact and a youth website. Need a staff member to constantly update the web.

•         Make announcements in church services about youth activities for the coming weeks. They are never made. If some parents hear these out loud every week, then that might motivate them to either encourage their youth or participate themselves.

•         Youth choir of some kind. Folk music?

•         Sometimes SMAA seems too regimented around rules and structure. Communication about opportunities to get involved at every level needs to improve (i.e. How to get on committees) Need to be more inclusive.