Discussion guide for September 2026 issue

Noticed, named, known and needed by Chris Dela Cruz

Questions:

1. Think about your youth. Describe a relationship with a trusted adult who helped contribute to your spiritual formation. What were the qualities of that adult that mattered most to you?
2. What are some ways your church helps youth to be noticed, named, known and needed? 
3. Reread the sentence that begins, “What the calling awakens is a movement of coaches and aunties …” What thoughts do you have about that challenge?

Collaborative youth ministry: One model in Oregon by Kate Satterstrom and Sean P. Williams

Questions:

1. What aspects of the article stand out for you?
2. Four “pillars” of collaborative youth ministry are described. How are those pillars relevant to youth ministry in your church?
3. What values and benefits regarding youth ministry do you discern in this article?

Affirming Black children’s full humanity by Chris Burton

Questions:

1. What is your response to the author’s statement, “It is incumbent upon our denomination to grow our work from charity to justice?”
2. Reread the paragraph that begins, “The myopic view of Black children …” What questions would you like to ask the author? 
3. Even if your congregation only has White members and friends, what have you learned from this article that is applicable to your church?

Honoring the gift of LGBTQIA+ youth for the church by Cody J. Sanders 

Questions:

1. Do you know any LGBTQIA+ youth in your church? If not, how can you come to know some? If so, how might you and others become the safe, accepting and caring people who could make a meaningful impact upon their lives? 
2. The author describes five wishes he has for churches ministering to LGBTQIA+ youth. Which of the five do you think your church fulfills? Which do you think would be the most difficult to fulfill? 
3. What is a wish you would add to the author’s five?

Suicide, young people and the adults who love them by Christopher Epperson and Michelle Snyder

Questions:

1. Are you aware of any conversations about suicide in your church? If so, what were the circumstances and consequences of those conversations? If not, do you think it would be helpful to raise the subject among leaders of youth programs?
2. The author suggests seven practical ways a church can support troubled youth. Which of the seven has your church embraced? Which could be worth working on?
3. What was most helpful to you in the article for understanding the importance of talking about suicide?

Quesadillas and callings: Two educators on the future of lay ministry by Christy Williams and Brittany Porch 

Questions:

1. Does your church have a non-ordained educator or youth worker on its staff? If so, how is the person in that position viewed and supported by the congregation? If not, would you like for your church to have an educator or youth worker on staff? 
2. What has been your experience working with or being served by church educators and youth workers?
3. What do you see as the future for non-ordained church educators and youth workers?

Unfreezing the chosen by Jason Tucker 

Questions:

1. What are some activities your church has done for years but no longer seem to be working like they did in the past?
2. The author writes of the “power of urgency” when describing how churches responded to being quarantined during the pandemic. How did your church respond? What did your church learn from that experience that could guide dealing with other challenges you are facing?
3. Use the SWOT process suggested at the end of the article to assess your church’s ministry.