Engaging Youth in the Synod Process: Recommendations and Strategies
The
Opportunity
The goal of the Synod is to engage all persons.
Ensuring that youth are a part of the process
and conversation is essential.
To be a catalyst for conversion through the
witness of the People of God
The
Big
Question(s)
How does this “journeying
together" take place today on
different levels (from the
local level to the universal
one), allowing the Church to
proclaim the Gospel? and
what steps are the Spirit
inviting us to take in order to
grow as a synodal Church?
The Context
Communicating with children,
adolescents and young adults
must be tailored to their
developmental stage and their
cultural reality.
We have asked these questions
before but often as a Church we
have not responded in ways that
engendered trust in the
community.
The
Recommendations
for the Youth
1.
Acceptance that only the most
motivated of youth will speak out
honestly
in front of adults
2.
Creation of Developmentally
appropriate and non-judgmental
spaces for sharing
3.
Communication with parents and
care givers to facilitate an at-home
process
4.
Create opportunities that will allow
youth access process outside of their
parish
5.
The choose your messengers wisely
6.
Do not assume privacy or interest
7.
Manage your verbals and non verbals
Recommendations from teens
1.
“Choose your advocates and facilitators wisely.
Just because we know you, doesn’t mean we
want to talk to you about this issue”
2.
“Create a safe space for conversation. There
must be confidentiality and willingness to talk
about EVERYTHING!”
3.
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep!”
4.
“Come to us. Don’t expect us to come to you”
5.
“Be authentic. If you don’t know why, just say
so”
6.
Show us you are
actually
listening – clarify,
reframe paraphrase,. Don’t defend, don’t
equivocate.
What does
that look
like?
Warning
Youth will come into this process with
expectations of responsiveness. This is
developmentally appropriate. Knowing
this, and that young people have been
asked to enter into similar processes
and witnessed a lack of responsiveness
from the Church, the Synod for youth
must include a process in which youth
can help create short and long term
transformation.
Engagement
that is...
•
Embodied & Active
•
Prioritize the voice of the young person
•
Authentically presented
•
Diverse
•
Non-gathered options
•
Developmentally appropriate
•
Technology enabled
•
Collaborative – Parish to Parish process
Participants
Family
Parish
Schools
Community
Parents
Children & Youth
Ministry Leaders
Teachers
Community Children &
Youth Ministry Leaders
Children & Youth
not
in Groups
Parents
Parents
Synod Team Youth
Reps
Youth
Children & Youth in
Groups
Students
(Catholic & Non-Catholic)
Process Leaders
In each setting where youth interact, there is a leader which the Church must empower to lead the
process, undertake the process and provide feedback.
Parents
Children & Youth
Ministry Leaders
Teachers
Community Children &
Youth Ministry Leaders
Synod Team Youth
Reps
Family
Parish
Schools
Community
Empowered
Adolescents and Young
Adults
The archdiocese seeks to create a synodal
process for youth and youth can
themselves lead.
This requires a process open to peer to
peer participation and a degree of
standardization for the feedback system
Empowered
Adolescents and
Young Adults
…are both
leaders
and
participants
and leaders in this
process and as a Church we
must be mindful about the we
treat them, listening and
respecting their input and
capacity as we listen respect
other adolescents.
Synod Team Youth
Reps
Individual and Group Interactions
Process Leaders may find themselves engaging in two types of synodal
interactions
1.
One on One
2.
Group interactions
With everything that has to be said and done the process can seem overwhelming, but the Archdiocese of Port of Spain is providing
you with content and procedural resources that can help you participate in the Synod as God can intended you should.
Reflection
1.
What words would you use to describe your thoughts about the Synod
before this presentation?
2.
What feelings and thoughts come to mind as you enter this process?
3.
Who do you represent during this process?
4.
Are you a participant or a leader in this process?
5.
What words would you use to describe your thoughts after this
presentation?
6.
Describe how you would like persons to interact with children and youth
during this process?
7.
What do you need to do, for yourself and others to make the answers to
number 6, a reality?
Thank You
Courtesy the Office of Youth Ministry of
The Archdiocese of Port of Spain.
Engaging youth in the synod process is crucial for the Church. This article emphasizes creating inclusive spaces for youth to share honestly, choosing advocates wisely, and tailoring communication to their developmental stages. Recommendations from teens stress the importance of authenticity, active listening, and creating safe environments for open dialogue.
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Presentation Transcript
How to Synod with Youth Introduction This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-ND.
The goal of the Synod is to engage all persons. Ensuring that youth are a part of the process and conversation is essential. The Opportunity To be a catalyst for conversion through the witness of the People of God
TheBig Question(s) How does this journeying together" take place today on different levels (from the local level to the universal one), allowing the Church to proclaim the Gospel? and what steps are the Spirit inviting us to take in order to grow as a synodal Church?
Communicating with children, adolescents and young adults must be tailored to their developmental stage and their cultural reality. The Context We have asked these questions before but often as a Church we have not responded in ways that engendered trust in the community.
1. Acceptance that only the most motivated of youth will speak out honestly in front of adults 2. Creation of Developmentally appropriate and non-judgmental spaces for sharing 3. Communication with parents and care givers to facilitate an at-home process 4. Create opportunities that will allow youth access process outside of their parish 5. The choose your messengers wisely 6. Do not assume privacy or interest 7. Manage your verbals and non verbals The Recommendations for the Youth
Recommendations from teens 1. Choose your advocates and facilitators wisely. Just because we know you, doesn t mean we want to talk to you about this issue 2. Create a safe space for conversation. There must be confidentiality and willingness to talk about EVERYTHING! 3. Don t make promises you can t keep! 4. Come to us. Don t expect us to come to you 5. Be authentic. If you don t know why, just say so 6. Show us you are actually listening clarify, reframe paraphrase,. Don t defend, don t equivocate.
What does that look like?
Youth will come into this process with expectations of responsiveness. This is developmentally appropriate. Knowing this, and that young people have been asked to enter into similar processes and witnessed a lack of responsiveness from the Church, the Synod for youth must include a process in which youth can help create short and long term transformation. Warning
Embodied & Active Prioritize the voice of the young person Authentically presented Diverse Non-gathered options Developmentally appropriate Technology enabled Collaborative Parish to Parish process Engagement that is...
Participants Family Community Parish Schools Children & Youth Ministry Leaders Community Children & Youth Ministry Leaders Parents Teachers Children & Youth in Groups Students (Catholic & Non-Catholic) Youth Parents Children & Youth not in Groups Parents Synod Team Youth Reps
Process Leaders Family Community Parish Schools Empowered Adolescents and Young Adults Synod Team Youth Reps Community Children & Youth Ministry Leaders Children & Youth Ministry Leaders Parents Teachers In each setting where youth interact, there is a leader which the Church must empower to lead the process, undertake the process and provide feedback.
The archdiocese seeks to create a synodal process for youth and youth can themselves lead. Empowered Adolescents and Young Adults This requires a process open to peer to peer participation and a degree of standardization for the feedback system
are both leaders and participants and leaders in this process and as a Church we must be mindful about the we treat them, listening and respecting their input and capacity as we listen respect other adolescents. Synod Team Youth Reps
Individual and Group Interactions Process Leaders may find themselves engaging in two types of synodal interactions 1. One on One 2. Group interactions
With everything that has to be said and done the process can seem overwhelming, but the Archdiocese of Port of Spain is providing you with content and procedural resources that can help you participate in the Synod as God can intended you should.
Reflection 1. What words would you use to describe your thoughts about the Synod before this presentation? 2. What feelings and thoughts come to mind as you enter this process? 3. Who do you represent during this process? 4. Are you a participant or a leader in this process? 5. What words would you use to describe your thoughts after this presentation? 6. Describe how you would like persons to interact with children and youth during this process? 7. What do you need to do, for yourself and others to make the answers to number 6, a reality?
Thank You Courtesy the Office of Youth Ministry of The Archdiocese of Port of Spain.
