Spirituality of Young People
'Spirituality is ...' a conference held at Sarum College in Salisbury
marked the culmination of a three-year research project into the
Spirituality of Young People sponsored by the Sir Halley Stewart Trust.
It drew together youth workers, teachers, church officers and agency workers with responsibility for youth, academics and local church ministers, as well as four young people drawn from the four nations representing the survey group interviewed by Phil Rankin, the Research Fellow.
The report of the project, entitled ‘Buried Spirituality’ outlines the methodology used and an analysis of the findings. Phil’s approach, seeking young people in their spaces – nightclubs, bars and on public transport – and listening to their stories challenges church and secular youth work to pay particular attention to listening, to space and to simplicity in communication. Young people were found to be very willing to talk about spirituality but the opportunity to do this was being buried under the weight of modern living.
Despite the negativity around suggesting that declining churches had lost touch with young people, Phil’s research offers new hope to those engaged in work with young people. ‘Those who know me’, he said, ‘will be surprised to hear me say that religious institutions can become the best spaces to do this’. How to persuade people to use the methodology is the ongoing task which this conference has started.
Copies of the report entitled ‘buried spirituality’ are on sale in Sarum College Bookshop priced £7.50.
The Bishop of Clifton, Right Reverend Declan Lang, is a Trustee of Sarum College.
Useful URL : http://www.sarum.ac.uk
It drew together youth workers, teachers, church officers and agency workers with responsibility for youth, academics and local church ministers, as well as four young people drawn from the four nations representing the survey group interviewed by Phil Rankin, the Research Fellow.
The report of the project, entitled ‘Buried Spirituality’ outlines the methodology used and an analysis of the findings. Phil’s approach, seeking young people in their spaces – nightclubs, bars and on public transport – and listening to their stories challenges church and secular youth work to pay particular attention to listening, to space and to simplicity in communication. Young people were found to be very willing to talk about spirituality but the opportunity to do this was being buried under the weight of modern living.
Despite the negativity around suggesting that declining churches had lost touch with young people, Phil’s research offers new hope to those engaged in work with young people. ‘Those who know me’, he said, ‘will be surprised to hear me say that religious institutions can become the best spaces to do this’. How to persuade people to use the methodology is the ongoing task which this conference has started.
Copies of the report entitled ‘buried spirituality’ are on sale in Sarum College Bookshop priced £7.50.
The Bishop of Clifton, Right Reverend Declan Lang, is a Trustee of Sarum College.
Useful URL : http://www.sarum.ac.uk
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