Thank You for AskingConversing with Young Adults about the Future of the Church A Model of Ethnographic Research in Religious Education |
|
"Presbyterians, Catholics, Pentecostals, Episcopalians, and others will feel that these Mennonite stories, with a few small adjustments, could be their own. We're more alike than we usually realize." - From the Foreword by Brian D. McLaren
This is a book of stories - the stories of young adults as told to other young adults who are working hard with imagination, longing, and love to weave a coherent faith and way of life. The stories provide exemplary illustrations of how young adults are drawing vibrant threads from the wonderful, but somewhat frayed heritage they've been given and weaving them into a new coherency. They show the way toward a future church that will be authentic, down-to-earth and life giving for their generation.
The young adults in this book invite pastors, parents and friends into a potentially transformative dialogue about the stories and practices we use to make sense of our world and to form a way of life. The work young adults do is challenging work, often lonely work; but when done in the company of loved and respected others, it is the heart and soul of what makes life good. As we enter into genuine conversation with the questions and visions of young adults, our faith communities will be transformed.
"In crisp conversations, twenty-somethings explain frankly what they think of God, the Bible, Jesus, church, sex, and spirituality. Thank You for Asking is must reading for anyone who wants to understand young adults and the future of the church." - Donald B. Kraybill, Elizabethtown College
About the Author
Sara Wenger Shenk is associate dean of Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Harrisonburg, Virginia. For this book, she was assisted with a team of young adult research assistants: Deborah Good, Aram DiGennaro, Bethany Spicher, Nate Barker, Melody King, Annie Lengacher, Allan Reesor-McDowell and Chet Denlinger.