I had the great priviledge to attend the emergent philosophical conversation in Philadelphia this week. John D. Caputo and Richard Kearney were the philosophers that led us in conversation on the topic of deconstruction and theology. Here are a few of the thoughts/questions that I walked away with:
Taking a deconstructionist approach to theology is at it's best when it chips away at the hardened crust of our institutionalized, monolithic, exclusivistic structures of "truth". It opens the possibility of generosity, inclusivity and love. It seeks not to destroy truth, but works toward truth's regeneration, reconstruction or reinvention.
What does this deconstructionist approach to theology look like practically applied? I took from the conversation a challenge to approach theological reflection with greater hermeneutical humility. This means I need to open myself to the questioning of my assumpions, opinions, even methodology. I must allow the structures of arrogance, exclusion and comfort to be torn down to create space for love to be reinvented and reimagined. I must seek not only to be heard, but to listen and be shaped by the presence and the stories of others.
How do we deconstruct youth ministry? How can those of us in youth ministry engage students in deconstructing their own culture, even the culture of the church? What idols have we created in youth ministry that need to be destroyed for something beautiful to be reborn? It is in these questions that I find much hope in deconstruction! To echo a phrase that was used this week, we need to start doing theology with a hammer and chisel!
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How do we deconstruct youth ministry?
-Here are my thoughts. Welcome back first. 2ndly, I think sometimes you don't need to go that far back to find some answers. When we were in college together we unknowingly sat at an edge of change. We looked at Youth Ministry models and felt somehow they had gone wrong. We were taught the "wooddale" 80's ministry model. What we did with it is sucked the core of that program heavy model and stripped it bare to what mattered to those of us who were kids going through it. Community+Relationship+Jesus+service. That was a core but I think what happened is we made our ministries built around that and they were successful and what happens when things are successful? They then get packaged and sold...institutionalized. As if you could package authentic christ following community and when that happened youth ministry was lost again. Why? because churches still operate in the mode of numbers and members...and it sucked the life out of youth minitsry again. You cannot deconstruct youth ministry without deconstructing the instituition in which lives. Just my thoughts...
-Maas
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