Please welcome Tina Itson as a regular PYM blogger. Tina is an ordained Deacon in the UMC who has served in youth ministry for about 17 years in contexts from the local church to non-profits and a few things in between. She has a passion for social justice, connecting with others through stories, discovering the ways that God is among us, and helping teenagers to find a place to belong and to matter. She also likes to ponder about youth ministry,... Read more

Christopher Rodkey, a speaker at PYM14, is Pastor of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Dallastown, PAs, and teaches at York College of Pennsylvania, and occasionally for Lexington Theological Seminary. His new book is titled The World is Crucifixion: Radical Christian Preaching, Year C, and he is the series editor for Intersections: Theology and the Church in a World Come of Age, published by Noesis Press/The Davies Group. I was interviewed by Time magazine for their special story on the... Read more

Please welcome Ashley Birt as a regular contributor to the PYM blog. Ashley is the Director of Christian Education at Rutgers Presbyterian Church in New York City. A graduate of Union Theological Seminary, she is currently Certified Ready to Receive a Call in the Presbyterian Church (USA). She has worked for nearly a decade with children and youth in Pennsylvania and New York. During my first year of seminary, I had the honor of teaching Sunday School to a group of... Read more

Scripture readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year C; May 1, 2016): Acts 16:9-15; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5; John 14:23-29 I’m writing this lectionary reflection from a guest room in the manse of Trinity Congregation-Kwashieman, a Presbyterian Church of Ghana congregation in Accra. I’m co-leading a travel seminar from Union Presbyterian Seminary and our focus is evangelism in Ghana. The pastor of this church, Samuel Nortey—who studied at Union six years ago—is director of Mission and Evangelism for... Read more

Wes Ellis, one of our seminar leaders at PYM 16, has already written for us and will continue to be featured as a regular contributor. A couple of years ago, I was at a youth ministry conference in Philadelphia. There were about 150 people or so—youth workers from various denominations and backgrounds—all gathered to try to figure out how to do youth ministry a little better. The keynote speaker, a friend of mine, began his talk with what he felt... Read more

We’re pleased to welcome Kevin Vandiver as a regular contributor to the PYM blog. Kevin has been an impactful presence to youth in both the church and nonprofit sector. Before moving to New York, he was the Director of Family Ministry at Christ Lutheran Church in Charlotte, NC. Kevin currently serves as the Director of Youth and Young Adults at The Riverside Church in the City of New York, and also continues his work with the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom... Read more

Today Andrew Esqueda joins our team of regular contributors. Andrew is the Director of Youth and Family Ministries at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. He is a theology nerd who loves thinking, writing, and speaking about the intersection of theological doctrine and ministry. He is married to Megan and has an awesome 2 year old son named Isaiah. If you had asked me just a couple of years ago what it means to do youth ministry I would have most... Read more

From the Revised Common Lectionary this week, a reflection on Acts 11:1-18 and John 13:31-35. A common and pervasive misunderstanding of Christianity maintains that theology never changes. (An equally common and pervasive notion, to consider at another time, is that God never changes.) This is the most basic definition of theological conservatism. By contrast, progressive Christianity understands that theology is fluid and dynamic, never static. Of the biblical traditions we can use to demonstrate this reality, perhaps none is more relevant to today’s... Read more

We’re pleased to introduce Maggie Nancarrow as a monthly contributor to the PYM blog. Maggie is a graduate of the University of Chicago Divinity School, and a lifelong Episcopalian. She currently serves as Youth Director and Communications Director at a progressive United Methodist Church in the Twin Cities. Her passion is helping congregations find great ways to live out their faith as real members of their community, including the young people and their families. She blogs at maggienancarrow.com. At the United Methodist... Read more

A reflection on two of this week’s passages from the Revised Common Lectionary, Acts 9:36-43 and John 10:22-30. In this week’s reading from the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me.” Following Jesus is more than simply calling yourself a Christian. To follow Jesus with integrity involves discipline and intentionality. Daily—if not hourly—we are faced with choices about how to live our lives, how to relate with others, how... Read more