Young Adult Leadership Development: Intersections and Intersectionality
Monday, July 22, 2019
5:00pm – 6:30pm
Leadership and spiritual development with young adults happens in a variety of ways and is done by a number of ministries across the life of the Disciples church. In the last few years, the ministries of HELM, Obra Hispana, and NBA have collaborated on several occasions through their programs, such as HELM’s Leadership Fellows, which offers scholarships for Disciples young adults in undergraduate programs; NBA XPLOR, a faith-based, volunteer service program; and the Leadership Experience for Young Adults of the Obra Hispana. Yet, connections have also been made more personally, through conversations with and by young adult leaders about the realities of cross-cultural identities and the place of faith and church on justice issues today.
“Young adults are a locus of wisdom in this church,” says Rev. Rebecca Hale, NBA Executive Vice President. “Accompanying them as they shape and name what a faithful spiritual life can look like in the church and world for this day is a sacred task. It is a great joy to be part of the shared efforts of HELM, NBA, and Obra Hispana.” In thinking about developing young adult leaders, Rev. Lori Tapia, National Pastor for Hispanic Ministries, added that “Investing in the development of young adults is not a privilege, it is a moral and spiritual responsibility of the body of Christ. What is a privilege, however, is building relationships with and working alongside such vital voices, gifted and talented individuals, and passionate, justice-seeking followers of Christ. The sustainability of the church is at stake, and we must take this sacred work seriously.”
In this shared event, our ministries seek to offer an opportunity for reflection and meaningful conversations from leaders, in particular Disciples young adults. Following a meal, we plan for a moderated panel discussion by representatives from the Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries, Higher Education and Leadership Ministries, and the National Benevolent Association. The panel will focus on three themes: leadership development as culturally contextual, the importance of intersectionality, and the role of service and justice work in leadership development.
Event Details
- Monday, July 22, 2019, 5:00pm – 6:30pm
- Iowa Convention Center
- $25
- To register, add this meal to your General Assembly registration
Join us as we share our stories and fellowship together!