Spiritual Formation
- Myth or Reality?

Scandinavian Youth Ministry Gathering

7 - 8th of March, 2007

  Stockholm, Sweden

Keynote speaker. Tony Jones, Emergent US

Our biggest challenge?

One of the biggest challenges confronting us in both our personal lives and in youth ministry is what you could describe as "spiritual formation".   Each one of us strive to be authentic followers of Christ within a context that is undergoing massive change. Sometimes we succeed, - but most of the time we feel and appear to be the worst followers of Christ ever. At the same time we attempt to teach young people how to be followers of Christ!!!- and in light of this tension between desire and reality, spiritual formation sometimes seems to be more like a myth than a reality......

Reports from all over Scandinavia indicate that the challenge of living as authentic followers of Christ is "the number one challenge" that we are dealing with as the church.   Considering this, it seems that "spiritual formation" should be the theme for the first Scandinavian Youth Ministry Gathering.

A 24h gathering?

Jack Bauer in the TV show "24 Hours" handles everything within 24 hours.   Of course we don't think we can solve the challenge of spiritual formation within a 24 hour period.    However, it is our hope that we can start an important process together, where we in both plenary sessions and group discussions can both inspire and teach one another.

Tom Jones and spiritual formation?

We have invited Tony   - and not Tom! - Jones from the US. He is the coordinator for Emergent village in the United States. He has been addressing the issue of spiritual formation in emergent cultures for years, and is the author of books like " Postmodern Youth Ministry"(2001) and " The Sacred Journey"(2004) and has a lot to contribute - even though he is from the US J (For more info: www.emergentvillage.com )

We have also invited "native" researchers and practitioners who will share their findings and stories - and we hope that this gathering will be the first step in creating a strong and vibrant network of professional youth workers, teachers and researchers in Scandinavia!

We welcome you to be a part of the process!

All the best

Fredrik Wenell    Bente Sandtorp     Thomas Willer     Søren Østergaard

Schedule

Wednesday, the 7th of March
10.00 Arrival
11.00 Introduction and Welcome
11.15 Spiritual formation in an   emerging culture - what can we learn from the past? - Tony Jones
12.00 Daily office
12.15 Lunch
13.30 Spiritual Practices with young people in an emerging culture - Tony Jones
14.30 Break
15.00 Daily office
15.15 Discussion groups dealing with the following topics.
-   The Bible and spiritual formation - Tony Jones
- New monastics - Fredrik Wenell, SALT and Emmanuel Ingelsten,
- Mission as part of Spiritual formation -   Thomas Willer, SALT and others
- Follow me? Leadership challenges in an emerging culture with young people-   David Johansson, Pastor in Trinity Church, Stockholm

16.45: "Are they really that different?" - perspectives concerning young people growing up in active Christian families - Søren Østergaard
18.00 Daily office
18.15 Dinner and relaxation
20.00 Alternative worship service - re:gen
21.30 Networking

Thursday 8th of March
9.00 Daily Office and Lectio divina
9.30 Emerging Church and the challenge of spiritual formation -   Tony Jones
11.00 Scandinavian Network for professional Youthworkers -   Thomas Willer & Fredrik Wenell
12.00 Daily office, lunch and good bye

Practical Stuff:

Where:
The Salvation Army - Kår 393, Södermannag 44, 116 40 Stockholm

Cost:
400 SEK which includes refreshments. Meals are not provided, but there are a lot of cheap restaurants close to the conference venue.

Accomadation:
You will have to find your own accommodation. If that is a problem please contact the "event coordinator" -   Bente Sandtorp: bente@baptist.no , phone: 0047 90122032

More info:
www.youthministry.no   will contain the latest news about the gathering - lists of participants, more information about the speakers, maps etc.

Entry Form?
Sign up for the conference here before February 15 th, 2007

Hosted by: SALT - Oslo, Scandinavian Academy for Leadership and Theology ( www.salt-oslo.no & www.youthministry.no ), SALT - Sverige (www.salt-sv.se), Emerging DK ( www.emerging.dk ) and Re:gen ( www.re-gen.dk ) and Centre for Youth Studies and Christian Education, Copenhagen (www.cur.nu).