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In last month’s article on Creating Hospitable Space, Sandra Graham wrote about noticing who is left out of a group, or a community, by looking around to see who is missing. Too often in our faith communities, the youth are among the missing groups. It is true that there seem to be fewer young people actively engaged in our congregations, but it is also true that they may be engaged in ways that are different from how we have traditionally expected people to engage in church life.
The youth I work with sometimes overhear church leaders say there are no young people in the congregation. This leads to frustration. “But we ARE here!” they say. “It doesn’t matter if we are here. No one notices anyway.” As Graham said in her article:
“Our own implicit biases blind us to who we have left out. When you have been left out, you usually know why. But when you are doing the leaving out, it often doesn’t even dawn on you that there were others to include.” We tend to buy into the narrative that we have no youth in our faith communities, rather than trying to find out where young people are connecting in our beloved communities. I’m reminded of the saying “What we talk about, we bring about.” When we say there are no youth in our churches, the youth who hear us making these statements may just decide there is no point in showing up.
Whether youth already are present in our congregations, or we are just finding ways to identify and connect with youth in our communities, it is important to ask what youth need in order to connect with the faith community in a meaningful way. The reality is that youth have a multitude of groups and activities to choose from, so it is essential that we identify what will make a church connection meaningful for them. What will create a sense of belonging to the beloved community? Exploring spirituality, especially through spiritual practices and reflection on the intersection of their life experiences with their understanding of faith, is one way to make meaning and to strengthen the connection between young people and the faith community.
Youth and spirituality, when nurtured together, have the potential to shape a beloved community—a space where unity, justice, and love are the cornerstones of human relationships. Spirituality, often understood as a connection to something greater than oneself, transcends religious boundaries, encompassing personal growth, moral development, and a sense of interconnectedness. Young people, with their energy, idealism and openness, are in a prime position to be agents of change, fostering a culture of care, compassion and solidarity. The intersection of youth and spirituality plays a pivotal role in creating spaces where these values are cherished, leading to the formation of a beloved community, where all people can live in harmony.
Young people often experience this when they attend one of our Conference youth retreats, summer camps at Daycholah Center, or a UCC wider church youth event. They are at a stage when identity and values are being shaped. They often turn to spirituality as a means of understanding themselves and their place in the world. These events offer an opportunity for spiritual exploration that provides them with the tools to question societal norms, reflect on their actions, and engage with others in meaningful ways. By engaging with spirituality, young people develop empathy, a crucial ingredient in fostering the beloved community. As they become more attuned to their own inner lives, they are more likely to understand and appreciate the experiences of others, fostering respect and compassion across differences.
The beloved community, a term most famously associated with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., refers to a society where justice prevails, inequality is eradicated, and people of all races, religions, and backgrounds live together in peace. King’s vision of the beloved community was not merely aspirational—it was a call to action. He understood that the transformation of society requires spiritual renewal, particularly among young people who have the vigor to challenge the status quo and build new structures rooted in love and justice. King saw spirituality as the foundation of nonviolent resistance, which is why he emphasized its importance in shaping the minds and hearts of the young.
Youth are particularly drawn to the transformative power of spirituality because it offers them hope and a framework for addressing the complex challenges they face. Spirituality encourages them to question systems of oppression, tackle issues like inequality, and push for collective well-being. These issues are not abstract—they are deeply felt in the daily lives of young people, many of whom are grappling with challenges like poverty, discrimination and environmental degradation. Spirituality, in its broadest sense, provides a sense of purpose, helping youth to see that their actions—whether in small acts of kindness or large-scale movements—can contribute to the creation of a beloved community.
As I observe young people in the local church and at larger youth events, I am reminded that they bring fresh perspectives and energy to the spiritual landscape. Youth are not confined by the historical boundaries that often define, and sometimes limit, older generations’ understanding of spirituality. They tend to be more open to exploring and integrating diverse spiritual traditions, from religious practices to secular philosophies, into a holistic approach to life. By doing so, they create a pluralistic form of spirituality that transcends cultural and religious divides, further enriching the fabric of the beloved community.
The synergy between youth and spirituality holds immense potential for the development of a beloved community. Spirituality offers young people the tools to cultivate empathy, challenge injustice, and build connections across differences. In turn, the passion and creativity of youth breathe new life into spiritual movements, fostering a collective commitment to justice, love, and unity. Together, youth and spirituality have the power to shape a world that is not only inclusive and just but deeply rooted in the values that make the beloved community a reality. We just need to look around, open ourselves to the youth who are present, offer invitation to the youth who are not present, and be willing to open ourselves to what youth bring to our faith communities.
Discussion questions:
- Where do you see youth engaged in your community?
- In what ways do you see the development of spirituality being fostered in the children and youth in your congregation? In the wider community?
- In what ways do you foster the development of your own spirituality?
- What was your experience with spirituality when you were young? How did it influence your faith journey?
- In what ways might we engage with youth in the beloved community?
Resources for learning more about youth, faith and spirituality:
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