The Emerging Scholars Blog

In addition to the seminar mentioned in Query: Social Media, Community Development, Campus Ministry, I’m preparing a Bibliography for the upcoming Graduate & Faculty Ministry National Team Meetings.  What do our friends in the Emerging Scholars Network have to share as resources (articles, blogs, books, webpages, etc) on

1. Ages and life stages.
2. The question of generational distinctives.
3. Using the World Cafe to encourage good teamwork.

Note:  It’s not necessary for the recommendations to focus on campus ministry.  We’re looking for the best resources available. We’ll use discernment in application to our context.  In addition, please pass along

1. Stories about/models of campus ministry which have intergenerational elements that you have found a blessing during  Critical Junctures in your journey through higher education.
2. Recommendations regarding how to include more intergenerational elements into campus ministry.

Update (3/10/2010, 8:15 am EST).

What tips/ideas do you have for InterVarsity’s National Graduate & Faculty Ministry Staff Team Members in Using Social Media Appropriately and Effectively to Grow Communities?  Now’s your opportunity to give input.  I’m leading a seminar on the topic at our April Team Meetings.  Here’s some material I’m seeking to address:

1. How do we use social media appropriately to
   1. build community?  Note:  How does social media influence our/your definition of community or the various forms of community in which we find ourselves?  The seminar will take the direction of building local, face-to-face campus communities, but I’m also interested in the other forms of community, such one finds in the Emerging Scholars Network.
   2. invite others to engage with our community?
   3. engage others with ideas we are discussing in our communities?
2. What are some do’s and don’ts for healthy, appropriate and effective use of technology?
3. What’s available? What’s changing? How do we make decisions?
4. How do we make decisions about the use of technology when engaging with audiences of different generations in our ministry?  Note:  Please don’t skip.  Due to the overall conference theme, it has particular relevance.  :-)  Feel free to also share How you make decisions about the use of technology when engaging with audiences of different generations in higher education?

Calling out to the community/network for input. …

Exploring Campus Ministry

1.  Do you remember the mention of Benson Hines in the May 8 Week in Review? Yesterday, I had the opportunity to chat with Benson during Road Trip 13 and bring him along to a gathering of the PSU-Hershey Christian Medical Society.  If you haven’t already read Reaching the Campus Tribes, I’d encourage you add to your Thanksgiving Break To-Do List

• swinging by Reaching the Campus Tribes to download, skim, and enjoy the pics in Benson’s free on-line book exploring campus ministry in the USA.
• sharing your thoughts on/reactions to the piece from your role in higher education.  As you may remember, I posted some initial reflections here and more here.
• suggesting blogs to add to my big list of college ministry blogs (so far).  In particular, are there followers of Christ from the academic sphere which have particularly insightful blogs on higher education?

David Kinnaman

Melinda Lundquist Denton

2.  On January 28, Messiah College (Grantham, PA) will be hosting the Next Generation:  understanding its faith practices and impact upon faith communities.  The conference speakers will be David Kinnaman and Melinda Denton Lundquist.  Can’t wait to have the opportunity to interact with both the author of unChristian and the co-author of Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers on the below questions. …

- How are teens and young adults approaching matters of faith today?
- What impact is this emerging generation having upon churches and other faith-related institutions?
- How can Christian leaders better engage this generation?

If you’re available/interested, please join me for the conference.  If you’d like to come, but can’t, please let me what questions you’d like explored and I’ll try to bring back some “responses.” Note: I’m exploring the possibility of some interviews to go along with my early February conference summary.