Young Adult Workshop at 2006 Convocation
Young Adult Workshop at 2006 Convocation
by John Lapoint
On the weekend of May 5th through the 7th, Universalist Convocation met at Our Home
Universalist Church in Ellisville, Mississippi. On May the 6th, together with my father, the Rev.
Justin Lapoint, I led a workshop called “Faith Without Works is Dead,” a forum on what we can do
to get young adults into the Universalist movement. It was noted that Sunday School programs in
Universalist churches are dying and that Universalist churches have trouble recruiting and
keeping young adults.
Problems that were mentioned included that older adults in the movement don’t always treat
younger adults as adults, that services held in Universalist churches aren’t always relevant to
young adults, that young adults have an aversion to organized religion, that young adults move
around a lot and don’t settle in one church, and that young adults aren’t always free on Sunday
morning. A solution that was suggested was to have events on either Wednesday night or Sunday
afternoon, that they be held somewhere other than a church building, and that programs contain
music and religious and non-religious components. It was suggested that programs be spiritually
filling and livelier. Many individuals come to Universalist conclusions from their own study of
religion and the Bible, but do not join the movement for fear of being part of an organized religion.
Publicity and advertising were also discussed. While television and internet advertising were
discussed, it was decided that word of mouth advertising was most effective.
We discussed how to integrate young people into Universalist churches. One suggestion was for
churches to minister to the whole person. Another was to practice spirituality through action
related service, commitment to a cause, and involvement in work camps. A third suggestion was
to hold a coffee house type event either at the church or at a less formal locale, on a Wednesday
or Sunday night, and have a talent show where young adults can read poetry or prose, perform
music, and show off other talent.
After the convocation was over, I talked with Justin Lapoint, Barry Whitamore and Don Outlaw
about ways to get more young adults to attend Convo. We all agreed that we need to take a
serious look at the entertainment we book for Convo to make sure it’s something that would
interest young adults. We believe more contemporary music is needed. Another idea was to have
a break Saturday afternoon so people can recuperate from the beginning of Convo.
When asked what he thought, my father, Justin Lapoint, had this to say, “Our Young Adult
Workshop created a good deal of food for thought. If Universalists are to draw young adults to our
churches and to Convocation, we older adults need to modify our programs both in terms of style
and substance.”
by John Lapoint
On the weekend of May 5th through the 7th, Universalist Convocation met at Our Home
Universalist Church in Ellisville, Mississippi. On May the 6th, together with my father, the Rev.
Justin Lapoint, I led a workshop called “Faith Without Works is Dead,” a forum on what we can do
to get young adults into the Universalist movement. It was noted that Sunday School programs in
Universalist churches are dying and that Universalist churches have trouble recruiting and
keeping young adults.
Problems that were mentioned included that older adults in the movement don’t always treat
younger adults as adults, that services held in Universalist churches aren’t always relevant to
young adults, that young adults have an aversion to organized religion, that young adults move
around a lot and don’t settle in one church, and that young adults aren’t always free on Sunday
morning. A solution that was suggested was to have events on either Wednesday night or Sunday
afternoon, that they be held somewhere other than a church building, and that programs contain
music and religious and non-religious components. It was suggested that programs be spiritually
filling and livelier. Many individuals come to Universalist conclusions from their own study of
religion and the Bible, but do not join the movement for fear of being part of an organized religion.
Publicity and advertising were also discussed. While television and internet advertising were
discussed, it was decided that word of mouth advertising was most effective.
We discussed how to integrate young people into Universalist churches. One suggestion was for
churches to minister to the whole person. Another was to practice spirituality through action
related service, commitment to a cause, and involvement in work camps. A third suggestion was
to hold a coffee house type event either at the church or at a less formal locale, on a Wednesday
or Sunday night, and have a talent show where young adults can read poetry or prose, perform
music, and show off other talent.
After the convocation was over, I talked with Justin Lapoint, Barry Whitamore and Don Outlaw
about ways to get more young adults to attend Convo. We all agreed that we need to take a
serious look at the entertainment we book for Convo to make sure it’s something that would
interest young adults. We believe more contemporary music is needed. Another idea was to have
a break Saturday afternoon so people can recuperate from the beginning of Convo.
When asked what he thought, my father, Justin Lapoint, had this to say, “Our Young Adult
Workshop created a good deal of food for thought. If Universalists are to draw young adults to our
churches and to Convocation, we older adults need to modify our programs both in terms of style
and substance.”
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