Springtide research group (2020) indicates that Young People in America indicate trust based on five dimensions of relational authority.
Listening, Transparency, Integrity, Care and Expertise. While 13-17 year olds are more inclined towards these five categories, 18-25 year olds are only slightly behind them. Both are very, very high in their trust needs based on these categories.
I feel like I am back in the 1970’s being a “youth” and “college & career” pastor (that’s what we were called back then).
We talked about not wearing masks, not lying, not having an agenda . . . characteristics that are all about being a person that youth could trust.
I’m not so sure the “church problem” is about whether “youth workers” desire to create that trust. They do.
Perhaps the question is more about whether we are creating groups that exude relational authority.
Not religious authority. Or scientific authority. Or even familial authority.
Rather, an “institution” that loves each other.
Still sounding 1970’s-ish!