Young people's groups that work together with the regional church should definitely bear some special features in mind
Considering special features
- The regional church creates new approaches
Due to its legal and social position, the national church has access to a broad population. It has children's birth dates and addresses, is represented in schools and is therefore a good advertising channel.
- The national church "vouches for seriousness"
Even if some people may have their doubts, for many people the national church as the responsible body or the pastor as co-responsible is a guarantee of a certain seriousness. No inhibitions to take advantage of this and to consciously stand by the national church background as a youth group.
- The national church has legal boundaries
Not everything that would be desirable is permitted by the regional church. Addresses, for example, are often not allowed to be given out for data protection reasons. In such cases, however, the parish office can take over the sending of the relevant mail. Where understanding and imagination prevail, legal boundaries are not insurmountable.
- The regional church has a financial plan
Therefore, the BESJ youth group should also find sufficient support in the parish if it is tolerant. However, the claim to be the only thing that makes people happy will snub the pastor and church administration!
- The national church traditionally has more of a connection to the Cevi
Where BESJ and Cevi would compete with each other, cooperation should definitely be sought. Competition is not only a waste of energy, but also puts the church in a delicate situation.
- The national church is democratic
Every adult member has the right to vote. The church council and pastors are elected in this way. Individual interests can hardly be enforced. A youth group can therefore only ever be supported as one part and one type of youth work, both ideally and financially.
- The national church usually has a very good Sunday school
This is run by volunteers. They are sometimes afraid of competition. They don't want to "lose" their children to the young people's school. Regular contact with the Sunday school is therefore advisable. This can lead to mutual complementarity and enrichment: The Jungschar as a place of experience, the Sunday school as a place of worship.
- The national church has hierarchies
Many competencies and responsibilities are clearly defined. Key people are the pastors and the president of the church council. Good contact should be sought with both. Decisions often take time because of the sometimes complicated regulations governing responsibilities. Pastors are often not free enough to do everything that is expected of them. It is therefore helpful to discuss possible requests in good time.
- The national church is not a dairy cow
A climate of mutual trust is created where the church administration and the pastor are not only approached when you want something from them, but are also taken seriously as discussion partners and help with a wide range of problems. In such conversations, you will also find an open heart for many concerns. Written requests often end up on the pastor's backlog and slowly but surely get lost (a pastor in the canton of Zurich receives 12 kg of mail per week!)
- The national church is neither good nor bad
Rather, it is the relationships between people, i.e. also between youth leaders and parish leaders, that determine whether a fruitful collaboration is successful.
References:
Contents: Annual focus 1993 "Community", Peter Blaser, Siegfried Nüesch, Martin Bihr, Hansruedi Tanner, Ueli Obrist, Johannes Wallmeroth, Peter Schulthess
Copyright: www.besj.ch
Cover picture: Clipart courtesy of the publisher buch+musik ejw-service gmbh, Stuttgart - www.ejw-buch.de
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