The Church\u27s Call to Address the Development of Adolescents in Its Community

The research question for this project is: What does it mean for the church at large to address the psychosocial and spiritual development of adolescents in its community? The target audience for this particular project is the local Lutheran church within the United States and Canada. This project could also serve those who work with adolescents in other contexts and those who are open to examining the issues facing adolescents including a faith perspective. The goal of this project is to develop a strategy for Lutheran churches to better serve and engage the community in addressing the psychosocial and spiritual development of adolescents. This project examines adolescent development from historical, theological, social science and practical perspective. In addition to examining both the psychosocial and spiritual development of adolescence, this project highlights current cultural and systemic issues related to adolescent development. This project also examines the possible response of the Church to the challenges of adolescent psychosocial and spiritual development today. A variety of leadership, cultural and systemic challenges in the Church will be considered in order to move towards a healthy and theological response to the issues and challenges of adolescent development. Finally, the project suggests a partnership between the church and the community, initiated by the church in order to care for and support adolescents while addressing the developmental and cultural realties and challenges they face today. A possible model for this partnership is proposed. Theological Mentor: Chap Clark, Ph