Evangelische Theologische Faculteit, Leuven
Organization Link: www.etf.edu/en
Organization Overview: ETF Leuven offers BA, MA and PhD programs in theology and religious studies, and an Educational Master in Religion. ETF Leuven distinguishes itself from other academic theological institutions in the Low Countries by a strong combination of four pillars: its Protestant-evangelical identity, its cross-denominational focus, its international character, and its focus on a good combination of high-quality academic work with attention to community building and Christian spirituality.
Subgrant Project Description: Vulnerability, Spiritual Maturity and Religious Leadership – Spiritual Formation of Young People in Contexts of Youth Care.
Whereas reflections within the areas of spiritual formation and youth ministry frequently assume 'normal/healthy development' of young people and more or less intact places of youth ministry practices, it is actually more accurate to assume a much more diverse reality. One area of ‘disturbed’ or ‘fractured’ development is young people growing up in youth care contexts. Children and youth growing up in contexts of youth care is e.g. estimated at 10% in the Netherlands and Belgium. These numbers seem to increase in the last years. Also for churches, Christian schools and all other contexts where religious leadership is functioning, more insight into this area is important: to better understand young people, to better understand spiritual development in these contexts in particular, and also to better function as a religious leader for and with these young people in the direction of spiritual maturity. Project aims are:
To get an overview of what we know from the literature about spiritual formation and spiritual development of young people in youth care contexts;
To offer a number of guidelines in the direction of religious leadership for serving this particular group of young people in religious communities, for example in youth ministry practices, in pastoral care or otherwise.
Location: Belgium, the Netherlands
Associated Team Member: Prof. Dr. Jos de Kock, MBA
