That's so...awkward.

The Rev. Becky Zartman

Last Monday, I walked into a yoga studio for the first time in seven years. I had done yoga in undergrad, but after leaving college, classes were either too expensive or too out of the way, and, honestly, I just never got around to going back. But when I got it in my head this spring that maybe it was time to take on a physical discipline, I remembered that yoga mat under my bed, and thought, well, maybe it’s time to give yoga another try.

I was astounded at how easy it was for me to go back to yoga. A quick Google search led me to a nearby non-profit studio. Their clear messaging told me that this studio was on a mission, and that my participation would fund health and wholeness initiatives in less affluent parts of the city. This appealed to me, as did the studio’s flexible and abundant schedule. Within one click of the front page, I was able to read about what class what right for me, what to expect, and tips for my first visit. I was told what I needed to bring, what to wear, what to do when I got there, and how to prepare for class. Convinced, I downloaded their app, and signed up.

Ministry Among Millennials: To Change the World

Jason Evans

Last week, I had coffee with a young man who is part of the Episcopal Campus Ministry at American University. A student in the School for Intercultural Services, we discussed all that he is learning in his studies for his degree in social enterprise. Throughout our conversation, what impressed me was his desire not simply to be successful in life but to take the best of business and technology and use it for the common good.

Ministry Among Millennials: Clarifying Communications

Jason Evans

The Gospel, or Good News of God, is all about communication. In “The Baptismal Covenant” in The Book of Common Prayer we read the following:

Celebrant: Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?

People: I will, with God’s help.

Ministry Among Millennials: The Spirituality of Young People

Andrea Noel and Otis Gaddis III

Editors Note: While religious affiliation amongst young adults is down, it is intriguing to find that studies show significant numbers of unaffiliated young adults pray daily and meditate weekly. This article addresses this opportunity.

Many young adults are investigating themes in spirituality more willingly than formal religion. Across religious traditions absentee young adults are no longer an exception, instead they have become the norm. This drift could exist because young adults express disappointment regarding relationships with families and institutions. More than ever, young adults are alive to the inconsistencies that exist in what they are told to do and what they are shown to do by example. Furthermore, with millennials, dissociative behaviors are customary. This new way of being could have several influences: parenting styles, non-traditional familial structures, technology, social pressures, and/or mental health issues. 

Ministry Among Millennials: When Worship Works

Jason Evans

Like many of you, I’ve read the studies that document the decline in church attendance among young adults. And while I am aware of the anxiety this can often create, I am uncertain as to how helpful anxiety is at resolving a problem. Almost every Sunday, I visit a different parish within our Diocese. Most of the time, I meet at least one or two young people who have found their way into the Episcopal tradition. Each time, I make it a point to talk with them about what brought them to their church. Whenever I listen to their stories a sense of hope rises up within me.