Bridges to Belonging: Accessible Ministry with Youth and Young Adults
Join our new Congregational Learning Community!
Fall 2024 – Spring 2026
We invite you to apply to join a Congregational Learning Community as a part of the new project Bridges to Belonging: Accessible Ministry with Youth and Young Adults. This project is focused on equipping churches to welcome and support young people (aged 13-25) with disabilities (including mental health challenges and chronic illnesses). Young people with disabilities can experience unique barriers to participation and flourishing in the local church. We will learn together how to engage creatively with young people with disabilities, reflect theologically on disability and ministry, and adapt and apply practices in accessible, enriching, and spiritually formative ways.
This interdisciplinary project is a collaboration of George W. Truett Seminary, the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities (BCDD), and the Center for Church and Community Impact (C3i). We are funded through Lilly Endowment Inc.'s Thriving Congregations Initiative.
Our Why
Join us for a chance to:
- Strengthen your ministry and outreach to young people in your community
- Learn how to make your church and worship practices more accessible
- Better attend to mental health needs in your midst
- Engage young people with disabilities more fully in the life of the church
- Receive free and practical resources
- Learn from leading experts at Baylor University and beyond
- Build relationships with other churches in this region
- Celebrate the unique contributions of young people with disabilities
- Grow in your confidence in serving a greater diversity of youth
The Commitment
OUR TEAM WILL: | YOUR CHURCH WILL: |
|
|
Apply Today!
Application is open through July 16th, 2024
Churches will be notified of selection by August 19th.
The cohort runs from Fall 2024 to Spring 2026.
The first in-person gathering will take place at Baylor University the evening of October 22nd through the afternoon of October 23rd, 2024.
Criteria to Apply:
- Your church is located within approximately 3 hours driving distance to Baylor University.
- Your church provides a letter of support from the lead pastor/senior minister.
- Churches from all Christian traditions are invited to apply.
To apply, you can access the online church application below:
If you would prefer to print and mail the application, please download the application as a Word document.
Questions?
Contact Elyse McMullen, Program Manager (elyse_mcmullen@baylor.edu)