Resource Review: Clapper, Gregory S., Living Your Heart’s Desire: God’s Call and Your Vocation, Nashville: Upper Room Books, 2005.
Gregory Clapper begins his book by saying that our vocation should satisfy our “deepest heartfelt longing.” If this happens, “it will be the life worth living.” A philosopher, Clapper leads us through his own philosophy of a Christian’s calling. Also a film buff, he uses scenes from movies to provide vivid illustrations for his more complex concepts. (MORE)
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The Crisis of Younger Clergy
The Crisis of Younger Clergy by Weems and Michel is now available for purchase. This new book explores the reasons for the precipitous decline in the number and percentage of young clergy in the United Methodist Church and other churches and explains why having a proportionate number of young clergy is essential to the future of the church. (MORE)
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Getting a Life: The Challange of Emerging Adulthood
*by Christian Smith

There is a new and important stage in life in American culture, and it is not entirely clear that the Christian church understands or particularly knows what to do with it. I am talking about what scholars call "emerging adulthood." This is the time of life between ages 18 and 30, roughly, a phase which in recent decades has morphed into quite a new experience for many. Researchers in sociology, psychology, and human development have been investigating the contours of this new life stage and have recently published some fascinating books on the subject, whose findings are well worth pondering for their implications for church and culture. (MORE)
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Best Practices for Developing New Leaders: Successful Programs and Resources for Annual Conferences to Use in Inviting, Training, and Retaining Young Adult Leaders
In October 2007, representatives from 13 annual conferences met to discuss the importance of encouraging and developing youth and young adult leaders in The United Methodist Church. Representatives provided a list of the effective programs and ministries in their annual conferences that help to invite, support and encourage youth and young adult leadership development. Many of the programs that are highlighted here are for laypersons while some are to encourage young adult clergy. This report is a compilation of the programs that were described by those representatives. This report is available for free download.
Click here to read the full report.

The ‘Source Training for Youth Workers
For adult workers with young people. Are you in need of spiritual and ministerial rejuvenation? Come to The ‘Source, a yearly gathering for adult workers focused on enhancing personal spiritual growth and exploring new resources for ministries with youth and young adults. Five events are happening this spring throughout the country. (MORE)
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GBHEM Still Seeking Essays for Call Book
Many young people who are exploring ordained ministry say that hearing the personal stories of men and women who have answered God’s call helps them clarify their own thoughts and vocation. (MORE)

Young People in Local Churches
Here are some tips for welcoming young people as a church and helping young people listen for God's direction in their lives. (MORE)

Top 10 Ways to Discourage Ministerial Candidates
A short guide to help those assisting ministry candidates entering the candidacy process. (MORE)

Resource Review: Capps, Donald, Young Clergy: A Biographical-Developmental Study, New York: Haworth Pastoral Press, 2005.
Donald Capps constructs his book Young Clergy around the biographies of five well-known clergymen who lived in the 18th and 19th centuries. Capps pulls out specific incidents in the lives of these men to illustrate five different developmental models of professional formation, with particular attention as to how those models can be applied to clergy careers. His study focuses primarily on the early and middle adult years. (MORE)
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Top 10 Ways to Wreck Your Candidacy Process
This short guide can help ministry candidates, or those considering entering the candidacy process, avoid some common pitfalls. It also provides helpful hints and highlights expectations for candidates. (MORE)

"Waiting" 2007 Advent Meditation Guide for Students
"Advent: Waiting," is the 2007 Advent Reflection Guide, written for college and university students by college and university students. (MORE)
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Now Available: Women Called to Ministry
Published by the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women, this six-week study session about women in the Methodist church is designed primarily for use by local congregations and may be downloaded and copied. (MORE)
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Fidelia's Sisters: A Publication of the Young Clergy Women Project
Fidelia's Sisters is an online publication by, for, and about young clergy women, with new material appearing on a rotating schedule over the course of a month. (MORE)
Fidelia's Sisters

Resource Review: Palmer, Parker J., Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2000.
Let Your Life Speak is a collection of six of Parker Palmer’s essays. Although they discuss various topics, they share a strong and intriguing central theme – that vocation does not come from the will, but from listening to one’s own life. (MORE)
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Tips for Interviewing Young Adult Clergy Candidates
As annual conference boards of ordained ministry (BOMs) and district committees on ordained ministry (dCOMs) meet this fall with new and continuing candidates, many will have the opportunity to talk with young adults who are considering vocations in ordained ministry. (MORE)
http://www.explorecalling.org/pdf/interviewingyoungadults.pdf

I'm a college student, and I think God may be calling me into ministry. What do I need to know?
What information is needed for college students who are considering how God is calling them? Click the link below to find answers to FAQs about ordained ministry. This resource is for college students thinking about ordained ministry or those who work with them in finding answers to these questions. (MORE)

What do you say when a youth tells you she or he is considering a career in ministry and wants your advice?
This kind of question doesn’t come often, but it does come – and oftentimes the people who are on the receiving end are youth workers. It is helpful to have given this kind of question some thought before it’s ever asked. But how do you do this? (MORE)

I Think God Wants to Hire Me - What Do I Need to Know?
What information is needed for youth who are considering how God is calling them? Click the link below to find answers to FAQs about ordained ministry. This resource is for youth thinking about ordained ministry or those who work with youth in finding answers to these questions. (MORE)

Answering God's Call for Your Life
This book serves as a guide to help young people listen, discern, and understand God's call and it's meaning for their life's work. (MORE)
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