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December 1, 2021
The Ministry Collaboratory @ Princeton shares insights and resources from The Zoe Project (2017-2021), Princeton Seminary’s young adult innovation hub. The Collaboratory will test strategies for young adult and congregational collaboration in 90 congregations across 30 communities. Staff will accompany these congregations through a shared process of ministry innovation with young adult partners. Next, the team will work with learning organizations to create empathy and innovation tools for Spirit-led community change. Research from this project will examine how congregations and young adults work together to bless their communities. Importantly, the team will highlight support strategies that help congregations and empower young adults in forming sacred partnerships.
Using focus groups and other qualitative methods, the Collaboratory will investigate two major findings from The Zoe Project. First, the team will explore links between innovation and a church’s ability to build relationships with young adults. Second, the team will study young adult “domains,” or spaces outside churches that young adults view as “pseudo-sacred.” Primarily, these domains give young adults benefits that churches hope to offer but rarely achieve. Then, many young adults remain “church adjacent,” familiar with congregations but not involved. Understanding these domains can help congregations recognize and nurture vocational gifts that young adults express in these spaces. Next, each community cluster will create a pop-up ministry with young adults that works with a local domain. The Collaboratory will compare three interventions—coaching, learning tools, and a combined model—to see which best supports innovative collaboration.
The Collaboratory will build on insights from The Zoe Project in practical ways. All young adults in Collaboratory activities will receive stipends to acknowledge ongoing financial strain. The team will create learning tools that help young adults and congregations empathize, collaborate, and innovate together. Beyond using these tools in 90 churches, the team will invite twelve denominational leaders and young adult partners to a Learning Tool Camp. There, participants will learn these strategies and share them within their denominations. Along with this, the Collaboratory will prototype sustainable practices to continue its work after the grant period ends.
Kenda Creasy Dean manages the Collaboratory as the Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church, and Culture. She works with Abigail Rusert, director of program design and the Institute for Youth Ministry. The Institute for Youth Ministry will house the Collaboratory’s ongoing work. Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Young Adult Initiative funds this four-year project.
