Podcast: The Challenge of Youth Agency in Migrant Churches
What does youth agency look like in a church context that is traditionally shaped by hierarchical relations? And what are the challenges of youth ministry in the context of migration? What could the Confucian concept of interdependency mean for youth ministry with and by Korean youth?
Research on South Korean youth
In this episode of our podcast ‘Faith in Youth’ a conversation with dr. Eser Kim, currently based in Seoul, South Korea. Dr. Kim is a Korean researcher who grew up Europe, South Korea and the United States. This ‘third culture’ background is an important tool in her theological research among Korean youth, in South Korea and in a North American migrant context. Among others, dr. Kim did significant research among Korean Canadian youth in the Canadian (presbyterian) church context.
The concept of interdependency
In this podcast you will hear what is characteristic for South Korean Christian youth and youth ministry, and what it means for youth agency. We explore the (Confucian) notion of ‘interdependency’ as a way to understand and encourage transformative youth agency that has the potential to shape the church of today.
Position of betwixt-and-between
Apart from the commonalities with Christian youth and youth ministry in South Korea, we explore the unique position of ‘betwixt-and-between’ of Korean North American youth in a multi-generational church context. Especially in the light of recent hate-crimes towards the Asian-American communities, it is interesting to discuss the response and the agency of Korean North American Christian youth, with the expertise and research of dr. Kim as a starting and vantage point.
