A teenage Media Ministry invasion?

[Tony Kanago]

Generally it's just my dad and another guy running things at my church. You can imagine why teens haven't replaced them considering I'm the big other option. The other guy's son is now in high school and will likely be doing more, but generally I just play bass. We've had several other people come up to help before, but generally there just isn't a new for more than two people beyond tearing the stage down afterward.

In our youth program, a teenager generally runs the projection, but that's all. Sound is basically left untouched.

[cw4u]

Our church doesn't have the opposite sex rule. I've worked many times with a girl by myself. Now, we don't have an influx of young women working in the tech field, so this generally isn't an issue.

But, I've never thought of it as a potential problem. I see how it could be. I hope that we would never have to enact such a policy.

As a teen, I've found it hard to constructively criticize another adults work. I'll usually go to another adult, tell them the issue, and then they will bring up the issue with the adult. But, it's a hindrance.

As for training. I'm trained in every aspect that our media ministry encompasses: Audio, Lighting, Video, IT, HVAC, Digital Signage, etc. I know most everything their is to know about anything that has current running through it on our entire campus. Sometimes I wish I didn't.

Rules... Our youth tech team has a set of rules that were put up around March of 08. Now, do I follow them, not entirely. I have issues with the fact that some people don't want us to do homework during the worship service. If I didn't do homework at church, I'd be up till at least 12 every wednesday night. Some of my guys have school that ends at 3. football at 5. and then church from 5-9. With the amount of academic work that we have to do, I feel it necessary to do homework during the service. Our other rule that I don't follow is no food/drink in the tech booth. I understand that it's a good rule, but in all of my years of working, I've never spilt anything on something.

Teens vs Adults... I've had many staff members and church members tell me how much they appreicate what I'm doing. Nuff said.

[Sysmom]

Drinks in the Tech booth ...my rule is that only drinks with lids are allowed. It's a great compromise, and still protects all the equipment.

deb

[jarhead]

To volunteer to do anything involved with someone under 18 we have to have passed a background check conducted by the police. Any other churches doing that ?

[[Admin] danroth]

Many, many.

We have a million requirements:
* criminal background check
* child abuse clearance
* FBI background check if you've lived out-of-state in the last several years
* must be an active part of the congregation for at least 6 months
* interviews of references - including previous employers and pastors, if any
* multi-page application package
* interview with youth director and pastor
* signing contract
* signing agreement "not to abuse"

We also have all the rules including must always be two unrelated adults presence, etc.

Then again, we had all the background checks and rules before and that didn't stop our last youth director, who is now serving 5-10 years on a plea bargain

[brenthomer]

I would love to have teens help. That means they have to come 3 weeks in a row for training.

That has never happened in over 3 years now....sad really.

[[Admin] osborn4]

Almost 1/2 of our tech team used to been teens. But then they went off to college. Now my #1 son is the only teen our team out of 6.

More of our current teens are in the praise band. And also, our teen population is currently in a dip, so there is not as large a pool to glean from.

(Is that enough mixed metaphors? )

[WORDpictures]

We have separate services just for the teens so that's the reason for our total lack of this age group. But there are a few teens who help with those services. I'm realizing now that this separation is breaking continuity. Of our large team of adults, there is only one person in the young adult category. And truly, we have absolutely no rules but show up by starting time. This thread is proving helpful for strategizing.

[Sysmom]

Background checks here are required for everyone who works with anyone under 18, too.

deb

[tedanderson]

As far as policy goes, it's the same for everyone. As far as background checks go, it remains limited to those who work directly with the children (e.g. youth groups, nursery, etc). Our pastor always talks about how this is important because someone could be bouncing a child on their knee while having more fun than the child. But in most other areas of ministry there are seldom opportunties for an adult to be alone with a child. And if that were to ever occur (e.g. having to escort a child to the restroom) we would call on a youth worker to assist or accompany the other adult.

Overall I'd have to say that the majority of our teens are technically illiterate outside of the use of video games, the ipod, and myspace.com.. oh, and whatever proxy site or tunneling portal that they use to get over the church firewall to use myspace.com.

We have a few teens that have helped with the audio, cameras, and duplication but I think that there is a lot of peer pressure to hang out with their friends vs. being behind a piece of equipment during service. The majority of our teens also have a short attention span yet they think that they know everything so this makes it a bit more challenging to teach them anything.

[jflash]

Who said anything about us having short attention spa... hey look! buttons!

[Lucas]

In Australia we have a program called a "Blue Card".

A person will need a blue card if they propose to work, in a paid or voluntary capacity, or to carry on a business, in a child-related area.

There is no 2 ways about it.

To get one, they do police checks, the works.

Both paid employees and volunteers may need a blue card if they fall under one of the following categories:

• residential facilities
• school boarding houses
• *schools – employees other than teachers and parents
• *child care
• churches, clubs and associations involving children
• health, counselling and support services
• private teaching, coaching or tutoring
• *education programs conducted outside of schools
• child accommodation services, including homestays
• *religious representatives
• sport and active recreation
• *emergency services cadet programs, and
• *school crossing supervisors
• *care of children under the Child Protection Act 1999