Created in Delight

Description: Created in Delight challenges the church to take seriously the relationship of human beings with the earth and their fellow creatures. It challenges communities of faith to construct youth and young adult ministry through an ecological hermeneutic. Van Meter includes narratives from his youth work and teaching as well as ecological theology and an exploration of contemporary ecological concerns. He challenges youth and young adult ministers to seek their own formation through practicing hope in resistance to despair as they engage ecological questions in partnership with young people. The book concludes by asserting that cultivating curiosity, compassion, resilience, wisdom and other virtues is essential for the continuing health of young people and faith communities. Endorsements: ""This is the first book of its kind to establish care of the earth as a primary aim of youth ministry. Few theologians know more about youth or the environment, and no one knows more about their intersections than Tim Van Meter. This book grows from decades of careful thought about the real threats to God's creation, the world young people will inherit. . . . In this book you will encounter two stories: a story of environmental degradation--not a 'happy story'--and a story of redemption for all God's creatures, including young people. Tim's book lives in the hope that these two stories become one."" --David F. White, Professor of Christian Education, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary ""With a theologically robust and educationally rigorous vision of youth ministry, Tim Van Meter challenges churches to take seriously the possibility of youth responding to the initiative of God as world citizens and stewards of the earth. The result is a remarkably hopeful discussion of a future for young people beyond the spiritual naïveté, media saturation, and consumerism of much contemporary religious youth culture."" --Charles R. Foster, Professor of Religion and Education Emeritus, Candler School of Theology, Emory University About the Contributor(s): Timothy L. Van Meter is Assistant Professor of Christian Education and Youth Ministry in the Alford Chair at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio (MTSO).