Change, jobs and funding
Great post from Roy on redundancy and change, at a time when funding issues are affecting many.
I think the call for creativity and re-imagining how we do things is vital, but painful.
Part of the shift to post-Christendom for sure.
Andrew Jones (who has his own redundancy post) has some posted some stuff in the past about missions and the recession (start here).

My concerns for youth ministry echo Ian's thoughts that I referred to a month or so ago. For many youth stuff or anything experimental seems to be the first to face the chop. But if we are going to do anything about the hemorrhaging of the younger generations from the church, now is the time for more investment. It is certainly not the time to be moaning and asking to go back to the safety of Egypt!

Baptist Ecclesiology
Interesting article on US Baptists and emerging church in the Baptist Standard (ht to Andrew for link).
Love this phrase from the final paragraph:
"Baptist history might offer an alternative explanation—ecclesiology is more defined by the practices of a Spirit-led community than by assent to the statements of a modern theological meta-narrative...the emerging church movement may provide hope for reformation to Baptists ignorant of the difference between modern truths and Truth incarnate"

Evangelism
Some great thoughts on being on the receiving end of (inappropriate?) evangelism on the tube from Dave Gorman.
Thanks Dave. Those of us within the community of faith need to hear those reflections.
(ht to Lewis for the link)

Blog Action Day 2009
It's Blog Action Day and this year's theme is climate change.
I'm sure if you click to the site you'll find a plethora of in depth and helpful blog posts (more substantial than this!).

Sometimes it seems hard to get your head round these massive global issues, and you end up feeling powerless and doing nothing. And while a great responsibility does lie with governments and large corporations, there is something about us doing our small bit that does make a difference.

As a Christian Colossians 1 speaking of all things being for Christ and in him everything being held together seems to me to be a reason for this to matter (as well as love for neighbour and stewardship of the earth).

For resources on this here a link to Tearfund's stuff, very helpful!

Youth Ministry and Support in Credit Crunch
Great thoughts from Ian (and commenters) around engaging adolescents and supporting youth ministry in a time of financial restraint.
Quotes:
"I am very concerned that youth work seems to be an immediate target for cuts"
"Yes, I know I am biased BUT I passionately believe that any further steps back from the Churches engagment with adolescents is to fail the young people we should be serving AND to miss out on how much we can learn from them."
A hearty "amen" from me!

Links
2 Posts from Jon to check out:
"Recommended resources for new youth ministers", check the comments too. I would add "The Godbearing Life" by Dean and Foster as a must read

Also "The future of statutory youth work" which raises some important questions

Working Together
Great post from Chris looking at partnership in youth ministry.
Calling for more "joined up thinking" with partnerships within the church, between churches and with other agencies. Essential stuff.

Of course partnership is never easy.
In my experience it is easier to get youth leaders to work together than "clergy", because they often see the need and benefit of partnership on the ground and tend to be less bogged down with politics.
And I favour the language of partnership between churches over "ecumenism".