The Institute for Youth Ministry at Princeton’s Log College Project
The Institute for Youth Ministry houses and conducts empirical research through its congregational program, the Log College Project. Working with ethnographers, sociologists, and practical theologians, they use a mixed-methods approach in which doctoral students, faculty advisors, emerging scholars, and practitioners are engaged in data collection, interpretation, and application.
In phase one of this research, they collected data from almost 200 congregations who are passionate about designing new forms of youth ministry. In phase two, they journeyed closely with twelve congregations for over three years by conducting interviews, facilitating focus groups, and observing events. One of the goals of this project is to provide ministry leaders with innovative practices that are informed by deep theological reflection.
During these first four years of this research project, the IYM has discovered Seven Core Values that are key to innovative youth ministry, along with Six Archetypes of congregations that are ready and willing to do a new thing.’ They’ve summarized these research findings in their first Research Report, freely available to download now.
Interested in research from the Log College Project?