Patheos Featured Writers

Brian Kirk
Columnist

Rev. Brian Kirk is an ordained pastor in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). His education includes a degree in psychology and child development, certifications in elementary and gifted education, and a Masters of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary. Prior to being ordained, Brian spent eleven years teaching in public schools and he has over twenty years experience in congregational youth ministries. He has repeatedly served on the writing team for the New Earth Christian Resources for the Outdoors, published by Christian Board of Publication and the National Council of Churches and contributes numerous articles to YMtoday.com. His new book, Missional Youth Ministry: Moving from Gathering Teenagers to Scattering Disciples, will be published by Youth Specialties/Zondervan in April 2011. Brian currently serves an inner-city church in St. Louis, Missouri, teaches as adjunct faculty at Eden Theological Seminary, and co-writes the blog rethinkingyouthministry.com.

Works by Brian Kirk
Have Yourself a Merry Zombie Apocalypse
Brian Kirk | December 12, 2012
Why as people of faith do we find The Walking Dead series so compelling? It turns out......
The Hobbit's Invitation for Teens
Brian Kirk | November 08, 2012
How did I miss this obvious opportunity all these years to lead teens to the Kingdom of......
As you walk the unexplored path ahead, hold tight to your bliss, be open to taking some......
The Subversive Message of The Hunger Games
Brian Kirk | April 01, 2012
Will young Christian fans of The Hunger Games get the deeper message around how we might......
Cathleen Falsani talks about her new book on Justin Bieber and why a 40-something......
A progressive youth minister invites his teens to respond to the viral video "Why I Hate......
I wonder what the teens in our own communities are waiting for this Advent season?......
The miracle of Christ's birth hardly seems to be an apt metaphor for Justin's receiving......
Should We Help Teens Occupy the Church?
Brian Kirk | November 02, 2011
Many of our teens are too young to participate in Occupy Wall Street. But they are......
Do we really want youth believing that joining the faith is all about avoiding God's......
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Even as we point the finger at the possible oppressors, I have to wonder: "Where is the......
Talking with Teens About 9/11
Brian Kirk | September 07, 2011
Here are my suggestions for helping youth reflect faithfully on what happened to our......
Fast Food Youth Ministry
Brian Kirk | August 24, 2011
We've fed our teens a diet of fast food and entertainment and even though their brains......
Should it come as a surprise that youth can relate to a teen wolf who is desperately......
The Google-fication of God, Part 2
Brian Kirk | July 21, 2011
Are there some "non-negotiables" for those passing on the Christian faith to youth in......
The Google-fication of God, Part 1
Brian Kirk | July 07, 2011
Is Google making our personal worlds larger and more diverse, or rather smaller and......
Leading a youth ministry from a progressive Christian perspective can be challenging. It......
Has the Church Failed GLBT Teens?
Brian Kirk | May 25, 2011
As congregations argue over scripture and tradition, many of our gay teens are quickly......
Loving Our Enemies and bin Laden
Brian Kirk | May 10, 2011
On this side of Easter, when we confront the world's obsession with death and violence,......
The Royal Wedding spectacle begs the questions: How is popular culture helping to shape......
"Source Code", for all its sci-fi silliness, offers a chance for conversation around......
Instead of talking with teens about the evils of "Skins" and Lady Gaga, we could be......
Lady Gaga, Lent, Teens, and Original Sin
Brian Kirk | March 16, 2011
Lady Gaga speaks directly to those the Church would condemn and offers an alternative......
Should it matter what teens think about important issues related to faith and ethics?......
What happens if teens discover that the pacifist life of Jesus that we often idealize......
A Distractional Model of Youth Ministry, Part 2
Brian Kirk | February 02, 2011
What would happen if we gave ourselves permission to let go of using flash and noise to......
In our pop-culture inspired efforts to keep teens engaged, are we re-wiring their......
As we leave behind the hectic schedule of the holidays and begin a new year, how might......
The Gift of Christmas Complexity for Teens
Brian Kirk | December 21, 2010
Helping our teenagers to see that God is present in the messiness of families may be the......