Young Adult Ministry in Southwest Florida

Above, University of South Florida student Brian McPhee assists with balloting at the Diocese of Southwest Florida's Annual Convention.

Where are young adults in today’s Church? What role does religion play in their lives and how vital is the Church in their daily walk? Why is it that, when asked about their religious beliefs on forms and surveys, more and more young adults tend to check a box, not for traditional church denominations but for whatever represents the alternative?

The Diocese of Southwest Florida takes the long view of ministry to young adults, and is beginning to answer some of these questions by bringing up a new generation in the church. A few parts of the Young Adult Ministry in the Diocese:

Dozens of youth ministers are visible at the parish level.
Episcopal priest chaplains are present at our Church Schools.
The Diocese supports university ministries at USF and UCF.
The Diocese has three staff members dedicated to youth ministry. They are Christian Formation director The Rev. Dr. Jim Williamson (Canon for Christian Formation), Youth and Family Ministry Coordinator The Rev. Michelle Ortiz and Diocesan Missioner The Rev. Eric Cooter.

According to a study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, research on religious practices of the Millennial age group (age 18 to 29) indicates that more young adults in this age group are unaffiliated with any religious tradition than young adults in recent decades (Generation X in the late 1990s, for example, or Baby Boomers in the late 1970s). Nearly one in five in this age group says they were raised in a religious tradition but are now unaffiliated with any particular denomination. In fact, one in four in this age group is unaffiliated with any religious tradition, describing their religious belief as “nothing in particular” or “spiritual but not religious.”

Questions? For additional information about diocesan young adult ministries, contact Canon Jim Williamson, Canon for Christian Formation