Frequently Asked Questions
How does CYFM decide what to study?
What types of leaders are you targeting?
What is the relationship between CYFM and Fuller Seminary?
Which Fuller faculty members are closely connected to CYFM?
How are Fuller students involved?
How is CYFM funded?
What academic programs in youth ministry are available through CYFM and Fuller Seminary?
How does CYFM decide what to study? Usually by finding the
intersection between the needs of leaders and the expertise of faculty members.
Sometimes leaders suggest ideas to us and then we dialogue with faculty, and
other times it’s the faculty members who initiate the research process. [Return to top]
What types of leaders are you targeting? The short answer to that
question is “all types”. The longer answer is that it varies in each project.
If you look at the chart below, you can imagine that while all three levels of
leadership share much in common, they also each have their unique needs. In
each project, we assess the leadership levels that are most pivotal and focus
accordingly.
|
LEVEL OF LEADER |
RESPONSIBILITIES |
EXPERIENCE LEVEL |
|
Organizational Leaders |
Holds influence over an organization or team, supervises staff, develops
funds, creates and communicates vision |
5 or more years of ministry experience |
|
Emerging Leaders |
Some staff supervision, develops ministry programs, builds relationships
with kids |
2 or more years of ministry experience |
|
Grassroots Leaders |
Builds relationships with kids |
All levels of ministry experience |
[Return to top]
What is the relationship between CYFM and Fuller Seminary? Fuller Theological Seminary is the largest and most diverse theological seminary in North America, with nearly 5,000 students representing 100 denominations and 70 countries. Fuller’s
president, provost and deans are all enthusiastic in their support for CYFM.
Fuller has three schools: the School of Intercultural Studies, the School of
Psychology, and the School of Theology. CYFM is governed by the deans of these
three schools and one faculty member per school. For more information about Fuller Theological Seminary, please visit www.fuller.edu.
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Which Fuller faculty members are closely connected to
CYFM? CYFM faculty partners include our Executive Committee and our researching faculty.
The CYFM Executive Committee is comprised of:
- Winston E. Gooden, PhD, Dean of the School of Psychology
- Howard J. Loewen, PhD, Dean of the School of Theology
- C. Douglas McConnell, PhD, Dean of the School of
Intercultural Studies
- Chapman “Chap” Clark, PhD, Professor of Youth,
Family and Culture and Director of PhD and DMin Programs in Youth and Family
Ministry
- James Furrow, PhD, Associate Professor of Marital and
Family Therapy and co-Director of the Center for Research in Child and
Adolescent Development
- Jude Tiersma Watson, PhD, Associate Professor of Urban
Mission
The following faculty members serve as partners in CYFM's research:
- Mari Clements, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychology
- Cheryl Crawford, Adjunct Instructor in Youth, Family, and Culture
- Cynthia Eriksson, PhD, Researcher in the Headington Program in International Trauma and Assistant Professor of Psychology
- Pamela Ebstyne King, PhD, Assistant Professor of Family
Studies
- Cameron Lee, PhD, Professor of Family Studies
- Linda Wagener, PhD, Associate Dean of the School of
Psychology and co-Director of the Center for Research in Child and Adolescent
Development
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How are Fuller students involved? Much of the work
of CYFM is conducted by paid Research Assistants and Research Fellows, all of
whom are Fuller students. These positions tend to be part-time and are geared
to complement students' own research interests. [Return to top]
How is CYFM funded? CYFM is funded through
foundation grants and individual donors. While CYFM has several committed donors,
we seek to build new relationships and explore further
opportunities for ministry partnerships.
[Return to top]
What academic programs in youth ministry are available through CYFM and Fuller Seminary?
Currently, our Certificate in Urban Youth Ministry program is our first for-credit academic program operated by the Center for Youth and Family Ministry. However, Fuller also offers a Certificate in Youth Ministry (non-urban), a Master of Arts in Youth, Family, and Culture, a Master of Divinity with a Youth, Family, and Culture concentration, and both PhD and DMin programs in Youth, Family, and Culture. Please visit the Fuller Admissions site for further details about these other academic programs.
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