Passing it on: reflections on youth ministry

Christian Century, Oct 4, 2003

--Marti Reed Hazelrigg, associate pastor, Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, New Jersey

On offensive lyrics in music:

The lyrics are nowhere near as shocking to teens as they are to us. We adult leaders almost have to point them out. On mission trips I say, "I'll listen to any CDs that aren't offensive to women." They'll say, "Oh, this one doesn't ... Well, wait. I think that track does." And they'll talk back and forth about whether a specific CD has offensive lyrics. I know this deafness was true for me as a youth too. My mother would say, "I don't like the lyrics to this album." I didn't even realize what the lyrics were saying. I could not have told her what they said. It's what you feel, not what is said, that's important to youth.

--Lynn Barger Elliott, interim director of youth ministries, Riverside Presbyterian Church, Riverside, Illinois