Bren McMaken has been accepted into Emory University’s Youth Theological Initiative this summer, a competitive program for rising high school juniors and seniors. Applicants must have a strong academic profile and a desire to be challenged spiritually and intellectually. The YTI Summer Academy gathers a select thirty-six from across the country for a three-week experience in Christian theological education. The goal is to cultivate public theologians for the church and the world and foster opportunities to explore questions that shape us.
The YTI Summer Academy is organized around five fundamental curricular aims:
- Youth will be affirmed in asking tough theological questions within the church, i.e., without having to leave the church to do so.
- Youth will be guided in exploring quality theological literature, including classics of the Christian faith tradition, the Bible, and other resources.
- Youth will learn how to engage, analyze, and address global issues from Christian theological perspectives.
- Youth will join adult participants in shaping and being accountable to a residential covenant community.
- Youth will experience a variety of ways to worship together as an ecumenical group, including worship with local Christian congregations and other religious communities.