Hungry for Hope: A Conversation with Rev. Baird Linke on the Tokenism of Young Adults in the Church

In this episode of The Collective Voice, Rev. Phil Dieke is joined by Rev. Baird Linke, a pastor and co-author of the chapter about the tokenism of young adults in the soon to be released book Hungry for Hope: Letters to the Church from Young Adults. They discuss how the challenges and opportunities facing young adults in the church today led to the creation of this book and why it is not just a book about young adults or a guide to attract young adults back to church. Baird also shares his journey into ministry, the importance of community, and the need for the church to adapt to the changing dynamics of faith and engagement. The conversation emphasizes the value of young adult voices and the necessity for the church to listen and respond to their needs.References from the episode:Preorder Hungry For HopeAugsburg University Riverside Innovation HubPilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie DillardMartyr! By Kaveh AkbarChapters00:00 Introduction to The Collective Voice Podcast01:41 Baird Linke's Journey into Ministry03:06 The Hungry for Hope Book Project06:24 Listening to Young Adults: Themes and Concerns10:34 Tokenization and Young Adult Leadership11:45 Understanding the Audience: The Church's Role15:03 Young Adults and Their Spiritual Curiosity18:20 The Importance of Community in Faith24:18 Transparency in Church Communities29:25 Institutional Challenges and Spiritual Priorities33:18 Challenging Worldviews in Faith Communities35:43 The Pressure of Tokenization in Churches37:38 Young Voices and Institutional Resistance39:48 Navigating Conflicts Between Generations41:52 The Value of Young People's Perspectives44:22 Balancing Institutional Needs with Community Values48:03 Transforming Institutions for a New Generation50:36 Embracing Change and Transformation in Faith56:37 Grounding in Community and Personal Well-being