UNIVERSITY BULLETINS | The Youth Theology Institute is an innovative five-day summer experience at Loyola Marymount focused on leadership and theology.
High school students are invited to creatively and intensively explore their leadership potential as well as the “big spiritual questions” they have, making use of the resources of Roman Catholicism and other religious traditions.
“Teenagers are at a place in their lives where they’re asking big questions, like ‘Who am I?’ and ‘What is my role in the world?’” said Brett Hoover, theology professor at LMU. “We wanted students to learn that they can draw on the wisdom of religious traditions to negotiate those questions.”
This year’s schedule includes discussions, field trips to faith locations in Los Angeles, instruction and time for reflection. Students will visit diverse faith communities and organizations promoting justice. The institute is a holistic and integrative experience which seeks to capture the students’ imaginations, cultivate their spiritual growth, facilitate intellectual development, and promote leadership that is ethical, multicultural, and seeks justice in a broken world. It culminates with a film showcase featuring short films created by small groups of participants during the institute.
The Youth Theology Institute was funded by a $600,000 grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc., which sponsored 82 similar programs for high school students at faith-based colleges and universities around the United States.
