How to Run a Theology on Tap Event for Young Adults
Providing young adults with fellowship and formation.
Young adulthood is a critical point in the faith journey of young Catholics. It’s a time of significant transition – leaving high school, navigating independence, and take the first steps on a new path of work or study. It’s also a time when too many young people get disconnected from the Church.
Young Catholics leave behind the support of (hopefully) a good local youth ministry and often step into a spiritual desert. There’s nothing the Church offers them until they begin marriage preparation.
Right when young Catholics are desperate for community, formation, and accompaniment, we fail to provide it. And it shows. The Pew Research Centre found that 30% of those who leave the Catholic faith do so between the ages of 18 and 23.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. You can create a space where young adults can come together in a relaxed environment to ask big questions, find real friendships, and strengthen their faith. If that’s something your Diocese needs, start by running Theology on Tap.
This post is part of the Playbook Series, offering practical guides to help you run effective events and initiatives as part of your diocesan youth ministry.
What is Theology on Tap?
Theology on Tap is an event that allows young adults to explore their faith in the relaxed social setting of a bar or pub. It’s a lively evening where young adults can grab a drink, meet new people, and engage in meaningful conversations. The night focuses on a guest speaker, who presents on a relevant topic and sparks discussions.
Our typical Theology on Tap schedule is:
6:30pm – Doors open, and young adults arrive to grab a drink and mingle.
7:30pm – The guest speaker provides input on a relevant topic.
8:05pm – A short break provides the chance to grab another drink and continue conversations
8:15pm – A Q&A session with the guest speaker allows for deeper engagement with the topic.
8:45pm – The formal part of the event wraps up, but young adults continue mingling.
9:30pm – Pack up.
Why Run Theology on Tap?
Theology on Tap is designed to meet two key needs among our young adults: Fellowship and Formation.
1) Fellowship
Theology on Tap provides a relaxed space where Catholic young adults can meet new people, reconnect with friends, and build community. Times to grab a drink and mingle are important parts of the schedule.
It’s worth noting that a monthly or quarterly Theology on Tap event isn’t going to fully meet the needs of Catholics young adults for community. But it can be an excellent starting point.
If you’re in a small Diocese, where resources for young adult ministry are limited, Theology on Tap might start as the only thing on offer for young adults. But as the community grows, it can inspire the creation of other grassroots young adult ministries.
If you’re in a larger Diocese, Theology on Tap won’t be the only thing going on for young adults. But it can be a valuable “hub” that brings together young Catholics from various local communities. It’s also an excellent entry point for newcomers the diocese and a great place for regular attendees to bring a friend.
2) Formation
Young adults crave deep formation on topics that aren’t included in a typical Sunday homily. Topics like discerning vocation, navigating relationships, or living your faith in a secular world. At Theology on Tap, we aim to provide thought-provoking talks on these relevant issues.
Previous Theology on Tap topics have included:
Navigating Professional Life as a Catholic
Discerning Your Vocation
The Courage to be Counter-Cultural
Living out Radical Generosity
Engaging with Local Politics
How to Run Theology on Tap
Theology on Tap is an easy-to-run event format that can thrive in any Diocese. I’ve seen it succeed in a large archdiocese, with gatherings of 300 young adults, and in a small diocese, with 20 participants.
One of the great things about Theology on Tap is how straightforward it is to organise. Hosting the event in a bar or pub minimises setup needs, and the venue provides food, drinks and even a sound system. The biggest challenge you’ll face is often finding a compelling guest speaker.
To run Theology of Tap, we use a tool called a SOURCE document. This spreadsheet includes everything you need to organise the event, with tabs for the event schedule, task list, equipment checklist, and other essential details. We call it a “SOURCE” document because it’s the source of everything you need to know to run the event.
To help you run your own Theology on Tap, you can access our template SOURCE document here.
Young adulthood is a pivotal stage in the life of young Catholics. It’s a time when strong community and formation on relevant topics is essential. If you’re looking to meet these needs in your diocese, Theology on Tap is a great place to start.
If you’ve got any questions about running your own Theology on Tap event, or you think this guide is missing any important details, let me know at: samuel.brebner@gmail.com.