A quick thought that needs to be thought out some more:

I have witnessed an interesting trend lately, though only anecdotally, so it might not mean anything: many of my youth ministry friends who grew up in conservative evangelicalism are turning to mainline churches (i.e. big centralized denominations: Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, etc.). In thinking through the differences between evangelicalism and mainline churches I am beginning to think that the mainline church is better poised theologically to lead the way into a new way of thinking about and practicing youth ministry (and I’ve detailed elsewhere on this blog some of my thoughts why a change is needed). With their sacramental theology, emphasis on community and work of the Holy Spirit (through things like infant baptism), typically smaller congregations, and other things individual mainline churches might be in a place to adopt an ecclesiology that forges a new path for youth ministry. If the denominational headquarters will catch on to the things happening in the grassroots churches, I think we will see innovation and leadership in youth ministry coming from the mainline, not evangelicalism.