Mainline church, we've got a big problem. I don't need to repeat to you the statistics on failing and closing churches. In fact, I think that will do nothing but give you slight heartburn. I'm not going to contribute to that anxiety loop today.
I would like to name "Fear of Young Leaders" as one of the issues that is contributing to our slow demise. Here are some thoughts about how we got here:
We've assumed, for too long, a shallow understanding of the faith life-cycle. It goes something like this: Young people will leave the church as soon as they are confirmed, probably because we are too intellectual (aka boring). They will be back when they have children of their own that need Sunday school. In the meantime, we don't really count on them too much or expect them to contribute or even show up. And if they DO show up during those young adult years, we will wait until they are the respectable age of about 30 before we see them. Because young people are to be served, they don't really count.
Other things that contribute to this decline into shallowness include:
1. Expecting the right pied piper style, long-hair hippie youth director to "bring in the youth" based on their personality style and inability to age (no shade thrown at anyone that resembles this stereotype, but good luck to the youth ministry when you eventually move on!)
2. Having the best children's programming that magically draws in young families (hint: people are looking for authenticity in relationship, not perfection)
Both of these attitudes underscore our propensity to see our churches as a commodity to be consumed, rather than the body of Christ today in the world that call each one of us, no matter our age, to discipleship.
Mainliners, do you even know what happens when you let the church do what church should do and grow disciples? You get young leaders like this:
- 14 year old who decided to start a brand new photo booth at Strawberry Festival
- 17 year old trustee who will go over to the church to turn off lights and save precious stewardship $
- 18 year old deacon, who is very particular about the way we serve communion and will let you know (with love and grace) when you mess up
- 19 year old Vacation Bible School co-chairperson, on her second year of wrangling 20 volunteers and 60 children for a week in the summer
- 20 year old film student, responsible for documenting and sharing the vision of the church's spectacular Strawberry Festival
- 23 year old delegate to General Synod 31 who has served on the Christian Education Board, as Junior High adviser, as an area chair for Strawberry Festival and VBS co-chair - just to name a few
- Two Senior high youth advisers in their mid-20's, and another in his early 30's who lives an hour away that make Sunday nights with the senior high youth group a priority - it's hard to imagine a mission trip without them.(Oh, and these three have been leaders since they were teens, and have coincidentally taught me more about following Jesus than any youth ministry seminary course ever did.)
This is not an exhaustive list, but I am trying to make a point. If we want young adults to be in the church, we need to include them as equal ministry partners with adults - let's not settle for less. That includes our national setting. There should be no separation, no ageism. When we choose to infantilize 20/30 laypeople, we do so at our own peril. We stifle their discipleship. Do you think they'll care to come back in ten years when they are done cooking? They are not the "church of tomorrow", they are the church of right now. Let's treat them like it.
