Youth Leadership

Last week I participated in my Conference’s Annual Conference Session. This is our annual meeting of all of pastors and church, usually held in late May or early June.

As is our custom, we invite youth and young adults to participate in these sessions as voting members. We have done this for a number of years and see it as important because it allows the youth and young adults within our churches to express their opinion about the issues that we face as  a church.

Having their opinion and presence at these gathering is incredibly important for a number of reasons. First and foremost, their involvement is critical in making decisions for our church because they are full members of our church. Youth and young adults are not just part members or affiliate members, they are full members with all rights and privileges that any other adult member of our church has. If we treat them as less than full members, then we are essentially telling them that they don't matter.

Secondly, having youth and young adults be a part of the decision-making process of our church is necessary so that we get everyone's opinions into the decision. No one would ever consider not allowing women to speak at meetings or not allowing anyone over the age of 65 to speak and share their opinion. However, I have heard it suggested and modeled that young people should be seen and not heard; they are pushed to the sidelines because they do not have the capability of making the right decision. When we do this in the church we send a very strong message to the young people of our churches that we don't want them or need them.

Finally, their involvement and participation in these gatherings and meetings is important so that they will learn how these meetings and gatherings work. Adults have the responsibility to mentor young people. When we ignore those responsibilities, we set up a system by which the church loses its future leadership. If we do this long enough, there will be no church in the future.

The piece of advice that I would have for you in the local church would be this: make it a high priority to have youth and young adults serve on decision-making committees or ministry teams. Don't use excuses like their opinion doesn't matter or that they should be seen and not heard. Instead, value their opinion and help them learn in the best ways possible.