"Where Have All the Young People Gone?"

As I sit in the airport in Porto Alegre, the 9th Assembly of the World Council of Churches concluding without me today, I’m reflecting on the issue which garnered the most attention during the days I was present: the inclusion of young people. The issue manifests itself in the way the WCC composes itself, but in truth it is an issue for the entire church, all around the world.

We scratch our heads and ask, “Where have all the young people gone?”

Do you ask that question when you look at your church? As I travel from church to church, I am struck by the absence of young people in significant numbers, certainly in a much smaller percentage than their percentage of the general population. People will ask that question, and even occasionally will ask, “What do we need to do to reach the young people?”

Do we really want an answer to that question?

At the 9th WCC Assembly, the issue came around the percentage of young people (those up to age 30) included in the important Central Committee, which guides the World Council during the 7 years between assemblies. The standards set by the WCC itself calls for 25% of the members to be youth. The problem is that those youth must come through the delegations of member churches, and these denominational church groups only have a defined number, so meeting the 25% requires delegations giving those precious seats to young people, and the “over 30” crowd is not so anxious to let go. The youth plastered handmade signs all across the venue, simply indicating “25%” to remind the group of its own goal. Regrettably, the Assembly will adjourn with only 15% representation for for young people.

So what is the answer for local churches, for your local church? Simply, some people -- some of the "older folks" -- will have to let go. There won’t be room for young people unless we make room.

Here’s the good news (thanks for sticking with this posting long enough to get to the good news): the United Methodist delegation made me proud by the way it added its voice to the voices of these young people reminding the assembly of their unfulfilled promise. To have Bishop Ann Sherer and Bishop Sally Dick lead other members of the United Methodist delegation in solidarity with the youth, positioning themselves by each microphone at the start of a plenary so that the issue could be pressed.

So my prayer is that there will be more youth at the 10th Assembly of the WCC, wherever it may be held. If there is less, we’ll know why: the unwillingness of some to let go of their seats, and make room for young people.

However, maybe the more immediate question for us to ask is this: Seven years from now, will there be more young people at your church, or less?

As we get that right, our future will get brighter.