Commentary: Can United Methodists follow their call?
Benjamin Yosua-Davis stands against the backdrop of United
Methodist-related Drew University Theological School in Madison, N.J.,
where he is a third-year student and also a ministerial candidate in the
New England Annual Conference.
A UMNS photo by Russel Kirby.
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A UMNS Commentary
By Benjamin Yosua-Davis*
Sept. 17, 2007
Young adults, especially young clergy, are the "in" demographic in
church circles. Bishops, seminary professors, church growth gurus and
even The New York Times are asking the perplexing question: Why aren't young people going into local parish ministry?
The answers are numerous, ranging from the arduous candidacy process,
to the content of seminary education, to the grueling and often
isolating work in the local parish.
While it’s trendy to talk about young adult leaders, or the lack
thereof, oftentimes the voice of young adults seems curiously lost in
the discussion. The church therefore should pay close attention to the
Generation X/Y Conference, a gathering of about 50 young adults that was
generated, organized and led by a group of motivated young church
leaders. If ever there was an event "of the people," this was certainly
it. It was in this place — an environment of youthful collegiality with
two non-United Methodist presenters and hardly a conference or
denominational hierarch on site — that the voice of the "young adult"
emerged.
Divided loyalties
Tim Keel and Doug Pagitt facilitated the May event at Mount Sequoyah
Conference and Retreat Center in Fayetteville, Ark., bringing their
perspective as highly connectional, non-denominational pastors at the
leading edge of postmodern ministries in the United States. They
contextualized the concerns of young adult leaders clearly, reminding
them that their first priority is to follow God, not an
institution — a statement that many attendees found both comforting
and disturbing.
Many young adult church leaders“expressed a
passionate loyalty and appreciation for United Methodism, yet also a
conviction that the church they love may end up killing them
spiritually.”
Participants voiced both deep love for and deep frustration about the
denomination. They expressed a passionate loyalty and appreciation for
United Methodism, yet also a conviction that the church they love may
end up killing them spiritually. This pain does not come out of
disconnected idealism, but rather an intelligent, painful realism that
has made many realize that their leadership in traditional parish
ministry and traditional churches is bringing them farther away from
God's call for their lives.
A deeper issue ran under the surface of almost all the conversations,
namely, "Can I follow Jesus, be faithful to my call and remain United
Methodist?"
There was a sense among many (although not all) that the church has
not created space for young adults to be faithful disciples as they
understand it. Instead, like a round peg in a square hole, they feel
jammed into ministries that do not fit their gifts, into churches where
they feel sucked dry and futile, into ministries that others define for
them, without any room to explore what it means to be both Christian and
postmodern at the same time. There was a sense that for many, The
United Methodist Church is not looking for gifted Christian ministers;
rather they are looking for by-the-book, work-within-the-system
professionals who would pay their dues, innovate only within the system
and not rock the boat.
Issues of process and education
It's important to note that not everyone felt disconnected,
frustrated and isolated. One group of participants shared that they are
quite content where they are and feel that the church is providing them
with a way to authentically live out their call. Others had found ways
to create space within their ministries so that they could be themselves
and serve their congregations.
Still, two concerns emerged as universal themes among those at the conference.
“There was a sense that for many, The
United Methodist Church is not looking for gifted Christian ministers;
rather they are looking for by-the-book, work-within-the-system
professionals who would pay their dues, innovate only within the system
and not rock the boat.”
First, no one approves of the candidacy process for ministry in The
United Methodist Church. Nearly everyone can tell stories about
horrendous difficulties moving through a system that doesn't really seem
to want them and makes their lives unnecessarily difficult — from
lost paperwork, to contradictory information from different church
agencies, to one conference requiring that all forms be completed on a
typewriter and refusing to make them available in an electronic format.
People spoke about how discouraging it is to go through a process that
seems more concerned about bureaucracy and less concerned about
discernment and preparation.
The second major concern, especially among young clergy, is seminary
education. While many appreciate individual professors and individual
courses, there is a general sense that seminary education is critically
disconnected from ministry on the ground, especially ministry in the
21st century. Many question whether their schools have a clear idea
about what it takes to be an effective church leader and, almost
universally, young clergy leaders do not feel equipped to be leaders
when appointed to their first parish. This seems to be true regardless
of which United Methodist seminary they attended.
Affirmation in sharing
The conference provided moments of hope as well. Many left feeling
refreshed and affirmed to know other people are having the same concerns
while experiencing the same calling. There was a strong determination
not to give up on United Methodism. Many felt called to be agents of
change — prophetic voices within the institution, calling it to renewed
faithfulness for a new generation.
“This 'young clergy' demographic has a
voice, but it's not one that will fit previous molds. … Great renewal
and great change are coming with this new generation.”
In the end, gatherings such as this should both delight and frighten
those in power who enjoy talking about young Methodist clergy. This
"young clergy" demographic has a voice, but it's not one that will fit
previous molds. Hope and fear, people of The United Methodist Church.
Great renewal and great change are coming with this new generation.
*Yosua-Davis is a third-year student at United Methodist-related Drew
University Theological School, Madison, N.J. and a certified candidate
for ministry in the New England Annual Conference.
News media contact: Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
Related Articles
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Program seeks to call young people into clergy
Study: Clergy changes parallel membership decline
Final Study of Ministry report available online
Commission wants further study of church's ministry
Commentary: Help young adults bring passion
Resources
Report on Clergy Age Trends
The Ministry Study Report to the 2008 General Conference
The United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry
ExploreCalling.org
United Methodist Seminaries
MethodX
Drew University Theological School |