Why Young Clergy Matter
By Lovett H. Weems, Jr., and Ann A. Michel

In recent decades, many North American churches have suffered a serious and sustained decline in the number and percentages of clergy under the age of 35. In many denominations, the percentage of younger clergy has slipped close to 5 percent or even less. While middle-aged and older pastors bring vital gifts to the practice of ministry, it is troubling that the church allows so many younger persons to ignore God’s call.

There are a number of important reasons why the pool of clergy must include a proportionate number of younger persons. The declining number of young clergy deprives the profession at both ends of the age spectrum. The new ideas, creativity, energy, and cultural awareness often exhibited by the young are lost. And with more persons entering ministry with fewer years to serve, the wisdom and experience that can come with long tenures in ministry are also in jeopardy.

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VIGNETTE

Everyone Welcome?
By Gary A. Shockley

Many congregations truly do believe they are open to everyone until someone different comes along making them feel uncomfortable.

I recently visited a church where, and I kid you not, they had two posters on the wall near the entrance to the sanctuary with pictures of certain clothing styles that were on one poster unacceptable and on the other acceptable to wear. As I walked inside, I was met by another sign that said, "No food or drink beyond this point. This means YOU!” Just beyond that sign was another one that read, "Those who truly honor Christ kneel when they receive Communion.” The real kicker was the words printed in their bulletin: "Everyone welcome!” Nobody can make this stuff up.

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Leaders do not need answers.
Leaders must have the right questions.

Job interview questions often give little useful information because the questions and answers are so predictable. These questions sometimes give a glimpse of the candidate that can be revealing.

What did you learn in your first job (or last job)?
Tell us about a work success you have had, what happened,
and what you learned from it.
Tell us about a problem you faced and how you solved it.
Tell us about a work failure you have had, what happened,
and what you learned from it.

Editors:  Lovett H. Weems, Jr. and Ann A. Michel
Production and distribution:  Joe Arnold

Copyright © 2008 by the G. Douglass Lewis Center for Church Leadership. Leading Ideas material may be freely distributed with attribution (exclusive of material protected by separate copyright).