The Future of the Church
Filed Under: General
I just finished speaking to our Spring confirmation class - 136 excited and energized 7th graders (and a few older youth as well) who are preparing to publicly profess their faith in Christ on Sunday. As a part of my talk with the group each semester I invite them commit their lives to Christ and then offer an “altar call” in which I lead them in a prayer of commitment. It is a very moving time and one in which most of our youth make a decision to follow Christ.
Following this I speak to the youth about listening for God’s call to ordained ministry. All of us are called to ministry, both as laity and clergy. But the future of the church is largely dependent upon gifted young people listening for, and answering the call to full time Christian service as pastors. I began by asking which of our youth already felt that God may be calling them. There were perhaps ten who stood. Then I told the kids how my call to ministry came from other people telling me that they saw gifts for ministry in me. And I asked the youth to point to those people in their small groups that they could envision being pastors someday, and we had these kids stand. Another 33 youth stood. 43 of the 136 kids in our Spring confirmation class either felt that they might be called, or someone else thought they might be called to full time Christian service. Our fall class had 42 youth indicate the same thing - 85 seventh graders this year who are considering a call to ordained ministry!
I am not suggestion that the call to be a pastor is more important than the call to be in ministry in the church and in the world as a lay person, but right now mainline churches are desperately searching for ways to help young people hear a call to ministry. We need young clergy who will help reach a new generation of people for Christ. Currently only 850 of the 16,000 active United Methodist clergy are under 35. But what I find is that many young people are not hearing a call to the pastorate because no one is asking. Tonight I saw 43 seventh graders stand up because we asked.
We have a goal that at least 200 young people answer the call to ordained ministry here at Church of the Resurrection and are ordained within the next 20 years. After watching the youth tonight, I think our vision is too small.
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- From Calling and Vision ::: The Need for Pastoral Leadership « Performing the Faith | Apr 22, 2008
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dan_williams | Apr 20, 2008 | Reply
I believe Pastor Adam is correct in his assessment that the goal of 200 in 20 years is too small. I do not believe this goal to be arbitrary simply because of it’s quantitative nature. The number of youth who have expressed that they feel they have a calling tells us that this goal is certain to be fulfilled. When you plan for growth, you have to have goals. The renewal of the mainline church requires progressive thinkers and planners like Pastor Adam. Certainly, some who have expressed the desire to serve as clergy will not, but the numbers are on the side of the realization of this goal. I only wish that I had such a wonderfully inspiring pastoral staff as a youth. Who knows? If anyone had asked, I might be posting this comment as an ordained minister myself. Blessings to all of those who were confirmed today. Your congregation is so very proud of you!
chuckrussell | Apr 21, 2008 | Reply
I was part of a Wesley Foundation (United Methodist Campus Ministry) at Texas Tech that produced 200+ persons for full time ministry (Most Ordained) in 20 years. There is no doubt it can be done. There was a culture that held such a choice in high regard and in the context of that culture many folks could hear and respond to God’s voice. It is a calling that many do not understand - often parents and friends are upset by the choices. I have one friend who turned down acceptance to Medical School to go to seminary, and even my own father - who is an amazing father - said something like “you don’t want to become too religious” when I mentioned seminary. There is so much cultural pressure away from the choice - its good to have some counterbalance!
jnoble5826 | Apr 24, 2008 | Reply
Adam -
I hope you are right and I hope the UMC does something to address the situation. The comprehensive ordination process is daunting and frustrating even for me (having tremendous experience in other daunting and frustrating processes!) I remember once in the SW Texas conference we had a youth gathering where several youth (around 10-15 I recall) expressed interest in eventually becoming pastors. We (myself and several youth ministers) quickly discovered how that particular conference, and the UMC in general, has no place for them to go, no structured guidance, no formal encouragement, etc. Sad. We really need more than a pamphlet and a handshake.
I realize there must be a good process of recognizing and clarifying call, a process for ministerial education, etc. But there is no reason that process can’t start much sooner.
Jim Noble