Young Clergy

So for all of those outside the world of ordination - young clergy in every denomination is becoming a hot button issue. Why? Because the number of people under the age of 35 (defined as young clergy) is low, too low to balance out the wave of ministers retiring over the next couple of years. And sometimes it seems like all efforts to get people under 35 into ministry (if this is their call) are in vain.

In the UMC we've talked about streamlining or simplifying the process to become ordained. General run down now. At least a year moving through the canidacy process to become a certified canidate. At least 3 years studying for an MDiv at which you can become a comissioned (or prohabation member) of an annual conference. Roughly 5 years and much paper work later, you can become an ordained elder. Gist - it takes at least 9 years before you can be ordained, allowing you to perform the sacraments in any church and not just the one you are assigned.

But today, as I watched the ordination ceremony, I know that I would never be content with streamlining as I saw tear well up and spill over from eyes, shouts of "Amen" and "Praise Jesus" and one lady even did a heel kick and a dance! There was so much uncontainable joy, because they had each arrived at the end of the process. This beautiful, difficult process where they were challenged and affirmed time after time that this is their calling from God! No doubt can be left!

It's not in simplifying, its in seeing moments like these. It's seeing the holy in that which is hard. And it's experiencing the church as a body at places like ministerium, cluster, and annual conference. It's becoming family with other clergy and being guided by them. Maybe it's more about giving youth and young adults the opportunity to attend and expereince the beauty of minsitry first hand instead of having the same delegets come year after year. Maybe its about taking risks instead of simplifying!