If UMC Wants Younger Members, It Should Lift Up Its Young Leaders

The Christian Post this week ran This article on a disturbing trend that the IRD regularly reminds me of, that being the "graying" of The United Methodist Church.

Also this week, I received in my mailbox the March/April issue of Circuit Rider, the official magazine for United Methodist clergy and church leaders. The theme of this issue is "emerging leaders," particularly clergy under the age of 35. While one article profiles a handful of young UM pastors, none of the articles is written by a so-called emerging leader. I know several young UM leaders who would jump at the chance to write for Circuit Rider, many of the blogs listed to left under "United Methodists" are published by church leaders under the age of 35.

I fear that this issue of Circuit Rider is indicative of a larger trend of Boomer-centrism in the UMC. United Methodist Baby Boomers, who account for much of the church's ordained clergy, seem to think of themselves as "us" and younger generations as "them." ("'We' need to find ways to bring more of 'those' young people into the church.")

So this is what I'm getting at: Maybe one way to attract more young people to The United Methodist Church would be to amplify the voices of the several vibrant young leaders in the church.