Young voices at the table
How the Spirit is shaping the future of the Church
It began, as so many things do in the Church, with a dream.
Three years ago, we stepped into the 225th General Assembly (2022) as Young Adult Advisory Delegates (YAADs). We arrived with wide eyes and open hearts, expecting a single week of conversations about the church’s future. If only we knew what the Holy Spirit had really signed us up for!
A gap at the table
During that Assembly, we learned about a significant proposal: to create a commission to unify the Office of the General Assembly and the Presbyterian Mission Agency. It was an important item of business, shaping how our national Church would be organized for years to come.
But when we read the charter, we noticed something missing. The commission was designed to include a wide diversity of representatives across the Church — except young adults.
In late-night YAAD Zoom calls across time zones, a dream began to take root. What if young adults had seats at the table, too? What if the church’s youngest voices, full of creativity and passion, could help shape this future?
With the encouragement of the Spirit and the support of commissioners, the Assembly amended the proposal to add two YAAD representatives who would bring a different perspective to this work.
Neither of us had any expectation that we’d be the ones to serve. Yet, with the encouragement of friends and others in the Church, we applied — and were invited to serve on the commission!
We honestly had no Idea what we were doing
Walking into our first commission meeting was overwhelming. The task of unification felt so big, and we were the youngest people in the room. We did not have decades of Church service or deep knowledge of national governance structures.
But we quickly discovered that being new was not a weakness. Our questions were welcomed. Our fresh eyes helped us see possibilities that others sometimes overlooked. And we realized that our fellow commissioners — wise, faithful and gracious — were also asking questions, learning and growing.
We learned that everyone, no matter their experience, has something to learn. And when we learn together, the work gets stronger.
Not knowing the rules turned out to be a gift
As YAADs, our lack of a long history in Church politics became a gift. We were not weighed down by “the way things have always been.” We could focus on the present moment and the future needs of the Church.
For 2,000 years, the Church has adapted to the Spirit’s call, evolving to meet the needs of the time while holding on to the good news of Christ. By including young adults in the commission, the Assembly chose to embrace change with courage instead of fear.
By welcoming new perspectives and change, the Church shows that the love and truth of Jesus Christ is embedded in everything. It transcends time, space or a singular governing structure. By embracing this, we can make sure that the current Church is what God has called it to be now, and that it has the tools to become what God will call it to be in the future.
The lesson
What we have learned is that the Church is strongest when it welcomes unlikely voices.
God has always chosen surprising people — the too young, the too old, the inexperienced, the uncertain — to carry out the work of building the kingdom. What matters is not perfection or résumé. What matters is willingness: the willingness to show up, to offer your gifts and to let God use you in unexpected ways.
We came to the table as outsiders. Along the way, we were welcomed, respected and thanked for contributing in ways we never imagined. That has convinced us of something we now believe deeply: Voices like ours belong at the table. And so does yours.
An invitation
Right now, the application process is open for the new governing board of the unified agency, which will be elected at next year’s General Assembly.
Maybe you have thought about applying. Maybe you are uncertain if your voice belongs at the table. Maybe you have told yourself:
- I am too young.
- I am too old.
- I do not have enough experience.
- I do not know the national structure well enough.
- I have never served in mid council leadership.
If so, we have one message for you: Please think again.
The Church needs unlikely and uncommon voices at the table. The new agency will need leaders who are creative, bold and willing to ask big questions. Your perspective, especially if you feel like an “outsider,” may be exactly what God is calling to the table.
Where you fit in
When we said yes to this call, it was not about traveling to Louisville in January or reading through mountains of reports. It was about stepping into the dream God was bringing to life: a Church that is growing, expanding and becoming something new.
You might feel called to apply for the new board. Or you might feel led to champion unification in your congregation or mid council. Or you may simply (yet powerfully) be called to pray for this incredible work and the leaders who are carrying it forward.
What we’re certain of is that you do fit into unification, because ours is the God who invites the most unlikely and unqualified people to the most exciting, life-changing work imaginable: making disciples and sharing God’s grace.
What a dream it is
We have immense gratitude that the Church has invited our voices to this work. We never expected to serve in this way. But God’s plans for us were bigger than our own.
Now, as we look ahead, we ask: How is God calling you to be part of this work?
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