No, not me. I'm 27, and (yippee!) ordained. But otherwise, I very much related to this article: "SWF, 26, Seeks UM Ordination", written by my friend from seminary for United Methodist Relay, the newsletter of the Greater New Jersey AC.
Here's an excerpt:
I cannot reminisce about Carter’s presidency, the days before “U” was added to “MYF,” or a time when polio was a threat to children in this country. Contrary to popular belief, I do not need others to remind me of these obvious truths. I grew up with color TV, barely remember the Reagan years, and started using a computer at age four. Even so, I still have a story. Just because my story is only 26 years long does not make it any smaller than 62 or 97 year stories.
There is a subtle, “What can you possibly offer beyond that textbook knowledge you’re so proud of?” floating in the air. Is this how we approach all young adults in the church? We as a denomination have not found a good place for these persons in their graduate or post-college years who still define “family” as family of origin.
I consistently feel welcomed in the church. Congregations seem to enjoy the novelty of a young woman titled Reverend. (I am one of 93 female local pastors under the age of thirty in the world.) I have found people to be pleased to give me a place in the pulpit (whether or not I have any authority is another matter entirely). From my perch in the chancel I note the lack of twenty- or thirty-somethings in the pews. If young adults are not welcomed, what is to keep them from seeking extra-church agencies when answering God’s call to ministry?
(Karen's bio info: The Rev. Karen G. Puckett, M. Div., certified candidate and ordination-seeker, is assistant pastor at Mt. Fern Church, Randolph. She may be reached by e-mail at karengpuckett at yahoo dot com)
I relate to the sometimes uncomfortable place of being a young clergy person. Throughout my candidacy process, I constantly ran into places where the process clearly was meant for those who were second-career, and already serving churches as local pastors during candidacy. I run into people who ask if I have a family - I say yes, I have family that lives nearby, and they tell me: "No, I mean a family of your own." Oh. A tricky place to be sometimes.
Any other young clergy, single clergy, have stories to share?
13 comments:
Being a young pastor is both a joy and a challenge. The family question you mentioned is one I field all too often as well. Also, "And how old are you?" Would anyone ask that question of a pastor obviously older than 50?
The more subtle way to ask how old are you is: how long have you been in ministry? When I was ordained elder (UMC) 10 years ago, I was the youngest elder in the conference. Now I'm still in the bottom 10% most folks ordained are older than I am.
My fiance (eee!) tells a story about going before his DCOM, and one of the members saying, "Well, how do you know that this is what you want to do, seeing as you haven't tried anything else yet?"
I, too, have found that the candidacy process isn't well setup for those of us who are not yet married, are coming out of college, and have very different life experiences than those who might be a little older. But unfortunately, the process is reflective of those who go through it, and those who go through it are reflective of the make-up of our congregations. The church is still operating on a ministry model that is 30 years behind the times, and as a result, we are going to lose out on reaching young people.
This is one of the topics of conversation that comes up alot for me as I continually discern my own call to ministry and where God might take me.
Boy can I relate. When I was an associate pastor, I don't think my age came up nearly as much as it does now that I am a solo pastor of my own church. I was 24 when I took my first appointment. I am currently the 3rd youngest appointed person in my conference (ORIDA). When I arrived in my small Idaho town, the local funeral home director (who can't be older than 40 himself), came over to the church to introduce himself. As we were chatting, he asked me a question. As I began to answer it, he had this puzzeled look on his face, and he said, "Are you even old enough to be a pastor?" AUGH! I looked right at him and said, I have all of the proper education, and the United Methodist Church sees that I am fit for ministry, so yes, I am old enough.
lgs is right - he NEVER would have asked a second career person that question! Grr!
Then there is also the expectation that becase I am a "young" clergy, the congregation I serve (mostly over 60) assumes that I am going to draw in more people who are young. But as a single person, and as a person who grew up (and stayed) in the church, I am already not like most of the people my age. Double grrr.
Sorry to double comment, but Beth, this might be one of your most intriguing posts yet (hard to compare though--so many are so good). I hope more people will comment and share their stories.
You (and all who have commented) might be interested in the newly developed UM Young Adult Network as a part of the Division on Ministries with Young People of the GBOD. Check it out:
http://yanet.invisionzone.com/index.php?showforum=7
As a layperson, I was often referred to as a youth even though I had already graduated from college and I got funny looks and the accompanying "hmmm" when I would say that I see myself as an adult - a younger adult, but an adult nonetheless.
I think, sometimes, the term "young adult" implies a lower, not-quite-there-yet status. I know that I have a lot to learn and experience and I'm still growing but I think because the "young" is the precursor to the "adult" there is some prejudging going on by the older population.
I agree with Pastor Laura in her sentiments about bringing in other young adults. I am a PK who was always heavily involved at all levels which automatically separated me from others in my age bracket. I had no idea how to draw them in.
Hi! I'm the SWF, 26, seeking UM ordination.
This article idea came from the March/April 06 issue of Circut Rider and statistics recently published by the Lewis Foundation. Those stats can be found here:http://www.churchleadership.com/. There's fascinating info about clergy age trends in the UMC and how we compare to other denominations. Check it out.
Somewhere recently I read a statement that the church may be ordaining women, but the church acts as though their purpose is to provide hospice care to dying congregations.
questing parson - what an observation! I can see that.
Thanks for all the great comments, and Karen, for the great article!
I really enjoyed reading your post as well as the article written by your friend. I can feel as if I can relate.
As a 17 year-old about to be Highschool Senior, who is in the process of trying to get her DS to allow her to start the candidacy process (yes, technically per the BoD I can), I see a lot of this first hand. As a young person (in the frame of beginning the candidacy process, one might say I'm an extremely young person)-- and a female on top of that! -- who believes she is "called" to ordained ministry in the UMC, I have to say that quite often I feel there is no place for me or other young people.
The stereotype of an ordained UM minister has been allowed, most of the time, to become the only prototype. Personally, I've been told that because I am not old(er) I have nothing to offer the church. I beg differ.
I believe the entire candidacy process is in dire need of being revamped, but I wonder, who will do it??
To seek ordination (or even membership) in the UMC at this time is to align oneself with a denomination that is not open, welcoming & inclusive. It is to - at best - endorse the silent humiliations of "don't ask, don't tell." Because we all know what happens when one does tell, with or without being asked.
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