Participation in Full

One of the great criticisms of electoral process in this country has been the over-use of, and seemingly over-influence of, advance polling. Sadly however, it also seems that irrespective of such criticism, we find ourselves in the midst of an ever-widening sea of one public opinion or political poll after another.

While on the surface it might seem as though having a “sense of a pulse” of the people might be prudent, particularly as it might shape decision-making, there also lurks a danger of making decisions either “to please the electorate” or “to insure the wind is at one’s back.”

Our Presbyterian way of decision-making often necessarily requires voting. But we also need to recognize that our voting process must be understood not as electoral process per se but rather as a way of affirming or confirming the discernment of the body. One of the peculiarities of our process at General Assembly is to seek counsel from “advisory delegates” – representing ecumenical partners, missionary workers, seminary students, and younger adults. These advisory delegates weigh-in on every action with non-binding votes immediately prior to the binding vote of assembly commissioners.

Counsel, as part of decision-making, seems a good thing. But it also seems to me that such counsel, when placed immediately before asking for a “final decision,” runs the risk of emotional response rather than measured consideration and assessment. Surely there can be other ways to receive advice or guidance that avoid this potential pitfall, especially in light of the fact that the ecumenical, missionary, and seminary advisory delegates in total comprise only 47 persons.

For the Young Adult Advisory Delegates (YAADs) however, whose total is 160, “other ways” might be more difficult find. So perhaps the entire notion of YAADs needs to be reconsidered.

One of the important arguments for YAADs lies in the very worthy goal to find ways to engage younger Presbyterians in the life of the governance of the church. But as currently constituted, YAAD responsibilities, which give voice in committee and plenary, but without vote, would seem to be counterproductive to that goal, because without vote (and the consequences that arise from that vote), voice can be used often recklessly and arbitrarily, especially in light of the idea that “if I can’t vote to make this happen, I’ll try to convince others to do so” – that the lack of franchise might lead to impetuous, ill-timed and over emotional speech – the difference between having something to say, and having to say something.

Suppose that, denominationally, we took a completely different tack in our course?

Imagine how the church might be changed if congregations took seriously the gifts of younger women and men and made concerted efforts to bring this generation – often lamented as a missing generation – into full participation in the governance life of the church, by routinely ordaining younger people into the ordered ministry of ruling elder, and not in any token way, or in any “junior elder” capacity.

And then, with this blossoming resource of young ruling elders, imagine how the church might change if presbyteries elected them to serve as assembly commissioners.

The fashion in renaissance art was to represent biblical images in then-contemporary contexts. Thus, famous paintings of Old and New Testament figures were sent in European landscapes and architecture. This fashion also extended to images of the biblical characters as well; and frequently, Jesus’ disciples were portrayed as fully grown men – certainly at least approaching middle age – which was part of the artist’s way of imparting a sense of wisdom and sagacity.

But the reality is that Jesus’ disciples were really quite young men, usually having been still living at home with their parents when they responded to Jesus’ call to follow. It is likely that some were, at best, barely out of their teens.

Full participation.