For Such A Time As This

I look forward to attending yet another National Youth Conference - my fourth such Conference. I attended NYC as a youth in 1966 in Cornell, NY; as a pastor and workshop leader in 1978 in Estes Park, Colorado. This will be my second NYC as a district leader and I will again be offering a workshop: "If Youth Were Running the Church."

I learned a lot about our youth and their hopes for the Church of the Brethren four years ago. I came away from the 1998 NYC in Ft. Collins, Colorado, renewed and with great hope for the church and the leadership of our youth. I look forward to that same experience again.

Someone once told me of a provision in the Rules of St. Benedict that when the monks of the community gather to review their activities, the newest members are to speak first. The reason being so that their fresh insights and perspectives can be brought to the community free of the biases that might occur if these newest members knew in advance the views held by the more senior members of the community.

This idea, of course, flies in the face of more widely-held notions like:

• •Newcomers should remain silent until they understand the culture of their new surroundings; or
• •Children (and/or youth) should be seen and not heard.

Perhaps the Church of the Brethren today could learn something from this Benedictine rule by listening to the insights and perspectives of the youth and/or the other "newest members" in our congregations. At a time when many of our congregations are in a fragile condition financially, and perhaps in terms of morale as well, we need some fresh new thinking. And as the church is changing to bring the gospel message to a new generation, we need fresh perspectives on how the church can be most effective in its mission and ministry.

Oh, I know, that youth are often idealists and haven't given much thought to the limitations of the church ... but perhaps the church needs to stop focusing on limitations and return to the idealism of another young man named Jesus.

The National Youth Conference theme comes from the Story of Esther when a young Queen Esther is admonished: "Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this." (4:14) Perhaps the church today will also hear a "word from the Lord" from the lips of our youth for just such a time as this.

Herman Kauffman, District Pastor