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I wrote the following article for the AG Think Tank website and thought I would post it on here as well.

CONCERNS FROM A YOUNG PASTOR

Where do I begin?  I’ve grown up in the Assemblies of God.  I’ve always attended an A/G church.  I even graduated from an A/G Bible college.  I’m an ordained A/G minister.  I’ve planted two A/G churches.  And I’m only 28 years old!

I share all of that because I want you to understand two things at the outset of this article.  First of all, I’m not new to the A/G.  Secondly, though I am young I have some experience as a Lead Pastor in this Fellowship.  This is where my concern begins.

Often times when young pastors voice concerns for our movement we are immediately dismissed because of our young age and inexperience.  Much of what we have to say is chalked up to youthful passion, or in some cases, youthful rebellion.  While I agree that young pastors do not have all of the answers, it doesn’t mean we don’t have any of them.

After all, Sergey Brin and Larry Page were both in their mid twenties when they launched Google.  A decade later they both rank among the wealthiest people in America, they are both listed as #26 on Forbes 2009 Billionaire List, and both ranked #1 in PC World Magazine’s list of Most Important People on the Web.

A less recent example, but one we are all familiar with, can be found in the New Testament.  A handful of young disciples were entrusted with the leadership of the world’s first cooperative fellowship.  Less than 2000 years later, in 1914, many of the founders of our movement were young by comparison to now.

What does that mean for us in the Assemblies of God?  Well let’s start with the statistics.  It’s no secret that the average age of the ordained minister in the A/G has continued to increase of the past several years.  The General Presbytery continues to grow gray hair as many of our young pastors are flocking to other networks and denominations.

Up until recently our executive leaders were not listening carefully to the voices of our younger ministers.  In the past couple of years this trend has started to change.  In my opinion, the upper echelon of Assemblies of God leadership has never been more open to the suggestions and ideas of young pastors.

While this is extremely exciting, it seems like many in the next tier of leadership have never been more closed off to the young progressive thinkers in our movement.  This unfortunate precedent from these leaders seems to affect the mindset of many of the older ministers within our movement.

For example, the last couple of General Council business sessions have proved this point.  A resolution to add younger ministers to the General Presbytery has been tabled twice.   The last time it was tabled when one of our A/G veteran leaders made the motion and it prevailed by one vote.  I will leave that hotbed issue alone, except to say we were in Florida where voting seems to often produce controversial results and the need for a recount.

On a positive note we finally elected a minister under 40, and a female minister, to the Executive Presbytery.  This is a start, but a slow one at best.  Another progressive idea centered on the trial period of a Trans-Geographical District.  This idea was not only backed by many of the young pastors in our movement, but it originated with our top leadership and was supported by our Executive Presbytery.

Unfortunately, many of our General Presbyters happen to be active or retired District Officials and in turn publically spoke out against the idea.  While the vote was much closer than many anticipated, the resolution was still defeated by a slim margin.  Those protecting the status quo prevailed over the young leaders and older progressive leaders desiring change for the future of our Fellowship.

Why is this a big deal?  Because most of the people who oppose new ideas, experiments, and much needed change, do so out of fear of the younger generation of leaders.  There seems to be a reluctance not only to pass the baton, but a reluctance to even share the same running track.

As a young pastor I’ve been asked to wait for my turn.  I’ve been told that people will not listen to my voice at my age.  I’ve been criticized for speaking out at a General Council.  Why?  “You’re still too young.”  “You lack experience.”  “One day you will understand.” I’ve heard it all in my “short tenure in full-time ministry.”

In the meantime, a District Superintendent, who may have been out of pastoral ministry for years, if not decades, is helping make decisions to lead our movement into the future.  Many of these decisions are based on a ministry paradigm that is far outdated and antiquated.  Does this mean that he should not have a voice?  Not at all!  His voice should be heard alongside the voice of the young pastor, but not in place of it.

As young leaders we are not claiming to have all of the answers, but we do have several ideas to help the A/G grow and advance.  Many of us are leading the churches that this movement will depend on over the next several decades.  Some of us will be the missionaries that keep the A/G expanding worldwide.  Today’s young leaders represent tomorrow in our movement.

At this rate, when the older generation is finally gone many of the young leaders will be too if something does not change.  That’s not meant to sound like a threat, but more of a reality.  The statistics already indict us as an aging movement.  However, we can change that.  It all starts with leadership.  I think right now the top level gets it, but it can’t stop there.

All of our leaders, from the Executive Presbytery to the General Presbytery, from the National Office to the District Offices, from the General Superintendant to the District Superintendants, must encourage and listen to the voice of these young leaders.  Don’t drown us out.  Don’t talk over us.  Don’t ask us to be silent.

Listen to our voice.  More importantly, hear our hearts.  We want to see the Assemblies of God succeed just as much as you do. We have a vested interest in the future of our movement and a good grip on what we need to do for the A/G to still be around when we become the older generation of leaders.  We know that we need you, but I think you may need us now more than you may realize.

We are not asking to have our way, but to be heard.  Include our voice.  Listen to our ideas.  The future of the A/G is currently in your hands.  We are not asking for you to release it completely, just make room for us to grab a hold of the leadership baton. Let’s run together for now.  When the time is right we will hold it along with the next group of emerging young leaders.

While I realize I cannot speak for every young leader within our Fellowship, or even fully define what “young” means to everyone, I can honestly say I feel more and more confident in the young leadership within the A/G.  I realize this article represents my concerns as a 28-year-old A/G minister, but I have a feeling I’m not alone.  The only way to find out if this rings true is to listen to the rest of them!