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Church Contention and Young Adults
Published: 9/28/2009 9:33:44 AM

Church Contention and Young Adults

Jeff Cloeter

    I was riding on a shuttle from the St. Louis airport to a parking garage when I struck up a conversation with a fellow “shuttler.”  He was a lawyer at a St. Louis law firm.  When he asked what I did, I responded, “Lutheran pastor.”  He quickly came back, “Missouri Synod?”  “Yes,” I answered.  “I’ve worked with them before,” he muttered.  Turns out he worked with “them” on some contentious legal matters.  He didn’t have to say a word.  Rolling one’s eyes is universal.

     The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has been marked by much contention, some of it requiring legal counsel.  We were born out of a Reformation that clearly delineated right from wrong, orthodox from heterodox (which is a good thing).  Since the 16^th century we can identify numerous seasons of dissention and war (The Prussian Union, the drama in Perry County, and Seminex to name a few).  While there is such a thing as healthy dissension, much of ours has been ugly and even sinful.  You know a church body wrestles with contention when it has to appoint a “Task Force on Harmony” (a 2007 convention resolution).  A question that continually arises among our synod is, “Why are we always fighting, and how do we work toward harmony?”

    The answer?  Invest in a new generation of leaders.  The issues of harmony, or rather disharmony, within our church body are driving away masses of young Lutheran leaders, both professional lay.  A majority of young Lutherans feel a sense of angst toward their home church body.  To many, she is like a dysfunctional family whose house you can’t wait to move out of.  In an age of post-denominationalism, young adults are quickly finding other churches or are leaving the church altogether.  Where does that leave us?  With the same old people fighting the same old battles. 

     “Do you really think younger leadership is the answer for harmony in our synod?”  Yes, or at least one answer.  To a degree, younger leaders in our church body - both professional and lay - are past the issues that often threaten our harmony as Missouri Synod Lutherans.  Young adults were born after Seminex, in a day of diminished prominence for our church body, in an increasingly diverse and post-modern society.  In general, new generations are past old cliché controversies, and anxious to focus on commonalities.  They are more likely to encourage, to unite in community, and to engage a new set of questions that we are facing in our culture and context.  For example, “worship wars” look petty when your cubicle is next to a gay co-worker who won’t consider the Lord of the church, let alone worship in that church.  For a younger generation, the issues are simply different.

            What does this look like?  On a foundational level, it involves congregations and pastors incorporating younger leaders into their congregational leadership.  It necessitates the mentorship, training, and Godly upbringing of our younger membership.  At another level, significant roles at the district and synodical level must include qualified persons under the age of 35 (Boards, committees, and synodical staff).  An organization will look like its leadership.  If young adults are absent in leadership, they will be absent in the pews.  Younger leaders value wisdom and experience and are ready to be mentored into leadership roles.  As they are raised up, they will provide a fresh and positive perspective. 

     Will this be the final answer?  No.  The return of Jesus on the Last Day will restore harmony once and for all.  But until that day, we pass the faith on to a new generation.  And we pray to the Senior Pastor, the Lord of the Church, Jesus himself.