If you are noticing that I am finally getting around to posting this on Saturday afternoon you may have figured out what is going on. Summer session began at UCLA this past week and I have been consumed with the teaching sprint that is Summer Session A. Not quite the 100 meter dash that is an intensive class, but along those same lines.
The time that I needed to focus on my professional duties reminded me of the balance, and sometimes the tension, that we have as Presbyterians. The main part of that tension is that we are governed jointly, and in higher governing bodies equally, by clergy and elders. But often this leads to a scheduling tension between younger elders and pastors. If a younger elder is to serve on a presbytery or synod committee they usually need to do it evenings or weekends. Clergy, particularly those pastoring a congregation, prefer daytime committee meetings to leave evenings available for meetings at church or for family. I can not count the times that these two interests have come into conflict when I have been trying to schedule a meeting.
In my own journey with higher governing bodies I have always been fortunate to have a flexible work schedule, an understanding boss, and available vacation time. But on one of the first committees I served on I was also blessed with a committee that was willing to compromise so I could participate. They previously had met at 1 PM on a weekday and while I could make the meetings it would regularly conflict with my work schedule. Having them a bit later in the afternoon was much better for me. The rest of the committee showed some flexibility and we moved the meetings to 2:30 PM.
I bring this up because we as a denomination seem to wonder aloud how to keep younger people in the church. In particular, as Presbyterians, are there things we can be doing that will make it easier for younger elders, who have work and family commitments to work around, to be active in the work of higher governing bodies? I am not asking that we adjust the presbytery schedule to them, although some would appreciate that. I am asking, like the committee accommodated me, are there places that compromises could be made on each side? Everyone gives a little and everyone gets a little.
I just ask you to think about ways that presbyteries could structure their work to get elders involved in the work of the presbytery at a younger age. Thanks for doing that.
Praying for our Churches
Hanmi: Southern California Antioch Church, Santa Ana
Los Ranchos: Laguna Presbyterian Church, Laguna Beach
Pacific: Fuente de Vida, Hollywood
Riverside: First Presbyterian Church, San Bernardino
San Diego: Pacific Beach Presbyterian Church, San Diego
San Fernando: Panorama Presbyterian Church, Panorama City
San Gabriel: Grace Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles
Santa Barbara: St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Santa Barbara
