Gray hair

I am sitting at the denominational gathering for the United Methodist Church here in Eastern North Carolina. Many amazing things have happened here at Annual Conference. I got commissioned as a Probationary Elder! That is my biggest personal news! Worship has also be quite lovely. I was impressed with the altar design...lots of layers and colors!

Speaking of colors, the color I notice while sitting here in the back, is the color of people's hair. 80% of the people here have gray hair. What does that say about the United Methodist Church? Why are many of the people here over the age of 60?

One thought is that many working people cannot spend Wednesday to Saturday sitting at the Greenville Convention Center because they are, well, working. So, only retired people attend Annual Conference. However, is that such a good idea? Do people in their 60s see the world the same way I do at age 38? Should I let other people make decisions for me?

But why don't people who aren't retired MAKE time to come? Why is the one gathering of the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church (aka the UMC in eastern NC) not important enough to attend or make time for? I can't really answer that question. We make time for our kids' soccer games and even let them play on Sundays during worship services on Sunday. That, however, is another blog.

Or is it that our church is graying and dying? That is certainly part of the answer to this question. Mainline denominations have been dropping in number for years. See http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2006-10-31-protestant-cover_x.htm or many other websites and studies...

So, I invite people under the age of 50 to get in the car and drive to Greenville or Fayetteville or where ever the Annual Conference meets. We need to have our voices heard. Volunteer for committees in your church. Volunteer to lead the men's barbecue lunch or the yard sale. Make your opinion heard!

I also invite those in leadership in churches to begin to develop the next generation of leaders. Invite someone that does not have a relative in the cemetery next to the church to be in a position of power. Mentor someone in their 20s or 30s to be you in ten years. Groom the replacement for your position. Invite ideas on the worship committee. Invite innovation. Make Administrative Council a place to grow leadership rather than just push paper.

Grace and Peace,
Mary Frances