How Do We Get Youth Interested in Our Denominations?

I think it is much more important for youth to be involved in their  church, rather than in the denomination.   If they see the church as living, believing, trusting, honest, and trustworthy, then they might see the church as an example of what the denomination is like.   Their involvement in the church ought to include an understanding of where the church came from, what it believes, why it holds to its confessions, how the confessions influence the faith life of worship and the daily life of its members.  While change in the church is evidence that the church is listening and compassionate and caring and relevant, it also highlights the possiblity of larger changes.   For example, if lots of small changes are constantly possible within a church, then a young adult would begin to think that larger changes are not so dramatic or significant, one of those larger changes being membership in a church of another denomination.   Being able to distinguish between insignificant small changes, and significant confessional changes, is something that would be important to youth.  It would be something that provides a reason for youth to attach to and be loyal to their  church, which they might then extend to the denomination because of its common confession. 

A few youth might place a lot of significance in the denomination, and want to participate in denominational discussions.  But most youth are looking for a hands on relationship with people who can live the gospel, and confess their faith.  They are often at the stage of learning how Christ is lord of their life, not at looking at the intracacies of denominational policy discussions.  They are usually looking for leadership, not wanting to be leaders, even though they may challenge assumptions and leaders from time to time. 

"Youth" is also much too broad a term to be able to get at the essence of this.   Youth encompasses people from age 10 to age 18, and there are dramatic differences in how they look at life, and what kind of things they want to get involved in.  These changes and differences even carry on into the young adult category, from age 18 to 25 or so.   There is no blanket age category that covers all scenarios.  Those who might want to get involved in denominational issues and structures would be a very small minority. 

I agree with Paul that the costs of youth delegates, as well as their assumed significance would suggest that there are better ways to get their input.  What makes their input more significant than the input of all those others who have never been elders or deacons or classical or synodical delegates?   And which group of youth?   Young marrieds?   twelve year olds?   college kids?   farm kids?   unmarried twenty-somethings?  homeschooled graduates?  Youth are only united by age, and are as diverse as the families they come from.   Anyway, things to think about.