The House of Deputies approved a message prepared by the House of Deputies Committee on the State of the Church that, among other items, explicitly calls upon Baby Boomers to transition the power they hold in the Episcopal Church to younger generations, especially Generation Z (known colloquially as Zoomers) and young Millenials.
The message comes in a time of transition, as Baby Boomer clergy reach the current mandatory retirement age of 72 and many desire to raise that cap. Meanwhile, layperson Zoomers have been serving as deputies, committee members, and chairs for multiple General Conventions, and this year’s is the first Convention at which Zoomers (the oldest of whom are about 26) meet the canonical age requirement for ordination, 24.
At this critical junction, there is a palpable air of tension and conflict. This division is a stumbling block to our ministry as the body of Christ. Instead of framing generational transitions as a power struggle, we must embrace the opportunity for inter-generational collaboration.
Many older Episcopalians already engage faithfully in mentorship to younger Episcopalians. President of the House of Deputies Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, by intentionally appointing young representatives to committees, exemplified how entrusting young people with decision-making roles not only raises their voices now but prepares them to lead in decades to come.
There are few institutions who know the value of institutional memory like the church. Every Eucharist we celebrate, every creed we recite, every Bible we open, is a testament to the enduring communal memory. Transferring power well is not easy, and it takes a long time. Resolutions before this very Convention concerning the Book of Common Prayer ignite controversy precisely because we know much institutional memory it carries.
Books and creeds, however, do not constitute the full work of fostering such memory. It takes relationship. Inter-generational community between faithful Christians is holy and makes us holy. Anyone who has volunteered at a camp, youth event, or VBS knows that every generation has wisdom to share with all others. We are called, young, old, and in-between, to foster each others’ gifts in community. We are called not just for the sake of our polity or mission but for our own sanctification.
Our charism as Episcopalians is to share knowledge in order to steward not only the institutional memory of the church but the inter-generational relationships that feed our souls. Glory to God from generation to generation in the church!
The Episcopal Herald 