Clergy Recruitment on the Decline

Published September 23, 2006 - Glendale News Press - Los Angeles Time IN THEORY Clergy Recruitment on the Decline Q: The percentage of new clergy younger than 35, across mainline denominations, including Prodestant and Catholic, is reportedly dropping, according to a recent study by the Lewis Center for Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary. Are you seeing a drop in your faith? If so, what do you think is driving it? Are you concerned? A: The Armenian Church suffers a tremendous clergy shortage. Before the Armenian Genocide (pre-1915) the ratio of clergy to souls was 1:140. The Turkish plan of Genocide began with an assault directly on the church. The seventy years of Soviet atheism that followed prevented a few generations of priests from rising. Today the ratio of clergy to laity stands at 1:25,000. Among the youth today, I am witnessing a new sense of commitment to higher ideals and a romantic view of serving the collective. I believe this is a direct reaction to the events in the world, including the war, the violence that is all around them and intolerance by the fanatic religious minorities. I don't believe, however, that their passion will translate into service through the Church. Inherent in the problem of attracting youth to church vocations, is the very structure of the church. It is perceived as an institution that has failed in bringing the message of love, charity, tolerance, ecology and peace to the world. Have we forgotten the lesson we learned from the Da Vinci code, just a few months ago? People are ready to believe in cover-ups and covert activity, because the goals of the institution are not being achieved, that is, we have a world where religion fuels hatred, bigotry and ultimately, wars. This is diametrically opposed to the message that Jesus brought to the world through his teaching and his example. The challenge for the church is to translate youthful idealism and romantic activism into a career of service to people. The church has all the elements necessary for youth to find a home and a vocation. It is the guardian of faith, hope and love. I believe if youth can see church leadership living these virtues and not merely preserving them, they will be inclined to dedicate their lives to this calling. Fr. Vazken Movsesian Armenian Church In His Shoes Ministries