A new statistical report shows Oklahoma Conference continues to rank fifth, among all conferences, for the number of clergy elders younger than 35.

Within the Conference, 8.51 percent of all elders are in that age group for 2009, according to Lovett Weems Jr., director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership in Washington, D.C. His research shows the national average is 5.25 percent. The report will be released later this month.

This Conference also held the fifth-place ranking for 2008.

Why do the numbers of younger clergy matter? Weems helps to answer that question, pointed out Jack Terrell-Wilkes of Oklahoma City. He is Conference coordinator of Ministerial Recruitment & Nurture.

The following content is adapted from "Why Young Clergy Matter," published as part of a summary about such leadership studies, by Weems and Ann Michel, and used here with permission.

Church leaders who gathered to discuss clergy age trends were asked "Why are young clergy important?"

They responded with comments such as "They bring enthusiasm, idealism, and fresh perspectives to the practice of ministry," and "Young clergy are more open to innovation and more nimble in working with new ideas."

In many instances, young clergy bring tremendous energy to the demands of ministry because of the mental and physical stamina associated with youth. The schedules and routines of the young may be more flexible, and they are available for and interested in innovative challenges holding significant risk.

Young clergy also have certain advantages in reaching out to their own generation. They are more likely to speak the language of an emerging generation whose worldview and communication modes differ from those of their parents.

They show high sensitivity to diversity and other cultural realities. Just as important, the presence of young clergy in a church symbolizes that younger persons are valued as leaders and participants.

These factors help explain why young clergy seem particularly well-suited to the task of church planting. Research conducted in the Episcopal Church found that pastors between ages 24 and 35 were the most successful in founding churches that reach 250 or more in worship attendance within seven years.

But just as youthfulness has advantages in ministry, so does experience. Leadership is a form of expertise that has a long gestation period. In most fields, attaining the status of expert requires at least 10 years of extensive experience and training. Without sufficient numbers of younger persons entering the profession, there will be fewer clergy in the pipeline who have achieved the longevity of service required for the most challenging pastoral assignments and denominational leadership roles.

(Adapted from chapter three of "The Crisis of Younger Clergy," Weems and Michel, 2008, Abingdon Press)