speaking for youth without hearing them

     At annual conference this past week there was much talk about the future of the church.  Each year (3) that I have gone to Conference there is all kind of conversation about the way we need to fund and support the youth in all that they do.  Thee is such a desire to throw money at these programs and think that that would be the best thing.  A number of times there was a call to listen to what the young adults want and that we need to make a full time staff position available. 
     Last year we had these same conversations and the decision that was made through the young adult council made up of all young adults was that the staff position would not be effective.  This was then reported to the conference.  I think we need to spend less time trying to throw money around and be in ministry.  I couldn’t help but hear the words of many passionate older adults saying “we need to listen to our young poeple” when in fact we had already had the conversation and were down the road a generous distance while the “listeners” are still absently nodding their heads and being “in conversation with” no one but themselves. 
    Friends how many times are we standing on the platform of conversation and the train has already departed?  Being in ministry for (advocating) is very different than being in ministry with (sharing the journey) others (youth, young adult, marginalized, homeless…). 
    Perhaps this is my mini rant for the week…