Lausanne Europe 2021 and the voice of younger leaders

Being among the younger leaders in the church, it was a privilege for us to be able to participate in the conversation on mission in today’s Europe at Lausanne Europe 20/21 (LE 20/21) in November. In this article, we will first share our assessment on the ability of LE 20/21 to include the voice and perspectives of younger leaders. Afterwards we will share our perspective on the role of younger leaders in the mission of the Church

Younger Leaders at LE 20/21

Firstly, we were glad to see that the younger generation was intentionally invited and included at the LE 20/21 gathering, since it had been decided by the coordination team that at least 20 % of the delegates should be between 20 and 35 years old. Had the gathering taken place at a physical venue as originally planned, every table group would have had at least one person under the age of 35 present to contribute to the voice and perspectives from younger leaders. When the gathering took place as an online event, we were delighted to know that younger leaders were present in the conversations on the platform and to listen to and learn from other younger leaders ourselves.  

“Had the gathering taken place at a physical venue as original planned, every table group would have had at least one person under the age of 35 present to contribute with the voice and perspectives from younger leaders”

Secondly, it was encouraging to see younger leaders among the speakers at the plenary sessions and seminars. We cherished the way younger leaders not only were invited to speak about being young in the 21st century Europe, but they contributed with their perspectives on the crucial issues concerning Church and mission in Europe today.

Thirdly, some of the seminars addressed issues concerning young people such as the seminars ‘Anxiety Among the Young’, ‘Dynamic Gospel for Europe’s Secular Young Adults’, ‘Equipping the Now Generation for Lifelong Resilient Discipleship’ and ‘Reaching and Discipling Secular Youth’. These seminars especially presented important and insightful data from different research concerning youth in general. The seminars highlighted important insights concerning the mission of the church to the younger generation.

Even though younger leaders were present as delegates and speakers, and this presence indicates a high degree of younger leaders participating in the programme, it is important to ponder whether the voice could have been heard to a higher degree. For example, Vista 33 presented young people as one the marginalized groups in the conversation about Church and mission in Europe, but at the gathering we did not hear much about, how the young people are a muted and marginalized voice in church.

From our point of view, LE 20/21 succeeded in 1) inviting younger leaders to present their perspectives on crucial issues, 2) talking about younger people, as youth in general was the subject for a couple of seminars, and to some degree succeeded in 3) talking with the younger leaders, as they were among the delegates. To a lesser degree LE 20/21 succeed in addressing the question about, why younger people are among the “muted” and marginalized voices, and what the Church can do about it. A young leader’s perspective on these questions was most wanted. In general, we think that Lausanne Europe has been breaking new ground concerning the participation of younger leaders in the conversation on church and mission. At the same time, there is still new ground to be broken regarding the role of younger leaders in the Church.

Younger Leaders in the Church?

It is of great importance that we look to the next generation in our Churches, as Barnabas looked for Paul and invited and included him in reaching new people with the Gospel (Acts 9,27; 11,25-26). In Denmark we tend to arrange very segmented programmes divided in different age groups, where we have no or a low chance to get to know one another, and when we do meet across, we act like we do not have a whole lot in common. It often happens that we get to talk more about or to the young people than with them. There is a high risk, when we only talk about or to others and not with them, that we automatically silence their voices. The Church becomes poorer when we mute the diverse voices, and this is also the case when we fail to build relationships and have conversations between generations.

We need the Church to speak with the younger generation and the younger leaders. Every new generation asks new questions. This is true of the young people who do not know the gospel and the Church needs to deal with those questions to be able to reach the younger generation with the gospel. But it is also true of the younger people and leaders, who are already a part of the Church. As a new generation, they also ask new questions.

These questions might sound odd, irrelevant, or even rebellious to older generations, who have been a part of the Church and mission for decades. Maybe they will ask why the Church needs to pay attention to those kinds of questions that younger leaders are raising concerning, for example, the mission of the Church in today’s Europe. But if the older generations of church leaders are not paying attention to and listening to these questions and perspectives raised by the younger generations, we should then not be surprised to see young Christians burning out and even leaving the Church and their faith. Many younger leaders are alone and disconnected from the invaluable experience and wisdom from an older generation. They are longing for older and more experienced generations that are willing to involve themselves in the next generation.

“Younger leaders are longing for older and more experienced generations that are willing to involve themselves in the next generation”

We are a part of the next generation in the Church, and we see leaders from our generation being raised full of integrity and driven to take part in the Kingdom of God. But we need attentive and listening church leaders, who are engaged in the concerns of and questions from a new generation of leaders.

We want to be co-workers in the mission of the church, and we believe that we have a lot to learn from one another. Therefore younger leaders are at the same time longing for mentors and mature Christians who will train and help them to reach the new Europe with the Dynamic Gospel. Often we can feel alone, and there is a great lack of mentors and role models who are willing to walk alongside younger leaders. There is a longing for experienced leaders who make themselves available and who wantto help raise a next generation.

A respectful dialogue and partnership between experienced leaders and younger leaders, where new questions can be raised, and hard-won experiences can be shared, is of crucial importance for the ministry of the Church going forward.  

Henriette and Alexander Engberg Vinkel are married and live in Odense in Denmark. Henriette is working in Kristeligt Forbund for Studerende (KFS, IFES in Denmark). Alexander is working in a local church and in Evangelical Alliance Denmark. They share a passion for theology and missiology and are both a part of the YLG network.