YOUTH MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH

Depends on what kind of issues. I think if they are Members they should have a say in issues that pertain to their programs. As far as electing people or voting a new Minister in, they should be a little more spiritually mature. Heck sometimes I can't even decide and I am 33.! LOL
But the Youth should most definetly be involved in a lot of the Churche's Ministries. On the last Sunday of the month we have Family Service, and all kids of all ages stay in for the Sermon, that is given by a Youth in the church. They do all of the Service including Praise and Worship and serving Communion. It really makes them feel and BE a part of the body and helps them to grow spiritually.
Love in Christ, Angie

 

On the other hand if you are speaking of young people such as young married or singles out of school and such, yes they too should be able to take part in the running of the church. Our "rule" is they have to be a member and have to have been there at least 6 months.
Love in Christ, Angie

 

Hi, BM. Welcome to the Baptist Board. I would encourage you to visit the "Welcome to Baptist Board.com" forum and introduce yourself to everyone.

I think you have hit on a problem that is caused by Baptists receiving and baptising children at ever-increasingly younger ages. The general practice of democratic process could theoretically put the control of a church in the hands of minors. It seems that at some point Baptist theology must address this.

My direct answer to your question is "no, they should not."

 

If you mean child .. No they shouldn't vote
if were talking 18 or older Yes.
A child would only vote as they see thier parent vote .
Jeanne

 

No, I don't think that they should, either...not until they are the age of 18.

 

I have known churches that the voting age was 16... and I was good with that.

 

I guess I am the only one saying yes. As far as I am concerned, if the church feels as if they are old enough to decide to become a member, why then are they not old enough to decide matters within that church?

Becoming a member is a big step, that is the bigger decision than voting over matters within the church. Besides, the Bible does not give an age limit, so why use one?

God Bless. Bro. James

 

No. Children should not vote on church business. I can't believe that anyone would even consider it.

BTW, anyone know any Scriptures that pertain to voting?

 

In the early days of my salvation, I attended a church with an extremely active Youth Program. The voting age for business meetings was 16 and the 20 and older members were outnumbered dramatically. The younger members voted in a Gymnasium Building program that could only have been paid for by the older members. They soon changed the voting age and scuttled the building program.

 

Depends on how we define voting. If we're talking about accroding to parliamentary procedure, etc., then no. But Webster's says that a vote is "a usually formal expression of opinion or will in response to a proposed decision." I think we find those expressions of will (perhaps informal) quite a bit in the Scriptures. For example: Acts 1:23,26; 6:5; 10:47; 15:22; II Cor. 8:19. Nevertheless, I do think Baptists have devolved into a lot of tradition in their decision making and that the goal should be to reach consensus rather than just having a majority vote in something on the entire church. Consensus appears to have been the New Testament way.

 

I seem to recall a young boy who taught in the temple like one who had authority to do so (until his parents came and got him and took him back to Nazareth). Now, there wasn't a vote taken that day, but from what I hear he had it together from day one. If he joined my church, I'd let him vote on everything that came up. I'm betting his votes are at least as good as mine.
Now, that boy is all grown up now. But I hear he's coming back, we just don't know when or exactly what he'll look like...maybe we should keep the voting open...

 

Amen, Brother David!

Finally, someone on my side of the fence.

 

At the church I attend the voting age is 16. Myself, being 18, would not want it any lower than 16. There is one personwho is a member, and I believe 16, but he doesn't go and vote at business meetings that I have seen (perhaps he's only 15 but I doubt it).

I hate church business meetings anyways. I know they are a nescerry evil, but I hate them.

Bryan

 

On this issue I agree with Dr. Bob all the way. And, David, you cannot rightly use Jesus' listening to and asking questions of the elders in the temple when He was twelve as support for allowing youth to take part in making mature decisions about the practices of the church. First, Jesus was both God and man, and none of our youth are. Second, the text doesn't say that Jesus sought or had any role in the mature decision making process of the temple. If anything, Jesus' example to youth here is to be obedient to their parents even if their parents don't understand everything as they should(Luke 2:48-51).

Pastork

 

It seems to me that not allowing young members to vote in business meetings creates two classes of members. When a new member is taken into the church (whether by baptism or by letter), that new member is given all rights and privileges. This includes voting on all matters pertaining to church business. There has never been a problem with abuse of that privilege. We also teach that with privileges come responsibilities.

 

I guess I've just never had that big of a deal with it because our churches are so small. I've been a member since age 9, and I've always been able to vote.

Albeit, our issues probably aren't as extesive as some, but there simply is no biblical mandate stating the age one should be to vote.

After everyone's explanations, I can see why they would be weary about letting the younger ones vote. Of course, I just can not see a member, even a young one, at our church ganging up against the "old" folks.

Most of the younger people in our church are fairly well versed in the Bible and our church practices, so we have tended to be more mature, I think.

Why, when I was about 11 yrs. old, there came up a vote about putting a fence across the front of our property to keep the burglars out. I may have only been 11, but I knew I didn't like the idea, but I also didn't feel strongly enough to go against the matter, so I abstained.

How many 11 yr. olds even know what that means? If we were teaching the younger ones the ways of the Lord, they would grow spiritually and emotionally much faster.

God Bless. Bro. James

[ January 21, 2003, 07:54 PM: Message edited by: Bro. James Reed ]