New Constitutional Provisions Regarding Youth Participation

The 2009 Churchwide Assembly adopted new provisions for congregation and synod constitutions as follows:

2009 Amendments to the Model Constitution for Congregations

C12.01. The voting membership of the Congregation Council shall consist of the pastor(s)[, the officers of the congregation,] and [___ members] [not more than ___ nor fewer than ___ members] of the congregation, at least one of whom shall be a youth and at least one of whom shall be a young adult. Any voting member . . . [the rest unchanged].

This is not a required provision but rather it allows each congregation to consider adding this provision and also adapting it to fit the needs of the congregation. This allows for representation by youth and young adults. The definitions of youth and young adult are set forth below in the synod constitution provision †S6.04.B09.

2009 Amendments to the Constitution for Synods

†S6.04.B09. It is the goal of this synod that at least 10 percent of the voting members of the Synod Assembly, Synod Council, committees, and organizational units of this synod be youth and young adults. The Synod Council shall establish a plan for implementing this goal. For purposes of the constitution, bylaws, and continuing resolutions of this synod, the term "youth" means a voting member of a congregation who has not reached the age of 18 at the time of election or appointment for service. The term "young adult" means a voting member of a congregation between the ages of 18 and 30 at the time of election or appointment for service.