Youth Invisibility

It is a sacred privilege to be in ministry with young people. They listen with perspectives that only the youth can bring, and they ask questions that will rock your world.  Just last week in a discussion with middle schoolers, I was asked “What would Christianity look like if Jesus hadn’t died; if he’d been able to live a full life and continue to preach a message of love and justice?” Young people go deep, and I am constantly amazed by their questions and understanding.  

September 23 – 27, 2024 is High School Voter Registration Week, and The Civics Center shares that one of the major barriers to young adult voting is Youth Invisibility. Political candidates pay close attention to voter registration and focus their resources, time, and energy on “likely” voters.  Issues of importance to those under 18 can then be overlooked by campaigns and candidates, making young people feel ignored.  This can make young voters less willing to engage or participate in elections.  As an individual who has spent more than a decade in youth ministry, Youth Invisibility sounds eerily familiar. 

Youth in the United States live with the daily reality of school shootings, social media, a global pandemic, and so many more challenges that never crossed my mind when I was their age. It should come as no surprise that today’s teens have reported increasing stress, anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicidality.    

Faith is not a fix for mental illness, but community can help. Being engaged with adults who are willing to talk about mental health, gun violence, cyberbullying, TikTok, LGBTQ+ equality, and the planet helps youth feel seen, heard, and validated.  Creating an environment in our churches where youth can speak (and even have the last word) can build a culture where they feel like their faith, voices, and votes will matter. In turn, offering legitimate opportunities for youth to lead, can amaze and inspire the adults and children in their midst.  

Unfortunately, we too often perpetuate Youth Invisibility and behave like Jesus’ local church in Luke 4:28-30. When we marginalize or ignore what is important to youth it makes young people feel irrelevant and can silence their voice.  

In the church, we have unique faith-forming opportunities to engage and empower young people. We have history to share about governance and covenant. We have role models who speak truth to power, and we are called to embody God’s love in action. We model voice and vote regularly in our committees and meetings when we elect leaders, set budgets, and pass resolutions. How then can we become translators of faith, hope, and love to become agents of change that inspire people of all ages? 

Effective intergenerational ministry is imperative. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, children and families are desperate for support and community. Youth and young adults want to be part of groups that empower and uplift them. Churches continue to say we “need” youth and young families, but then we don’t truly imagine how we might reach them outside the walls of our churches. The Church is uniquely poised to meet the current needs of children, youth, and families, but we have to invest in new ways of being intergenerational to be successful.  

I want to assure you there is no answer to the “What If” question about Jesus asked by the brilliant middle schoolers in my midst. Like comic books and movies that ask similar questions, they don’t actually want an answer, they want to know if we are capable of imagination.  Can you imagine the possibilities? With imagination for what could be, we can root ourselves in our current reality while still dreaming of a just world for all.  

When we cast our ballots this November, we must ask ourselves how best to build this world of inclusion, curiosity, and visibility for our youth. A world where we live out God’s love in policy, practice, polity, and governance.  A world where everyone, including youth, is visible.   
 
While invisibility might be a cool superpower, it’s not what our youth or our churches need.  God, we need your imagination to exist in a way that empowers all your children to know their voices, and their votes, matter.  Amen. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jenn Ringgold is the Program Associate for Youth Ministries and Director of Communications in the Michigan Conference UCC.  She worked in a local UCC church for ten years as the Director of Educational Ministries and is a Member in Discernment who serves on the National Our Whole Lives Advisory Team and the Executive Team of the National Organization of Wider Church Youth Ministry.  She has helped to plan the 2018 Great Lakes Regional Youth Event, 2020 National Youth Event, 2021 Youth@Synod, 2023 Youth@Synod, and the 2024 Great Lakes West Central Regional Youth Event. She loves sharing resources and connecting with Youth Ministry leaders and local churches.