5 Practices to Lift Up Young Church Leaders

by

Ordained Ministry

July 15, 2025  |  Holston Conference of The United Methodist Church

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The writing was on the wall, says the Rev. Dr. Brad Hyde. Like many church leaders over the last two decades, Hyde noticed the number of retiring pastors was higher than the number of young people answering the call to full-time ministry. More people were going out than coming in. 

As a long-time member of Holston Conference’s board of ordained ministry, Hyde watched the pattern continue for several years. When he decided to pursue a doctorate in ministry, Hyde already had a burning question to fuel his dissertation: "Who’s going to lead our church into the future?"

My dissertation was focused on, ‘What are the best practices of local congregations to create and nurture a sense of call and vocation in young adults?’” said Hyde, senior pastor at Bearden United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Tenn. After interviewing more than 100 young adult clergy and 12 local churches known for sending out young people into ministry, he discovered an important list.

Here are the top five things congregations can do to help young people discern a call to Christian ministry:

1. Keep asking ‘the question.’

“Do you think God is calling you into ministry?” Ask that question early and often, says Hyde -- for instance, when you hand out Bibles to the 3rd graders. Don’t wait until they are in college. Ask young people the “are you called?” question in Sunday school, in confirmation classes, on mission trips, and during graduation celebrations. Share stories about your own call to ministry -- and ask others to share their stories, too.

“We’ve quit asking that question at the local church level,” says Hyde. “Some congregations are doing it and doing it really well. But a lot of United Methodist churches are not asking on a regular basis.” 

2. Connect young people with mentors.

Connect young people with people who model faithful and authentic ministry. “Almost everyone I interviewed could point to a person who was a key figure in helping them figure out God’s purpose for their life,” Hyde says.

Mentors can be pastors, youth directors, Sunday school teachers, camp counselors or Upward basketball coaches. Mentors who are diverse and reflect the people they serve can have a huge impact. A young woman might be inspired by seeing a female pastor in action. A youth member from the LGBTQ+ community might recognize their calling through a gay church leader. Find ways to engage positive leaders in your young congregants' lives.  

3. Put young people in places where they can lead.

Of the 100 young clergy he interviewed, Hyde discovered that 100% had once served as an acolyte. “That was one of the coolest things,” he said. Others had served as members of the CCYM (Conference Council on Youth Ministry) or as camp staffers. Some of Hyde’s interviewees said that leading youth worship once a year in their churches made big impressions.

We need to show young people that they are valued parts of the community,” says the Rev. Stephanie Parrott, a Holston board of ordained ministry member. The message is, “You are created for a divine purpose, and you are needed within our community because we are doing profound work," Parrott said.  

4. Offer lots of opportunities to serve.

“This is where the rubber meets the road,” Hyde says. Local churches that encourage children and youth to work in food pantries, clothes closets, Christmas-gift missions, home-repair ministries and other outreach efforts are creating a “culture of the call.”

5. Show young people they are part of the larger church.

Church leaders should take advantage of district, conference and denominational opportunities to help young people understand and witness the United Methodist 

connection, Hyde said.

For example, youth members often realize they are part of an active family network of congregations when they participate in Resurrection, Holston Conference’s winter youth retreat.

Other connectional opportunities include Holston summer camps, Youth Assembly, and an upcoming Youth Rally in August at Camp Bays Mountain, organized by the CCYM.“It is experiences like these -- going from local congregations and connecting with the bigger body of Christ – that we help our youth and young adults understand that God has a purpose and calling for their lives,” Hyde said.

Even if they are not called to be pastors, everyone has a role to play in God’s kingdom. Hyde’s dissertation research has been shaped into a six-week curriculum, “C3 Ministry,” that walks young adults through questions and discussions to help them discern their callings, whatever they may be. Find out more.

Annette Spence is editor of The Call, the Holston Conference source of news and stories.  This is part 2 in a story series, "Is God Calling You?" See part 1: Young adults test new program at Annual Conference.  Holston Conference includes United Methodist churches in East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and North Georgia, with main offices in Alcoa, Tennessee.