Kids Called to Committee Work?

For some people, committee work is synonymous with inaction, bureaucracy and useless discussion. For others, committees are an opportunity to make the best use of the skills of many and to build a supportive team while doing so. I am definitely of the latter opinion. In fact, I know it might sound strange, but looking back on my life and ministry so far, I think it is safe to say that I have a call to committee work. 

I joined my first committee in elementary school; in fact I was chosen for the position. A committee made up of two students from each class in my alternative school was tasked with reviewing the code of behaviour and updating it. Yes, I went to alternative school and yes, it was run largely by committees and councils that include students (and as I found out from the school's community website, it still is). I don't remember many specifics from this first committee, but I do remember being given a laminated copy of the new code of behaviour for the school which I thought was pretty cool (back when laminating something made it really official).

Despite enjoying the laminated fruits of this committee process, I was still not what you would call a 'team player.' I was a brainy, know-it-all, awkward kid which was not helped by my impulsive tendency to share my vast knowledge with those around me - often by pointing out when they were wrong. I didn't have more than a couple of friends and I was bullied and picked on a lot (this might have been part of why I was chosen to help work on the new code of behaviour). By the time I was 11, it was starting to become clear to me that I was 'weird' even by the standards of the other kids at alternative school. Luckily for me, I was part of two faith communities where 'weird' was an important part of their identity and was more than just okay. The Ottawa Baha'i community and the Anglican Church of St John the Evangelist in Ottawa. It was in the context of these communities that my call to committee work was fostered.

At 11, I joined the Baha'i Holy Days Planning Committee. I am still not sure by what process I got myself onto this committee, but they seemed happy enough to have me even though I was a weird kid. I loved being on this committee - we got to pick the readings and songs for Holy Days and emcee events and organize the food (in other words we were liturgists in a pre-liturgical community). Once I even got to be on TV because of it! There were no other kids on this committee, not even any teenagers, but nonetheless I remember people listening to my ideas and including me in the work of the group. This was a safe and supportive space and at that point in my life that was very much needed.

Later that year, I had my first experience of the mother of all Church committees - Diocesan Synod. That year Synod for the Diocese of Ottawa was in Petawawa and I was asked to be part of a programme called young youth at Synod. We traveled and worshiped and ate meals with all the regular delegates and then had our own programme during most of the sessions to help us understand what Synod was about and some of the issues they discussed. The Bishop came to meet especially with us and we even had a chance to submit our own motion on the floor of Synod. Our motion was about whether or not people were allowed to wear hats on the floor of Synod based on a moment at the beginning of weekend where one of the youth was chastised by a delegate for wearing their hat. The main point I remember from our discussion was that since the Bishop got to wear a hat, there was no reason they shouldn't be allowed. While this story might seem to exemplify the kind of useless and irrelevant issue on which Church committees often get stuck, I would like to point out two things. First of all, this particular motion was really a response to one young person in our group being singled out by an older and thus more powerful delegate and made to feel they were little and less important because of how they looked; far from a useless or irrelevant discussion, it was a chance to explore all the sides of the issue and also take back some of our power as members of the community. Secondly, even Ecumenical Councils made decrees about beards and clerical dress that might seem silly to us today. This early experience of being listened to by the Church at Synod again reinforced that the Church is a place where everyone's voice and contribution is valued - even if you are a 'weird' kid.

Since these early experiences as a committee member, I have been part of many group decision making processes and planning teams. I love working with other people on everything from planning events to writing books. It is true that not all committee processes are created equal and that choosing the right tool for what you have to accomplish is the key. Effective meetings, leadership and mechanisms for the best involvement of all committee members are needed to stop committees from becoming the ineffective and tedious groups that we all dread. 

One of the best features of committees is the involvement of many different people, who each have their voice heard and to whom is given some of the power and responsibility for a particular task. Young people each have their own talents and their own voices and they can be given power and responsibility. It is partly a matter of teaching them the skills needed to be a part of these processes and calling on them to share their gifts. So next time you are looking for a member of the stewardship, finance, communications or worship committee, look to the children and youth of your community. You might be surprised by the impact of including a 'weird' kid - both on them and on the whole community.