wfn.org | Elders Can Be Younger

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

20-June-1997 
GA97117 
 
                     Elders Can Be Younger 
 
                        by Midge Mack 
 
SYRACUSE--"The best part of being here," says Erin Maxwell from Guymon, in 
the panhandle of Oklahoma, "is to be able to act as well as speak for the 
younger members of the church." 
 
    Last year, as an alternate elder-commissioner, Erin spent most of her 
time with the YADS, since she was just 17. This year she's the real thing 
and in experiencing  two assemblies knows what it's like to have voice only 
and now, vote. 
 
    Her congregation, First Presbyterian Church with 221 members and 
pastored by Jim Jacobson,  traditionally elects and ordains  a youth as an 
elder, generally for a one year term, since they frequently go on to 
college.  Erin is active in the youth program, especially the  Sunday 
School class where the group has studied everything from Revelation to 
controversial issues in the church and in the community. 
 
    Erin served on the Social Justice and Witness Committee, dealing with 
partial-birth abortion, review of abortion policy,  sexual brokenness, 
women's homelessness, movie-TV influence, and women's rights. She was quite 
comfortable making her opinions heard and listening to others, then voting 
on the floor which YADs, some of whom are older than she, cannot do. 
 
    Erin plans college next year, probably within the state, but still 
wavers between medicine and teaching as her goal. Currently she works for a 
pediatrician. 

------------
For more information contact Presbyterian News Service
  phone 502-569-5504             fax 502-569-8073  
  E-mail PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org   Web page: http://www.pcusa.org 
  mailed from World Faith News <wfn-news@wfn.org>  

--