In Season 6 of the TV series The West Wing, there's an episode ('A Good Day') when a group of teenagers from the 'Future Leaders for Democracy' visit the White House to argue the case for child suffrage. The leader of the group says, "We're children but that in itself shouldn't render us meaningless. No one pays attention to us because we're powerless. we have no voice." He argues that if children had a vote there would be more political attention on inter-generational issues such as rising national debt and environmental sustainability. Arguing that children are easily coerced and unable to exercise the responsibility of casting a vote is said to be invalid given that the same arguments were used against women and African Americans. If high school children are old enough to be tried as adults in criminal courts then why can they not vote as adults in democratic elections?
In an 'only on television' moment, the teenage lobbyist gets the opportunity to put his question to the President and eventually gets the presidential affirmation, "Allowing children to vote is worthy of consideration."
So, is allowing children to vote in Anglican congregational meetings worthy of consideration?
If children had a vote in the congregational meeting, would there be more attention given to children's, youth and family ministry in our churches? Perhaps children would vote for having a full time children's minister instead of a roster with a different adult teaching Sunday School each week? Perhaps they would lobby for recruiting more Scripture teachers and direct church spending into SRE training and resources? Perhaps they would support programs that strengthened family life and gave parents skills in communicating with teenagers? Perhaps they would present the case for older people getting involved in the life of young people in the church?
At present you need to be 18 years old to vote in a general meeting of parishioners in an Anglican church in Sydney. What if we reduced the age to 16 or 14? If high school children are old enough to be confirmed members of the church why can they not vote as full members in a congregational meeting? Are 14 and 16 year olds more easily coerced or less able to vote sensibly? No more or less than an uninformed 42 year old or a narrow minded 20 year old!
I don't know how one goes about launching a political campaign - perhaps just by writing a blog!? Anyone care to join the revolution?
