Editorial
One
thing that has remained very controvertible in Africa is the idea of Age group
and who is to be put where. Since there is no single standard agreed by the
majority, when authorities set what they call age category they vary in their
assessments. By definition of who youth is in this part of world is very
complex. In a typical African setting there is no line drawn between
Adolescence, youthful age and middle age or so; what exists is a childhood,
youthful age and old age.
Having
these complexities, the African Union decided not to adopt the United Nations
definition of a youth. According to the United Nations definition a youth is
someone who is between the ages of 15 to 35 is a youth but the United Nations
globally acceptable age bracket is 15 to 24 years. This, UNESCO said the UN did
this “for
statistical consistency across regions, defines ‘youth’, as those persons
between the ages of 15 and 24 years..” but also this is “without prejudice to
other definitions by Member States.” (UNESCO Website: unesco.org) this is a
confirmation of the variations in age groupings. But the highest of this is the
35 age bracket of Africa.
The LWF considers youths to be
persons between 29 and 31 age limit. This also can be seen as a room expanded for
African membership.
Having the above as a premise,
the LCCN can set a specific age limit for who is call a youth in terms of
representation in either the church council or even to be leaders in the youth
fellowship. Lutheran Youth Fellowship is the only youth based organization that
is representing the youth solely, just like the Lutheran Women fellowship that
represents the Women in the Church. If the Women fellowship is a women’s affair
then the Youth Fellowship should also be youth’s affair.
The church need to set some age
limit of who is qualified to be elected into either church council as
representing the LWF recommended percentage for the youths or as a leader in
the youth fellowship. It does not here imply that if those who are beyond the
age limit wants to be in the Youth Fellowship considering their bon with the
fellowship should be stopped; but no one outside the age limit should be
allowed to hold any leadership position for the youths.
If this is done, it will accord
the youths the opportunity to learn leadership and also be responsible in their
statutory domain. The Lutheran Today therefore calls on the Church to see to
setting a standard age bracket for the youth’s representation and which of
course should not be above 35 years agreeable for African.
