Youth delegates add voice, vote to AC2025
A youth delegate presents Bishop Leonard Fairley with a Spartanburgers hat during AC2025. Photo by Matt Brodie.
By Allison Trussell
GREENVILLE—A call went out, and youth from around the state answered.
Eleven youth represented their churches during Annual Conference 2025 as a newly created Youth Delegation, and they discovered several more youth delegates upon their arrival.
“Many see youth as the church of tomorrow,” said Chris Lynch, congregational specialist for South Carolina Ministries with Young People. “In reality, they are the church of today, and their voice needs to be heard.”
Ann Aiken, a delegate from Trinity UMC, North Myrtle Beach, agreed. “I want to take [what I’ve learned] back to my youth group. Being here shows everyone … we are the now of the church and we have a voice.”
Referring to 1 Timothy 4:12, Jolie Tandy, also of Trinity, said it was important that youth voices be heard.
“Youth can prove ourselves to be equal even through we’re younger.”
Others noted youth often bring a different and fresh perspective and want to advocate for themselves and other youth.
“It’s important for the youth of the church community to be able to express their opinions on matters that affect them,” said Jetson Skelton, Lee Road UMC, Greenville. “Being able to have a voice, just like everyone else, is the most valuable part of being able to go to conference.
Zyaire Kerr, The Brook UMC, Myrtle Beach, concurred, saying, “It’s important to help out and see the impact we have on the churches and vote for what we see fit.”
SCMYP rolled out the Annual Conference Youth Delegate program this year to bring younger voices to the table and enable them to participate in Annual Conference.
Youth delegates were in addition to their church’s regular delegates.
Training for the program took place in March and April. The delegation sat together and participated throughout the week.
On her fourth trip to Annual Conference, Annabelle Mowbray, Dacusville UMC, Dacusville, said this was the first time she’d been engaged in the activity.
“It’s important for the future to know how to vote and do other things there. It’s changed me because it’s a way to be involved and engaged in my community and state.”
While the youth are involved in their home churches, few of them had knowledge of how the Annual Conference and the Conference as a whole works.
“I didn’t really know what was going on [in the conference/UMC] before coming to Annual Conference,” said Laynee Lamont, Conway First UMC, Conway. “It’s great to see what’s happening!”
Still others recognized the importance of this experience in their future faith journey.
“Being part of these discussions helps us learn, grow and prepare to take on leadership roles in the future,” said Lelia Nelson, Wesley UMC, Hartsville.
The youth fully participated in the conference, tossing stress balls to other delegates, speaking before the conference, going to the Spartanburgers baseball game and even giving Bishop Leonard Fairley a Spartanburgers hat on Wednesday.
The SCMYP delegation were Annabelle Mowbray; Jolie Tandy; Sophie Phillips and Becca White, Trinity UMC, Blythewood; Jetson Skelton; Laynee Lamont; Ruth Ann Humphries, Church of the Covenant, Spartanburg; Ann Aiken; Zyaire Kerr; and Leila Nelson and Lorelai Knotts, Wesley UMC, Hartsville. Adult chaperones were Emma Rivers, Trinity UMC, Fountain Inn; Jeffrey Tadlock, Wesley UMC, Hartsville; and Joseph Patton, Francis Burns UMC, Columbia.
All agreed they would be seeking more delegates for next year’s conference.
“On behalf of this group,” said Patton, “We’d like to thank y’all for sowing seeds of possibilities and encouragement that you’ve given this group.”