North America delegate David Kokiong,
28, earlier this week calls for more younger
delegates to comprise the General
Conference in Session. [photo: Gerry
Chudleigh / Adventist News Network] A delegate stepped up to the microphone and identified himself as "one of the few" under the age of 30 from the Seventh-day Adventist Church's North American region.
See how many delegates are under the age of 30
"I'd like to know when would be an appropriate time to address the issue of the lack of representation from that age category," said David Kokiong, 28, of Montreal, Canada, during the Tuesday morning business meeting at the 59th General Conference Session. "Many youth and young adults are either misinformed or uninterested, or even ignorant, about the processes and procedures that go on in the church."
Kokiong's comments drew attention to a reality among the hundreds of delegates who are attending Session: Young faces are few and far between. But the ones who are on the Georgia Dome floor, along with their older counterparts, say more should be present -- particularly as they are the church's future leaders.