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The number of ordained clergy age 35 or under in mainline denominations is remarkably low. The United Church of Christ lists only 207 clergy in that category—only 4 percent of its total number of ministers. The figure is even lower for the Disciples of Christ (3.7 percent) and the Episcopal Church (3.9 percent), and it is only slightly higher for American Baptists (5.8 percent), for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (6.1 percent), for United Methodists (6.7 percent) and for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (7 percent).

Mainline denominations have only begun to recognize the alarmingly low numbers of clergy under the age of 35. In my denomination, the United Church of Christ, I am one of only 207 clergy in that age bracket—about 4 percent of total clergy.