It is no longer surprising to hear that churches are experiencing a youth dropout. Simply put, many teen-agers and other young adults do not feel the need for church, primarily because many churches have not been meeting the needs of youth. It should be understood that branch Churches of Christ, Scientist, are not exempt from this suggestion of generation gap. Only by recognizing and seeking to solve the immediate problems of the world in which youth live does a branch church find the teen-ager voluntarily coming to its Sunday School and, when the branch provides for this, joining in its membership and participating in church activities.

Youth will be more likely to find their rightful place in a branch Church of Christ, Scientist, as the members open their consciousness to lively, relevant ideas. Mental examination of the structure and purpose of church is often required before room is prepared for the fresh, new thought. The starting point from which to take inventory of one's concept of church is to be found in Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. "Church" is defined therein as "the structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle.

"The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick."  ^{Science and Health, p. 583;}

In dealing with youth we should turn from the false human picture of callowness or immaturity and remember that the real man, made in the image and likeness of God and being a part of "the structure of Truth and Love," is really fully developed and ageless. The real man is a compound idea of God, a complete unit, or whole, lacking no expression of ability, wisdom, and other divine qualities. The material belief of age should be accorded no power to dictate either the acquisition or the loss of qualities derived from Mind, such as patience and balance.

Mrs. Eddy writes, "Man in Science is neither young nor old." ^{p. 244;} When, with this understanding, youth are viewed in their true light, they are treated on a mature level as those who understand the sons of the Father to be fellow ideas of God, good. Divine Principle's infinite, spiritual idea, Church, knows no race, sex, or age barriers. A minimum age requirement for membership in a branch church should not be established as a method of exclusion but as a means of encouraging spiritual growth.

A young Christian Scientist's spiritual growth usually begins in his home and in the Christian Science Sunday School. Sunday School discussions should center on the applicability of the student's religion to his everyday needs. Sunday School should be a time for learning, a time for fearless exploration and direct, concrete explanation of spiritual ideas and their practicality.

Free expression of thought is more and more demanded by the world's youth, and no less so by the Christian Science Sunday School student. Youth's place in Sunday School must be preserved through the contemporary relevance, freedom, spontaneity, and freshness of religion supplied in its classes. Learning is not a one-way impartation. The elders of the temple discovered this fact while questioning and being questioned by the twelve-year-old Christ Jesus. "All that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers." ^{Luke 2:47;}

Mrs. Eddy's provision in the Manual of The Mother Church for the admission of members to The Mother Church from the age of twelve (see Art. IV, Sect. 3) revealed her desire for and expectancy of active alignment with Christian Science by the world's receptive youth. Mother Church membership helps steady the course of inquiring young people in their passage through the teen-age years.

Because hypocrisy repels youth, a young, sincere Christian Scientist will not be content just with his name on a branch church roll; he will be quickly disillusioned in a church that eagerly encourages his enrollment in a membership that expects youth to be seen but not heard. The time to join a branch church comes not so much with age as with spiritual growth. The minimum age requirement should be representative of the ability and maturity of thought needed to begin to attend business meetings, serve on committees, or usher.

The spiritual impetus of Church and the idealism of youth are natural allies. Both are bent to the task of "rousing the dormant understanding." If those young people interested in the reform of society and nations are to be convinced that they need church to accomplish their goals successfully, signs must follow sermons.

The church that "is found elevating the race" is organized for the primary purpose of embracing the community in love, "thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick." Genuine Christian Scientists are concerned citizens. They express the concern of compassion, not the concern of fear or despair. They look upon church as the most effective instrument by which to bring the needed reforms mankind are crying for. Contained within the teachings of Christian Science are the answers to the issues of poverty, war, segregation, LSD, extramarital sex.

Most youth will no longer accept religious teaching just because it is written in some book. Mrs. Eddy, a staunch proponent of independent thinking, admonishes: "In Science we can use only what we understand. We must prove our faith by demonstration."  ^{Science and Health, p. 329.} The church "which affords proof of its utility" is the laboratory for "the demonstration of divine Science." It furthers the young person's ability to prove spiritual truths applicable both in church and nonchurch activities.

A church membership that can overcome lack sufficiently to dedicate the church free of debt has in a measure found the key of infinite, divine supply that could unlock the prison door of poverty for others. And harmony and integrity manifested in a church business meeting set an example for the young in business, politics, and government. United cooperation among church members can illustrate for young people the divine Principle demonstrable in overcoming racial strifes and economic disputes.

Armed with the proven ability to live what he believes, a young Christian Scientist can become a leader in helping to heal the world's ills. This is the ultimate ideal of most youth. For this achievement the youth of the world should find their natural base within the Church of Christ, Scientist.