What's happened
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has lowered the minimum age for female missionaries from 19 to 18, aiming to increase participation and promote gender equality. The change, announced under new President Dallin H. Oaks, responds to rising engagement among young women in global missions and follows a similar move for men in 2012.
What's behind the headline?
The move to lower the female missionary age signals a strategic effort by the church to boost participation among young women, aligning with past reforms that significantly increased overall missionary numbers. This change will likely lead to a rise in female missionaries, potentially shifting gender dynamics within the church's missionary system. However, disparities remain, such as mission lengths—longer for men—and leadership roles reserved for men, indicating that while gender equality in opportunities is improving, structural inequalities persist. The church's focus on expanding global missions and accommodating increased demand through new missions suggests a deliberate effort to modernize and appeal to youth, especially women, in an increasingly diverse and globalized religious landscape.
What the papers say
The Independent reports that the church's decision is a response to rising engagement of young women in global missions, with officials noting that the change will likely lead to more women serving. The previous 2012 reform doubled applications for missions and increased female participation from 12% to 29%. Church spokesperson Doug Andersen emphasized that the move offers 'additional options and flexibility for young women,' while some disparities, such as mission duration and leadership roles, remain. The Associated Press highlights that this is one of the first major changes since 2012, with the church aiming to promote equality and respond to youth trends. Both sources agree that the change reflects a broader effort to adapt to modern expectations and increase participation among young church members.
How we got here
The church previously lowered the minimum age for male missionaries from 19 to 18 in 2012, which led to a surge in applications. The recent change for women reflects ongoing efforts to balance opportunities and adapt to youth engagement trends, amid a broader context of increasing youth participation in religious missions worldwide.
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