NOTE: Photographs and a sidebar, UMNS story #450, are available with this report.
OSLO, Norway (UMNS) - The World Methodist Council's youth committee has a mission and a purpose: to change the world by changing the church.
Its statement of purpose sparked a lively discussion after Fabiola Grandón, chairperson of the committee, presented a report on her group's work in the past 12 months. The committee said it wants "to empower young people to change the world by changing the church through witnessing, worshipping, connecting, and strengthening belief in God the Creator, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit."
"Do you really mean you want to change the church?" asked an executive committee member.
The answer from youth committee members was a resounding "yes," and many others at the meeting supported the idea.
"I don't see anything wrong with the youth wanting to change the church. Let them have at it," said His Eminence Sunday Mbang, chairperson of the council.
"The church as I know it is not what God intends it to be. The young people are right on," said Bishop Melvin Talbert, ecumenical officer for the United Methodist Council of Bishops.
The youth committee announced plans to hold the 2006 International Methodist Young Leaders Seminar in Seoul, Korea, to coincide with the 2006 World Methodist Conference.
The first International Methodist Young Leaders Seminar was held before the 2001 conference in Brighton, England. The seminar is designed to provide youth church leaders with an international experience for their ministry. Throughout the seminar, participants engage in activities that allow global networking and understanding from a faith-based perspective.
To increase awareness and understanding of the World Methodist Council and provide an opportunity for young people to experience the global church, the youth committee plans to hold a "Global Youth Gathering" in July 2004 at Kenya Methodist University.
"The youth committee believes it is important for youth to develop international experiences and to gain exposure of life outside their home context," Grandón said. "The Global Youth Gathering will have a vital role in this and enable youth to meet across international lines."
The committee is dedicated to better communication with its members. It also wants a closer relationship with the World Methodist Council
"In an effort to increase communication and working relationships between the youth committee and other standing committees in the World Methodist Council, we request each committee designate a contact person to serve as a link between the committees. In return, the youth committee will also identify members to relate to the other standing committees. We hope this will allow for a greater balance of new ideas and experience within the World Methodist Council," Grandón said.
Visitors to the new www.worldmethodistyouth.org Web site can download a flyer in English or Spanish on the youth committee. The site is also available in Spanish, and future plans include translations into Portuguese, German, Afrikaans, Zulu and French.
Plans are under way to develop a youth component for the World Methodist Council's ministerial exchange program. A report will be made to the 2004 executive committee.
Grandón expressed appreciation for a report by the Rev. George Freeman, the council's top staff executive. "As a committee, we welcomed the words of the general secretary in his report where he said, 'We would do well as a council to work with our youth and find ways to help make happen what needs to happen to ensure that we have well-trained and equipped leadership for the church of the future,'" Grandón said.
"The youth committee has outlined how they intend to train and equip youth leaders. In order for us to meet this responsibility, we need greater financial assistance," she said.
The committee asked for support in the following areas: Web site development and maintenance; newsletter production and circulation; conference support; and grant applications.
After hearing the report, Mbang remarked, "What the adults can do, the young people can do better." # # #
Korean News
