Young people call church to action now

By Kathy L. Gilbert*

FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)—Six young people stood before United Methodists from around the world and challenged the church to listen, be bold and believe the church’s future is in good hands.

At times, delegates to the 2008 United Methodist General Conference cheered and clapped in response to the multimedia presentation, which included videos, photos, drumming and singing. At the end of the presentation, the young people were given a standing ovation.

The first-ever Young People’s Address to General Conference was given by Becca Farnum, 17, of Mount Pleasant, Mich.; Kira Volkova, 24, of Kirov, Russia; the Rev. Annie Arnoldy, 29, of Grand Junction, Colo.; Andrew Craig, 16, of Denver; Matt Lockett, 20, of Seattle; and Jason Rathod, 24, of Hastings, Neb. They were chosen by the Division on Ministries with Young People, Board of Discipleship, to speak to the denomination’s top legislative assembly.

Historically, the worldwide gathering has included only an Episcopal Address by a bishop and a Laity Address by a layperson.

“We have shared stories of persecution, homelessness, and what it means to be a young person in a world desperately in need of Jesus,” said Lockett. “What you do with what you have heard is really up to you.”

Setting an example

Farnum said young people set an example for the church to practice holy conferencing during the 2007 Global Young People’s Convocation and Legislative Assembly in South Africa. She said rather than focusing on personal agendas, the young people began listening to each other.

“It worked for the young people in Johannesburg,” she said. “It can work for those of us gathered here in Fort Worth.”

Delegates were challenged to resist “showboating and name calling.”

“On the local level, we’ve started believing that we’re so far apart on the major issues of the day that we can only find common ground in hosting potlucks and singing praise songs,” Rathod said.

“What I know about the church is that it yearns for young people,” said Arnoldy. “What I know about young adults is that they yearn for a place to belong. This seems like a pretty fruitful situation.”

Safe space, vibrant possibility

“It takes courage to admit you are a Protestant Christian in the Orthodox society, where rituals and traditions can seem more important than personal relationships with God,” said Volkova, a young adult pastor in Kirov, Russia.

“In Russian society, where many young people try to find happiness by drinking or drugs or smoking, The United Methodist Church offers a safe place where you can grow strong and find support and understanding.”

Craig challenged delegates to be “God’s seeds of hope.” The young people’s addresses were emotional and personal. When Craig finished one segment of his speech, he sang “God will take care of you, through every day, o’er all the way. God will take care of you,” to resounding clapping from the delegates.

Rathod said that when the church does its part to plant a seed, it can know “it will bear the Lord’s fruit.”

“Some say that this task is too great, that the church doesn’t have the resources to make a big enough difference,” he said. “But Scripture gives us a different message. It tells us to have strength and to ‘be not afraid’ because we can overcome any challenge.”

Faith for young people is about interaction, the six young people said.

“Many voices, one call,” Lockett said.

The six concluded their presentation side by side on the stage and said, “Believe in us. Believe that the future of the church is in good hands. We’re ready. The time is now. Let us begin.”

Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher, who gave the Episcopal Address, said she was excited by the young people’s address.

“They are not just the church of tomorrow; they are leaders of today’s church.”

The 2004 General Conference affirmed the value of the voices of youth and young adults by voting overwhelmingly to add a Young People's Address to the agenda for 2008. The 2004 conference also approved creation of the Division on Ministries with Young People.

General Conference is meeting April 23-May 2, 2008, in Fort Worth, Texas. It is the only entity that speaks for The United Methodist Church.

*Gilbert is a news writer for United Methodist News Service