Young Adult 'Discernment Event' Planned to Assist Laity in Finding God’s Will for Their Lives, Oct. 31 – Nov. 2, 2008

To “discern” means to recognize or identify. United Methodist laity—women and men—seeking to discern God’s will for their lives will have that opportunity in late October, 2008.

A Young Adult Discernment Event, open to United Methodist persons aged 20-30 living in the United States, will take place in New York City, October 31-November 2, 2008.

The purpose of this Discernment Event is to provide a space for young adults (ages 20-30) to explore options for service beyond the local congregation, discover the connection between justice and faith, and to provide a space to discern where it is that God is calling them in their lives.

Space is limited for the event and the deadline for application is September 15, 2008. All reasonable costs, including travel within the US, lodging, and meals, will be covered by the event sponsors -- the Office of Deaconess and Home Missioner and the Youth and Young Adult Program Office of the General Board of Global Ministries, the mission agency of The United Methodist Church.

The discernment event will include Bible study, worship, conversation, reflection, and information on the deaconess and home missioner relationship, US-2 and Mission Intern Programs.

Applicants will be notified if they are accepted by October 1, 2008.

Deaconesses, who are laywomen, and Home Missioners, who are laymen, are called by God to a full-time vocation in service with those who are marginalized and in need in the world today. This community of laity has responded to the call of God in their lives and has been commissioned by The United Methodist Church to full-time ministries of love, justice, and service.

The Office of Deaconess was established in 1888 by the Methodist Episcopal Church and provides laywomen the opportunity to serve in a life-time lay relationship in servant ministry. The Office of Home Missioner was established at the 2004 United Methodist General Conference providing laymen with an opportunity to serve in a life-time relationship to the Church. This is the first opportunity for laymen to be in an official life-time relationship in ministry since the termination of Diaconal Minister by the 1996 General Conference.

The Youth and Young Adult Program Office offers three opportunities where young adults are able to develop leadership skills by engaging in mission service and social justice work. The US-2 program, a two year program, and the Summer Intern program, a ten week program, offer service opportunities within the United States. The Mission Intern program is a three year program where half the time is spent serving abroad and the other half is spent serving within the United States. Young Adults have served as community developers, educators, advocates, and direct service coordinators at churches, college campuses, non-profit agencies and advocacy organizations.

For more information on the October event, future events, or to express interest in deaconess home missioner relationship contact Becky Louter at blouter@gbgm-umc.org or 212-870-3850 or the US-2, Mission Intern or Summer Intern programs contact Alycia Capone at youngadults@gbgm-umc.org.

The General Board of Discipleship
United Methodist Church