wfn.org | YAD caucus a place for fellowship

[PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org]

04-July-1996 
 
GA96092 
 
YAD caucus a place for fellowship 
 
ALBUQUERQUE - Every night after the close of business at the Assembly, 
while most other people are heading to bed, Youth Advisory Delegates (YADs) 
head to yet one more meeting.  It is the YAD caucus, which serves as a 
place of information exchange, and more importantly, of fellowship. 
 
    The YAD caucus is led by two co-moderators, Rick Abrams from Monmouth 
Presbytery, and Wynnie Huang from Susquehanna Valley Presbytery.  YADs from 
each of the Assembly committees report on their group's work.  This helps 
the YADs prepare themselves for the events of the next day and often makes 
them among the most well informed people anywhere at GA. 
 
    The YAD caucus is also a place in which YADs can share feelings about 
the days' events.  At the caucus Wednesday night, two YADs expressed their 
frustrations over their inability to submit a minority report of their 
committee's actions.  Although YADs are full voting members in committee, 
they do not have the power to submit motions on the floor of the Assembly 
plenary, and thus cannot move a minority report. 
 
    "YADs, like commissioners, come into this process not knowing all the 
ins and outs of polity, and are sometimes frustrated by the process," 
observes Christy Craig, one of four YAD advisors appointed by the Office of 
the General Assembly.  The other advisors are Rev. J. Herbert Nelson, Rev. 
Jimmie Hawkins, and Elder Peg Samsack.  Craig sees the role of the advisors 
as being twofold.  One is to help the YADs navigate the Assembly.  The 
other is care for the stress and pastoral issues that arise during the 
Assembly. 
 
    Although the YADs have some things in common, there is much diversity 
of thought, and disagreements are common.  However, as YAD co-moderator 
Wynnie Huang puts it, "No matter what happens, we always come back as one 
unit.  That's the neatest thing that happens every night." 
 
 
Ed Chan 

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