wfn.org | Mission initiatives announce joint efforts on youth, violence

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Sept. 10, 1999 Contact: Linda Green*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
10-31-32-33-34-71B{458} 

By United Methodist News Service

Responding to the epidemic of violence among young people around the world,
nine United Methodist mission initiatives have released statements vowing
increased collective support for ministries that address those concerns.

 A "Call for Commitment," a jointly produced statement, highlights the
initiatives' plans for dealing with violence among the young.

The effort is the first joint ministry endeavor of the United Methodist
Mission Initiative Network, an informal connection of staff related to
various mission programs, said Melissa Davis, director of the denomination's
Washington-based Special Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence.
The network chose youth and violence as its first collaborative effort "to
publicly address the senseless and countless tragedies that young people
have been experiencing," she said. 

"Out of our strong concern for young people throughout the world, we, the
United Methodist Church, must continually demonstrate our firm stance, and
more importantly our actions in turning the tide of violence," said Linda
Bales, director of the Shared Mission Focus on Young People initiative.  

Earlier this quadrennium, Bales called upon mission initiative staff to
identify opportunities that would allow for more collaboration and support
around similar mission endeavors. At three previous Mission Initiative
Network gatherings, staff discussed their similarities and differences,
possibilities of partnering, and ways to assist each other with individual
mandates. This summer, the network focused its attentions on young people
and violence with efforts culminating into the "Call for Commitment."  

It is generally agreed that youth violence results from peer pressure,
social alienation and TV violence, according to Mississippi Area Bishop Jack
Meadors, chairman of the Bishops' Initiative on Children and Poverty. But
"the roots of violence go much deeper," he said. "Recent brain research
convincingly indicates that it is what happens or does not happen to us in
the first three years of life that affects the growth and development of our
brains. This includes both how we learn and how we express our emotions."

The most effective way to "declare love" on violence is through
compassionate childcare in the earliest years, Meadors said. "The church is
called to provide a nurturing community for all God's children and to our
children at the center of our ministry. A major part of that task is to
offer support for parents, especially single parents."

In addition to emphasizing issues related to young people, the network also
has targeted drugs and drug-related violence. Staff members hope their
collaboration will serve as one of the church's models for holistic ministry
approaches, Davis said.
  
The Mission Initiative Network cites several examples that underscore the
need for the church to play a visible role on issues related to youth and
violence, including: the cultural conflicts of young people in Ireland, the
war-torn spirits of youths in Liberia, and gang-related violence and the
rise of school shootings in the United States. Through the joint release of
these statements, the network's members pledge to work individually and
collectively for peaceful conflict resolution, Davis said.

Concerns about youth violence are being voiced in urban, town and country
settings, said Lynda Byrd, director of Communities of Shalom. "The
repetitive challenge in these settings is to actively recruit youth to the
table so that mutual learnings might be shared towards effecting long-term
change. This simple invitation continues to be averted, signaling an
alarming chasm between our youth and those us who can truly help them."

Initiatives issuing anti-violence statements include the: Asian-American
Ministries Office; Bishops' Initiative on Children and Poverty; Communities
of Shalom; Native American Comprehensive Plan; National Plan for Hispanic
Ministries; Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence; Restorative
Justice Ministries; Shared Mission Focus on Young People; and Strengthening
the Black Church for the 21st Cenntury.  

# # #

This story was adapted from a news release of the Program on Substance Abuse
and Related Violence announcing the "Call to Commitment."

Editors: The statements for the "Call to Commitment" follow.

UNITED METHODIST MISSION INITIATIVE NETWORK (MIN)

"CALL TO COMMITMENT"

ASIAN-AMERICAN MINISTRIES OFFICE -- Jong Sung Kim, United Methodist Board of
Global Ministries (212) 870-3829

In recent years, youth violence has become a serious problem in the
Asian-American community. This problem of yuth violence not only affects
families in neighborhoods of metropolitan cities but also families in
middle-class suburbs. To address this rising problem, the Asian-American
Ministries Office is in the process of mobilizing the leaders of each
sub-ethnic grroups of the Asian-American community to raise the
consciousness of the serious nature and effects of youth violence in our
communities. This includes training of leaders for helping parents whose
children are in gang groups, changing attitudes of people to talk more
openly on this issue in local communities (culturally, it is very hard for
Asian people to share problems of children or family members with others
because it creates embarrassment -- a product of a culture that places a
great deal of emphasis on "face-saving"), and empowerment of youth leaders
who can counsel their peers.  

BISHOPS' INITIATIVE ON CHILDREN AND POVERTY --
Bishop Jack Meadors, Mississippi Area, (601) 948-4561

It is generally agreed that youth violence results from peer pressure,
social alienation and TV violence.

The roots of violence go much deeper. Recent brain research convincingly
indicates that it is what happens and what does not happen to us in the
first three years of life that affect the growth and development of our
brains. This includes both how we learn and how we express our emotions.

Patterns of thinking and patterns of behavior are formed by the environment
in which we are loved and nurtured or neglected and abused as infants and
young children. The ways in which we relate or react to others are shaped in
our earliest years.

Thus, a neglectful, abusive environment fosters abusive behavior. The result
is children and youth who act more aggressively and who are less able to
control their feelings and their responses.

What children need are 1) at least one individual who cares about them and
is attentive, 2) a supportive community, and 3) a positive learning
environment. The absence of these could well be the origin of the violence
in high schools from Pearl, Mississippi, to Littleton, Colorado.  

The basic and most effective way to "declare love" on violence is
compassionate childcare in the earliest years. The Church is called of God
to provide a nurturing community for all God's children and to put children
at the center of our ministry. A major part of the task is to offer support
for parents, especially single parents.

Followers of Jesus are to welcome, to befriend, and to nurture the children.
"It is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones
be lost." (Matthew 18:14)

COMMUNITIES OF SHALOM -- Lynda Byrd, GBGM, (210) 647-3336

In the broad and diverse presence across the Church, concerns about youth
violence are voiced by Shalom teams in urban and town and country settings.
The repetiive challenge in these settings is to actively recruit youth to
the table so that mutual learnings might be shared towards effecting
long-term change. This simple invitation continues to be averted, signaling
an alarming chasm between our youth and those of us who can truly help them.
One effort of a Shalom site in Bryan, Texas, has made a substantial
difference in the lives of young people. The unbelievable 80% reduction in
repeated offenses by participating youth attests to the reality that the
Shalom Gaardens that youth are planting, cultivating and harvesting are
making differences. The real difference, however, far exceeds the vegetables
and plants and roses that these gardens are yielding. The difference is that
previously truant young people have a place to go that is theirs; it's free
from the dares of their peers to engage in more dangerous enterprises; it
gives them access to adults who listen to their issues and concerns and
care. From this venue, the young people have created their own mentoring
relationships and study groups four evenings per week, and they have asked
for and been nurtured in developing their own worship service one evening
per week.

Communities of Shalom continues to recognize how pivotal the need is to
respond to young people as they face the same adult challenges of economic
development; health and healing; racism and fractured relationships across
cultures; and the need for spiritual development and growth to fortify them
to face the challenges of staying alive.

NATIVE AMERICAN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN - Ann Saunkeah, United Methodist Board of
Global Ministries, (918) 745-0848

At the NACP board meeting, members were challenged by a young adult board
member to respond to Native youth and young adults who often feel overlooked
by te church. In response to the challenge, many components and events of
the plan will include youth and young adults.  A grant enabled 10 native
youth to attend Youth '99. The grant gave youth a chance to become involved
with the church at a national level.  Two components of the Plan around
Native youth dealt with substance abuse (Born Free/Stay Free), and the
emergence of Native gangs (Dreamweavers, Inc.) in both rural reservation and
urban settings. Relatively unheard of until 1992, Native gangs have become
visible. More than 180 gangs have been identified in Indian Country within
the last few years. Developing Native leaders among our United Methodist
native ministries begins with the inclusion of youth and young adults in the
Pathway to Change: A Congregational Vision Quest as well as inclusion in the
Native American Lay Speakers School. 

NATIONAL PLAN FOR HISPANIC MINISTRY -- Jose Palos, United Methodist Board of
Global Ministries, (212)870-3693

According to the U.S. Census, children and youth continue to be almost 50%
of the Hispanic population in this country. More youth lay missioners need
to be recruited and trained to form faith communities and reach their peers
(young people) with the Gospel. It is in these faith communities that
unchurched youth are being evangelized and challenged to respond to issues
of justice in their own communities. In Miami, Florida, youth lay missioners
have already been trained, and more are being recruited.

Reaching older children (in third to sixth grades) through educational,
recreational, social and stimulating programs is one of the most effective
ways to prevent youth violence. It is at this age that many children begin
to become involved with gangs.  These types of outreach ministries are
essential for a local church to become known and respected in its community.

PROGRAM ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND RELATED VIOLENCE -- 
Melissa Davis, United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, (202)548-2712

The Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence (SPSARV) aims to serve
children, families and communities around the world held in captivity by
drugs and drug violence. Through partnerships at the local, national, and
international levels, SPSARV undergirds ministries that provide healing,
hope and health.     

Locally, SPSARV, through grant-making efforts, has supported a variety of
ministries that are geared toward helping young people make positive
lifestyle choices. One of those is the Peacemaking Academy at Grace United
Church in Kansas City, Mo. The Peacemaking Academy provides children with a
structured environment that allow them to develop healthy self-esteem
through exposure to a variety of activities, diverse cultures and
discussions of life situations.  

On the national level, SPSARV has served as a voice for United Methodists in
such events as the National Peace and Justice Gang Summit, held originally
in 1993, and its five-year reunion effort in 1998 in Kansas City, Missouri.
This summit provided an opportunity for former gang members -- supported by
partners from various faith and secular groups -- to take a leadership role
in preventing young people from getting involved in gang-related activities.

 
Internationally, SPSARV has supported efforts in West Africa and in the
Central Conferences through the Northern Europe Drug and Alcohol Planning
Committee, composed of members of the Central Conferences in ten countries
-- Russia, The Ukraine, the Baltic States, Scandinavia, and Germany. SPSARV
currently is working with the Northern Europe committee to plan a Youth Camp
in the Ukraine during the Summer 2000 in which violence issues will be
addressed.

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE MINISTRIES -- Harmon Wray, GBGM, (615) 297-7010

Restorative Justice Ministries shares the widespread concern about violence
done to and by young people not only in middle-class communities in the
U.S., but in low-income and minority neighborhoods in this country and
throughout the world.  From a Restorative Justice perspective, violence
takes many forms, including economic violence, racism, and the violation of
minority cultures by dominant majority cultures. Surely the level of lethal
physical violence has been exacerbated in some communities by the easy
accessibility among young people of sophisticated weapons, but it is also
true that violent crime, along with crime in general, has been in decline
for the last six years in the U.S. 

It is the fear of crime, fueled by an "if it bleeds, it leads" media
philosophy, that is now driving juvenile and criminal justice policy in this
country in an ever moe punitive and violent direction.  Seeking to listen to
young people more than to politicians who talk tough on crime, RJM has added
a representative from the Shared Mission Focus on Young People to its
Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee. RJM is featuringg models of restorative
justice programming by and for young people in its ongoing series of five
jurisdictional training events across the country in fall 1999, and early
2000.

SHARED MISSION FOCUS ON YOUNG PEOPLE -- Linda Bales, GCOM, (937)227-9400

Woking to shift the denomination to give higher priority to ministries with
young people, this global initiative is providing support to dynamic pilot
projects that are bringing the Good News to young people in ways that foster
transformation and new life. TThe SMFYP commits to the philosophy that young
people are assets rather than liabilities and that the church needs young
people and that young people need the church.  

Projects such as Children of Hope, a program of the Criminal Justice and
Mercy Ministries effort in the Oklahoma Annual Conference, is providing
juvenile offenders guidance and nurturing through its probation plan.
Additionally, community service mentoring teams composed of church folks are
working to assist convicted offenders in performing community service in a
truly restorative and meaningful way.

In Sierra Leone, the United Methodist Vocation Institute is serving young
people ages 12 to 30.  "Our churches were wrestling with the task of
providing a practical ministry to the thousands of our young people whose
future had been marred by seven years of rebel war and nine months of
exploitation by the most destructive, repressive and oppressive military
government this nation had ever seen. The SMFYP has enabled us to take steps
toward that goals," said John Yambasu, a worker with youth.

The SMFYP Team is committed to serving as an advocacy body for young people
-- one that invites the church to move beyond its four walls and out into
the community. SMFYP stands strongly against any acts of hatred and violence
due to a person's gender, religion, sexual orientation or race, and pledges
to continue listening and responding to young people as a means of violence
prevention.

STRENGTHENING THE BLACK CHURCH FOR THE 21st CENTURY -- Andris Salter, United
Methodist General Council on Ministries, 937-227-9400

Although violence prevention is not the primary focus of the initiative,
several of the Congregation Resource Centers work with youth to address a
number of related issues:

Hoover UMC, Little Rock, Arkansas -- Hoover UMC works with children and
youth in a variety of ways with an emphasis on self-respect, respect of
neighbors, friends and community.  Members of the church intentionally
encourage young people to be bold and to allow the love of God to support
them in their daily lives.

Barnes UMC in Indianapolis, Indiana, teaches boys and girls how to take care
of themselves and their community by offering the discipline of judo and
karate.  Through these martial arts, young people learn respect of
themselves and others.

Bennettsville Cheraw Area Cooperative Ministry (BCACM), Bennettsville, South
Carolina -- Boyz of Gospel is a group of approximately 85 young boys between
the ages of five and eighteen. This group, started by Mr. William Morris
Harrington, provides a positive alternative to the criminal justice system
by offering options for successful living.  The BCACM is an active partner
in this ministry.

            

______________
United Methodist News Service
http://www.umc.org/umns/
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