wfn.org | Youth Connection co-moderators enjoy the General Assembly

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Note #6656 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

13-June-2001
GA01097

Youth Connection co-moderators enjoy the General Assembly

by Nancy Rodman

LOUISVILLE, June 13 - If you have passed through the Congregational
Ministries Division exhibit area, seen - or climbed - the wall, and picked
up a CD opener, then you have probably met Leslie Chaggaris and Adam
Copeland, co-moderators of the Presbyterian Youth Connection (PYC), the
national youth ministry of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

	Leslie and Adam are staffing the PYC exhibit where they are trying to get
people excited about youth ministry in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and,
according to Adam, giving away a lot of CD openers.  Both have climbed the
wall.  They attend the nightly youth advisory delegate (YAD) caucuses to
show their support for the YADs.

Adam, from the Presbytery of Florida, and Leslie, from the Presbytery of
Grace, were elected to a three-year term as PYC's second co-moderators last
July by the 2000 PYC Assembly.  Since that time they have been busy
traveling around the denomination.  Adam has attended a Congregational
Ministries Committee meeting and presbytery youth retreats in Florida and
Maryland.  Leslie has been involved in two leadership training events in her
home presbytery, a youth event in the Presbytery of Wyoming and the PYC
executive board and National Presbyterian Youth Ministry Council meetings.

After the Assembly, both will attend the Presbyterian Youth Triennium and
fit some vacation time into their busy schedules.  Leslie will attend the
Synod of the Sun youth workshop before entering the University of North
Texas as a freshman education major.  Adam, before entering St. Olaf College
as a freshman determined to postpone his choice of major as long as
possible, will attend the worship and music and youth conferences at
Montreat Conference Center.  He will also participate in a PYC middle school
event at Stillman College.

While this is Leslie's first General Assembly, Adam served as a youth
advisory delegate (YAD) last year.  Leslie has found her experience at the
PYC Assembly helpful to her understanding of the General Assembly.  Adam
found that his experience as a YAD contributed to his experience at the PYC
Assembly and may have contributed to his election as co-moderator.  Of the
General Assembly, Adam says, "It's huge - it's so big."

When they have been able to leave their post in the exhibit hall, Leslie and
Adam have sat in on the Assembly committees.  "I'm very impressed with how
the church deals with issues," Leslie said.  "My overall feeling is a
positive one.  We can deal with divisive issues and still be united."

Adam said of his time observing committees, "I am especially struck by how
long it took to get done what they were trying to do, but working through
the process and with each other, the will of the committee was worked out to
accomplish what the majority of the committee wanted."

Asked what they would say to the commissioners and advisory delegates to the
213th General Assembly, Adam responded, "To the people here, the Assembly
can seem so political, but remember we're hear because of a strong calling
to Jesus' ministry.  The call may be worked out by political process, but
the ultimate process is based in Christ."  "I would encourage people in the
process of voting," added Leslie, "to remember that they don't have to vote
because of their friends' opinions or what's best for them, but what's best
for the whole church and to do what Jesus is calling them to do.  They have
a big task this week.  We've been praying for them, especially the young
people, as they try to discern God's will."

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