wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Youth Assembly 2003 on deck

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Note #7825 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

Youth Assembly 2003 on deck
03273
June 24, 2003

Youth Assembly 2003 on deck 

Record crowd of PC(USA) high-schoolers expected for July 30 event

by Jerry L. Van Marter

LOUISVILLE - After a sluggish start, registrations for the third triennial
Presbyterian Youth Connection (PYC) Assembly are picking up.
	
Organizers expect a record crowd of more than 500 Presbyterian high-schoolers
for the July 30-Aug. 3 event here.
	
With interest waxing, registration will remain open right up until the
opening of the event, which is open to Presbyterian young people from new
ninth-graders to graduated seniors.
	
The PYC Assembly, whose theme this year is "Shine Like the Stars," is a
unique blend of General Assembly-style legislative action, leadership
training, entertainment, recreation, personal and corporate worship, and
spiritual discipline.
	
"The Presbyterian Church needs young people who are excited about their
faith, informed about the Christian life and committed to Jesus Christ," the
event organizers write in promotional materials. "Connection 2003 is a place
to be both educated and inspired in all these aspects of discipleship."
	
Members of the planning team for the event say it was created to address
needs for leadership training for young people in the Presbyterian Church
(USA); to answer presbyteries' requests for help in nurturing youth networks
throughout the church; and to build awareness of Presbyterian connectionalism
beyond local congregations.
	
There are two groups of PYC participants - official voting delegations sent
by presbyteries; and "open groups" of youth who will participate in all
aspects of the event but serve as "advisors" without vote in legislative
sessions.

      Track 1: Legislative businessTrack One:		    legislative
	
More than 65 presbyteries are sending official delegations of high school-age
students to participate in the legislative aspects of the Assembly. Each
presbytery and racial-ethnic caucus will have up to 12 voting
representatives, who will gather in General Assembly-like committees and then
in plenary session to vote on action items submitted to the Assembly.
	
Six overtures have been submitted so far:

* Overture 03-101, from the Providence Presbytery Youth Council, requests
resources curriculum for young adults on separation of church and state, the
rise of theocratic states, and fundamentalist tendencies around the world.

 * Overture 03-102, from the Providence Presbytery Youth Council, calls for
the creation of a national committee of Presbyterian youth to write a "youth
confession" for the PC(USA).

 * Overture 03-103, from the New Covenant Presbytery delegation, urges
development of youth resources concerning Islam and interfaith dialogue and
encouraging Presbyterian youth groups to join with Islamic youth in community
service projects.

 * Overture 03-104, from the New Covenant Presbytery delegation, urges the
development of evangelism and faith-sharing resources for youth.

 * Overture 03-10,5 from the Western Reserve Presbytery delegation, advocates
stronger support for the denomination's Pentecost Offering, which pays for
youth and young adult ministries (including the PYC) and programs for
children at risk.

 * Overture 03-106, from the Western Reserve Presbytery delegation, expresses
appreciation for previous cooperation between PYC and the Presbyterian Church
in Canada, and calls for "future joint ministries."

	
The delegates also will elect PYC co-moderators to serve for the next
triennium. The co-moderators will succeed Adam Copeland, now a sophomore at
St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, and Leslie Chaggaris, now a sophomore at
the University of North Texas in Denton.
	
Returning as stated clerk for her third Assembly is Margy Wentz, stated clerk
for the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii.

    Track 2: leader developmentTrack two: 
	    leader development

	
Each participant in the Assembly will attend workshops on Bible study,
spirituality, the theology of leadership and the theology of recreation.
	
The workshops will be intended to give participants new understandings, ideas
and skills in those areas; will include resources, lesson plans and
"hands-on" experiences; will furnish suggestions on adapting the workshops
for use in local settings; and tell students how they can share what they
learn with their peers back home.
	
Among the workshops:

 * "Lead, Learn and Live" - Making Bible study interesting, challenging and
transformative, so that young people will want to share the Good News with
others.

 * "Light of the World" - Exploring definitions of leadership and various
leadership styles; opportunities for leadership in the PC(USA); and
discerning one's spiritual gifts.

 * "From the Inside Out" - Learning and experiencing different ways of
encountering God and utilizing various means (including prayers, rituals,
images and symbols) to apply spiritual practices to daily life.

 * "It's Not ALL Fun and Games" - Examining various uses of recreation,
learning theology and process for recreational ministry, and learning new
games and activities.

     Track 3: worship and spiritual disciplines

	
Worship each day will tie into the theme of the Assembly:

	
July 30: "We are called, led here by God to celebrate at the table of the
Lord" (Matt. 2: 9-10)
	
July 31: "The path of leadership calls us to be servants" (Micah 6:8)
	
Aug. 1: "We are called to respond through action" (I Peter 4:8-11)
	
Aug. 2, morning: "Stars burn out" (Matt. 26: 36-46)
	
Aug. 2, evening: "Our source of light and power to shine is God" (John
1:1-13)
	
Aug. 3: "We join together in covenant to 'Shine Like the Stars!'" (Phil. 2:
12-18)

	
The worship leaders will be the Rev. Anna Carter Florence, an assistant
professor of preaching at Columbia Theological Seminary, a frequent
Presbyterian youth-event speaker; and the Rev. Rodger Nishioka, an associate
for Christian education at Columbia Seminary who specializes in youth and
young adults and for 12 years was a denominational staffer in youth and young
adult ministry.
	
The music leader will be Chip Andrus, associate for worship in the
Congregational Ministries Division, a published and recorded
singer-songwriter.
	
The recreation leaders will be two veteran Presbyterian youth leaders: Steve
Price, coordinator for youth and young adult ministry of Foothills
Presbytery, and Beth Watson, who is perhaps best known for her work with the
PYC songbook projects, New Song and New Song Second Edition.

New wrinkle: pre-Assembly racial-ethnic conference
	
	
For the first time, PYC is offering a pre-Assembly conference specifically
for racial-ethnic youth.
	
The July 28-30 event will include worship, Bible study,  recreation and
community building activities, and four workshops:
	
"PC(USA) 101": An introduction to Presbyterianism in the United States and in
other countries.
	
"Love My Neighbor?": How to apply the golden rule when the going gets tough.
	
"Taking Action: How Presbyterians Get the Job Done": Presbyterian polity and
parliamentary procedure.
	
Reality Check: What It's Like Being an Immigrant to the United States":
Sharing experiences and supporting and encouraging one another. 
	
For more information about "Shine Like the Stars," visit the event Web site,
www.pcusa.org/youthassembly; contact registrar Kenneth Slifer by phone at
(888) 728-7228, ext. 5639; contact Slifer by email at kslifer@ctr.pcusa.org;
contact Associate for Youth Ministry Gina Yeager by phone at (888) 728-7228,
ext. 5497; or send her an email at gyeager@ctr.pcusa.org.
	

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