wfn.org | [ENS] Deputies approve resolution on training leadership for

["Mika Larson" <mini_mika@earthlink.net>]

youth

August 6, 2003

Deputies approve resolution on training leadership for youth

by James Thrall
 
[ENS] With little debate, and in the context of a budget priority
highlighting ministry with youth and young adults, deputies
overwhelmingly approved a resolution Tuesday that would request $3
million for training programs and resources for ministers working with
younger age groups.

The resolution (A077) states that the General Convention should "adopt a
vision as part of the 20/20 initiative that there shall be effective,
well-organized ministries with children, youth and young adults in every
congregation where appropriate" and "campus ministries in all colleges
and universities where appropriate."

The resolution also commends the Ministries With Young People Cluster,
which now includes three ministry networks - youth ministries, Christian
education ministries and higher education ministries - and directs it to
create an additional network for young adult ministries. The Ministries
With Young People Cluster also is directed to work with the Standing
Commission on Domestic Mission and Evangelism as well as provincial
networks to pursue such training strategies as education in leadership
development; sharing of technology, training resources, curricula,
theological and multicultural resources; practical application for
lifelong Christian formation; and strengthening existing networks in
dioceses and provinces.

The requested funding would allocate $250,000 per each year of the
triennium for each of the four ministry networks.

Linden Prickett, 17, a member of the official youth presence from
Province VI, and one of two young people who spoke in favor of the
resolution, said that while Sunday School was very important to her as a
child, she had to turn to other churches for youth programs after
elementary school. "Episcopal youth have to be able to look to our
churches to help them with their faith journeys," she said.

Kelsey Kemp, 17, a member of the official youth presence from Province
VII, said that youth leaders wanting to work with young people may be
well-intentioned and committed, but still "untrained and clueless about
how to be youth leaders." By offering direction in how they might help
shape young people to be "disciples to make new disciples," she said,
the resolution fulfills the General Convention's stated goal of making
young adults a "top priority."

The Rev. David K. Ottsen of Northern Indiana, a member of the evangelism
committee that proposed the resolution, acknowledged that "I do not bear
a youthful face." He stressed, however, that "I bear a zeal for
evangelism and a zeal in particular for this resolution." The committee
worked "extremely hard" to revise the resolution to reflect a variety of
youth concerns. "Though it bears a seemingly high price tag," he noted,
"I would offer to you that it is a small amount and commitment to those
who follow in the future, and those who follow now, and those who are
eager to hear and to know about Jesus our Lord."