wfn.org | Women, youth find fellowship before UGC

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

> Uniting General Council 2010

> News Release

> 18 June 2010

> Women, youth find fellowship before UGC

> By Achowah Umenei, UGC correspondent

Prior to Friday's opening of the Uniting General Council (UGC), women and youth 
from around the world met this week at Calvin College to share ideas and 
prepare for the historic ecumenical event.

The Womenâ??s Pre-Council and the Reformed Youth Forum preceded UGC with events 
that fostered fellowship and reflection in advance of the soon-to-be-formed World 
Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC).

Meeting under the theme, â??Come With Jesus to the Streets,â?? the Womenâ??s 
Pre-Council did Bible studies, reflected on key issues affecting Reformed women worldwide and 
carved out a message of their vision for the newborn WCRC.

The women addressed several issues including economic justice, gender equality, 
violence against women, and commitment to womenâ??s ordination and equal 
participation in decision-making at all levels.

An exciting moment was their ride in three

â??Jesus busesâ?? on Tuesday to Heartside, a struggling section of Grand 
Rapids. While some visited a ministry that cares for the vulnerable, others were in the 
street meeting women leaders and learning about the economic problems of the marginalized.

While the women were praising God and doing serious business, the youths were 
at work too.

Their pre-UGC event was a rare opportunity to share their dreams and visions 
for the Reformed family. The RYF created space for the youths to ask questions 
of Setri Nyomi, General Secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, 
and his counterpart in the Reformed Ecumenical Council, Richard van Houten.

Two youths asked why adults speak to, for and on behalf of youths and about the 
controversial classification into age brackets. Nyomi and van Houten urged them 
 to tell WCRC delegates what they would like to see changed in their churches 
and in the new  organization.

After one youth asserted a 30-year-old could sound more mature and intelligent than 
a 60-year-old, Nyomi said age bracketing was just a sociological definition. He 
urged youths to take Paulâ??s advice to Timothy: not allow anyone to look down 
on them because they are young, but set an example in what they say and do.

The youth presentation to delegates will include an appeal for an inclusive 
WCRC family whose worship, fellowship and actions are based on just 
relationships rather than strengthening institutions. And they want the 
organization to develop governance based on relationships rather than rank.

â??It was important for us young people to work together on issues that concern us 
as Christians to see what we can achieve for our regions,â?? said Mogomotsi 
Madiseng, a vocal coach from Rustburg, South Africa.

Added Jessei Jennette of Chicago, USA, â??The youths that have gathered here are 
more than capable of understanding the needs of their regions and bringing their ideas 
here. It has been a very educational time and eye-opening for me.â??

The Uniting General Council 2010 in Grand Rapids, United States (June 18-28) 
marks the merger of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Reformed 
Ecumenical Council to form the World Communion of Reformed  Churches.

> Contact: Kristine Greenaway
> Executive Secretary, Communications
> World Communion of Reformed Churches

UGC News Room ? Calvin College - Hoogenboom Center Room HC 204

> Cell phone: 1-616-826-5540 or 1-616-826-8636
> email: kgr@warc.ch

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