wfn.org | Presbyterian Student Strategy Team Gathers For Fall Conference

[PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org]

1-November-1996 
 
 
96437           Presbyterian Student Strategy Team 
                   Gathers For Fall Conference 
 
                         by Julian Shipp 
 
LINWOOD, Kan.--Challenged to answer the questions "What do students ask of 
the church?" and "What do students offer the church?" more than 80 
Christian students gathered here Oct. 4-6 for a conference for young 
leaders co-sponsored by the Presbyterian Student Strategy Team (PSST) V of 
the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). 
 
     Held at Tall Oaks Conference Center just outside Kansas City, Kan., 
the conference, titled "Cherishing the Past, Challenging the Present," was 
also sponsored by the Student Ecumenical Partnership (STEP) of the United 
Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). 
 
     Keynote speaker was Cindy Dougherty, president of the National 
Benevolent Association, which is the social services arm of the Christian 
Church (Disciples of Christ), based in St. Louis, Mo.  Dougherty spoke from 
her personal experiences on how to become a better Christian and a better 
person.  She challenged students to "cast away crutches that may be holding 
[them] back and to take control of [their] lives from people who may have 
stolen [their] livelihood." 
 
     Kyle Walker and Madge Vasquez, two student leaders in their 
denominations, spoke about what they offered the church upon graduating 
from college. Vasquez, a past STEP member, spoke of her recent experiences 
in the international community in India and El Salvador. Walker, a current 
PSST V member, talked about how God called him to pastoral ministry. 
 
     After much discussion about the speeches in small groups and a 
performance by the Rev. Isaiah Jones Jr., a Presbyterian vocalist and 
campus minister at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore., the students 
were asked in a talk show format "What do students ask of the church?" and 
"What do students offer the church?" Afterward, several students gathered 
to draft the following statement representing the beliefs of many, but not 
all, of the students at the meeting: 
 
               What Do Students Ask of the Church? 
 
     *     Tolerance and acceptance regarding race, sexuality, worship 
           experiences, and economic status 
     *     Increased ecumenical efforts and interaction 
     *     Faithfulness to the biblical example of Jesus Christ 
     *     Support and stability both for young adults in leadership and in 
           the transition periods through young adulthood, including 
           allowing and encouraging more participation 
     *     Work to close the generation gap between younger and older 
           adults and to recognize the gifts and blessings each has to 
           offer the church. 
 
             What Do We as Students Offer the Church? 
 
     *     We can be prophetic and possessed by the Lord! 
     *     Leadership, vitality, energy! 
     *     Challenges and new vision for the future! 
     *     Numbers! 
     *     We are called to serve! 
 
     Julie Dunning, a PSST V member and student at the University of 
Rochester, N.Y., said the topics from the statement will require further 
discussion and attention in order to ensure the continued growth and 
expansion of God's church. 
 
     "While we are encouraged by the answers discovered at this conference, 
we sincerely hope for continued dialogue on these issues within each of our 
denominations," Dunning said. 

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