wfn.org | Thinking for Themselves

[owner-umethnews@ecunet.org]

"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (267
notes).

Note 264 by UMNS on Aug. 7, 1997 at 16:19 Eastern (9912 characters).

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Linda Green                           452(10-28-71B){264}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470              Aug. 7, 1997

Youth respond to charge that adults
are influencing them on homosexuality issue

     NASHVILLE, Tenn.-- The suggestion that national youth leaders
are unduly influenced by adults on the issue of homosexuality was
formally discounted here recently during the biennial meeting of
the National Youth Ministry Organization (NYMO) of the United
Methodist Church.
     In a resolution passed at the July 29-Aug. 2 meeting, NYMO
delegates said "Youth can and do think for themselves.  Youth are
not easily influenced by adults."
     A one-page article in the Jan./Feb. 1996 issue of Good News
magazine criticized the youth organization for passing legislation
at its 1995 assembly asking that proscriptions against
homosexuality be dropped from the church's Book of Discipline.
Good News is a caucus of evangelicals that has offices in Wilmore,
Ky. The United Methodist Church officially considers the practice
of homosexuality "incompatible with Christian teaching."
     The article, written by Arkansas pastor, Roger Glover, said
"it is a serious misuse of a United Methodist organization's
purposes to use the legislative process at a national youth
meeting to manipulate young people in an effort to change church
law on a matter as important as homosexual practice."
     Regarding NYMO staff, Glover asked, "are they not accountable
for upholding the moral standards of the church and for teaching
our young people biblical standards for moral truth?"
     The "Voice of Youth" resolution, submitted by Iowa delegates,
was approved overwhelmingly by the assembly's 250 participants. It
said youth are "vital" church members whose word should be trusted
"as should the words of any other members or groups" in the
church.  The youth said they want adults to see that what young
people say is a "trustful representation of their belief."
     NYMO is administratively related to the churchwide Board of
Discipleship in Nashville and is governed by a 52-member steering
committee that meets twice a year. Its purpose is to advocate for
youth in the United Methodist church, empower youth as full
participants in the life of the church and be a forum for
addressing youth concerns.  Staff director is Angela Gay Kinkead;
steering committee chairwoman is Anna Mercier of Mocksville, N.C.
     In another resolution, United Methodist youth were invited to
"affirm peaceful actions taken by the U.S. government to reduce
starvation, ethnic elimination, religious persecution, warfare,
nuclear proliferation and tyranny." Youth were encouraged to
contact their government representatives and the president about
these issues.
     Before being approved by the body, the resolution generated
much discussion about the relationship of religion and politics.
Lee Schindler, youth delegate from Houston, urged NYMO delegates
to push issues that "bring us closer to Christ," rather than 
working politically. "When we joined the church, it was on
confession of faith not on political ideology," he said."This
creates division and we should be concentrating on Christ."
     Another youth, Will Simpson, Burlington, N.C., argued that
Christian youth should become politically active.  "It is a duty
and a responsibility to show what we feel to the people who run
this nation," he said.
     NYMO delegates approved other resolutions dealing with
racism, poverty awareness and student rights.
     Regarding racism, the youth urge all United Methodist youth
to live-out their Baptism Covenant by combating the evil of
racism, by accepting all people.
     Challenging youth to be more aware of poverty in their midst,
the resolution on hunger/poverty awareness encourages youth to
participate in activities and ministries that help eliminate
hunger and poverty.
     In the resolution on student rights, the NYMO legislative
assembly supports the "free speech and expression of students by
discouraging bans on any items that aren't substantially
disruptive to the educational process in public school settings."
     Youth and their adult leaders celebrated NYMO's 20th 
anniversary during the four-day meeting and raised more than
$10,000 through an auction for national and international projects
serving youth.  Reuniting for the anniversary celebration were
several former NYMO steering committee members.
     During NYMO's 20-year history, Kinkead said, the organization
has been "a voice that calls the church to accountability" and a
"model of spiritual formation." She expressed concern, however,
that in many annual conferences the voice of youth is not heard. 
     The biennial legislative assembly is composed of two youths
and one adult from each of 66 annual conferences in the United
States.  Meeting in conjunction with the legislative assembly is a
larger convocation open to all youth.
     Worship leader for the convocation was the Rev. Grace
Imathiu, a native of Kenya and doctoral student at Vanderbilt
University.
     Imathiu challenged the youth to learn to live with people who
are different from themselves and see everyone as children of God
and God in each person.
     The convocation included worship, forums for discussing youth
concerns, selecting youth priorities for ministry and
opportunities for spiritual formation.
                              #  #  #

EDITORS NOTE: full texts of the resolutions follow:

Voice of Youth

Issue: Trusting the voice of youth as a truthful representation of
their belief.

Basis: An editorial printed in Good News magazine
(January/February 1996) strongly implied that legislation
regarding homosexuality at National Youth Ministry Organization
(NYMO) CONVO '95 was pushed through by NYMO adult leadership.

Argument: Youth can and do think for themselves. Youth are not
easily influenced by adults.

Conclusion: Claim that the youth, as full members of The United
Methodist Church, are a vital part of the church today and their
word should be trusted and regarded as should the words of any
other members or groups of The United Methodist Church.
                               # # #

Youth Combating Racism

Issue: Youth living out the commitment made at baptism and
confirmation.

Basis: The "Renunciation of Sin" and "Profession of Faith" in
Christ, as part of our Baptismal Covenant asks, "Do you accept the
freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice and
oppression, in whatever forms they present themselves?"

Argument: This evil, injustice and oppression includes racism.

Conclusion: Urge all United Methodist youth to live-out their
Baptism Covenant and combat the evil of racism by:
1) Accepting all persons;
2) Discouraging racism and racist acts towards all people;
3) Inviting all people in the local community, especially members
of minority groups, to take part in the church;
4) Participating in mission trips and other learning experiences.
These help to broaden cultural awareness; and
5) Being in ministry to and with ethnic minority local
congregations and ministries in Annual Conferences.
                               # # #

World Peace

Issue: United Methodist Youth promote and affirm peaceful actions
taken by the U.S. government.

Basis: Youth as a political constituency.

Argument: The United States as a military, economic and
technological leader, should be called to leadership and world
peace development.

Conclusion: Resolve that United Methodist youth promote and affirm
peaceful actions taken by the United States government to reduce
starvation, ethnic elimination, religious persecution, warfare,
nuclear proliferation and tyranny.

Urge United Methodist youth to write letters and/or send copies of
this resolution to their respective senators and congressional
leaders and the President.
                               # # #

Student Rights

Issue: Rights of students to free speech and expression

Basis: Freedom of speech and expression are affirmed and supported
by 1) the United States Constitution, 2) The Supreme Court of the
United States (Tinker Standard), 3) the Book of Discipline, 1996
of the United Methodist Church -- Social Principles, para.
68(A)and (D) pages 101-102.

Argument: Some administrative leaders, schools and school
systems/boards, have individually denied the rights of speech and
expression to some students by banning items such as religious
hats, shirts, stickers and other items.

Conclusion: The NYMO Legislative Assembly supports the free speech
and expression of students by discouraging bans on any items that
aren't proven to be substantially disruptive to the educational
process in public school settings.
                               # # #

Hunger/Poverty Awareness

Issue: Encourage youth to participate in activities/ministries
that help eliminate hunger and poverty.

Basis: As Christian disciples, youth are called to minister to the
needs of the hungry and poor among us.

Argument: There is hunger and poverty in our communities, states,
nation and in the world.

Conclusion: Encourage United Methodist youth to participate in
activities/ministries that help eliminate huger and poverty.
1) Respond to request for material and labor resources to stock
the United Methodist Committee on Relief's (UMCOR) depot in
Baldwin, La. -- packs and kits that sustain everyday life, as well
as supplies for distribution during times of disaster.
2) Plan local, district, or conference-wide mission emphasis
events/activities; and
3) Engage in worktrips (i.e. A.S.P.), Volunteers-in-Mission (VIM)
projects, and other community-based projects (i.e. Habitat for
Humanity, food cupboard/kitchens).
                               # # #

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 To make suggestions or give your comments, send a note to 
 umns@ecunet.org or Susan_Peek@ecunet.org

 To unsubscribe, send the single word "unsubscribe" (no quotes)
 in a mail message to umethnews-request@ecunet.org

-----------------------------------------------------------------------