wfn.org | Gen. Colin Powell will speak at Episcopal youth event

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2000-107

Gen. Colin Powell will speak at youth event during General 
Convention

by Jim Goodson

     (ENS) General Colin L. Powell will discuss faith 
issues with youth attending the Y2K4JC youth conference in 
Boulder, Colorado.

     "The Episcopal Church was very meaningful to me as a 
youth and I am looking forward to sharing my story and 
learning about the faith of others, too," Powell said after 
agreeing to meet with youth on the concluding day of the 
July 7-12 event at the University of Colorado campus.

     Powell, the son of immigrant Jamaican parents in New 
York City, rose through the U.S. Army ranks to become an 
adviser to presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush and Bill 
Clinton in Powell's role as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff, the highest military position in the Department of 
Defense.

     But it is his interest in the future and in youth that 
draws him to Boulder. Powell is the chairman of the 
President's Summit for America's Future as well as 
America's Promise and the Alliance of Youth.

     Young people from throughout the world will witness, 
worship and have the chance to work in mission fields 
during the youth conference, held at the same time as the 
church's General Convention in Denver.

     Fifty workshops are designed to provide young people 
with a renewed sense of Christian community and faith. A 
bishop's forum will allow youth to meet, question, inform 
and learn from church leaders. Sonic Boom and other bands 
will lead youth in worship as well as perform during fun-
filled social events.

     "I know from my own experience of last summer's 
Episcopal Youth Event that gatherings of young people can 
provide a valuable opportunity to reflect with their peers 
on their life in Christ and strengthen their sense of being 
members of Christ's risen body," Presiding Bishop Frank T. 
Griswold said.

Worship is central

     Young people attending Y2K4JC will participate in the 
Sunday morning Eucharist of the Episcopal Church General 
Convention July 9 and then will welcome convention deputies 
and bishops that same Sunday evening to the Boulder campus 
for a youthful, spirit-filled worship service.

     "Worship will play a central role in all that we do," 
Y2K4JC co-chair Diane Stanton of the Diocese of Dallas 
said. "Our prayer is to provide young people with the 
information and encouragement that is vital to their 
Christian life both in the church and their communities."

     The interaction between the youth and the leadership 
of the church is an important aspect of this event, said 
co-chair Jon Davis, youth ministry officer of the Diocese 
of Central Florida.

     "We make a promise to young people when they are 
baptized ... that we will 'do all in our power to support 
these persons in their life in Christ.'," Davis said. 
"Y2K4JC is a perfect opportunity to make good on this 
promise allowing young people to function fully in the Body 
of Christ, exercising their gifts and contributing their 
energy and enthusiasm work of the Gospel."

     The Episcopal Diocese of Colorado and the American 
Anglican Council are organizing the event with technical 
support from the national church office and its staff. 
Youth ministers from dioceses throughout the nation are 
taking part in the conference.

     A brochure with registration forms was sent to every 
Episcopal church in the nation in mid-January and a website 
(www.y2k4jc.net) offers information and registration forms 
that can be downloaded.

     Workshop topics include Teens in Crisis, Internet 
Christianity, College and Christ, Dating in a Sex-Crazed 
Society, Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts, Cool Worship and 
the Prayer Book, Women in Ministry, Sex, Drugs and Rock and 
Roll, Reaching Out to the World and Bridging Racial 
Barriers (a complete list of all 50 workshops can be 
accessed at www.y2k4jc.net).

     Workshop leaders include Phoebe Griswold, the wife of 
Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold; Bruce Chapman, director 
of Discovery Institute in Seattle; Davis, a founding member 
of the Episcopal Renewal Ministries Youth Project; Van 
Arrington, director of Teach My People Ministries; The Rev. 
Tim Surratt, associate rector at All Saints Episcopal 
Church in Pawleys Island, South Carolina; Laura Lipscomb, 
coordinator for youth ministries of the Episcopal Diocese 
of Florida; Tony Alvarez, founder of Celestial Style 
ministries and The Rev. Tom Rutherford, rector of the 
Church of the Messiah in Winter Garden, Florida.

     "An exciting component will be the presence of 
international youth from many major regions of the world 
being sponsored by several American bishops to come and 
show their faith stories and create an entirely multi-
cultural experience," Stanton said.

Mission opportunities

     Following the six-day Y2KJ4JC, youth and their adult 
sponsors will have the opportunity to put their faith into 
action by participating in mission opportunities throughout 
the nation. Some of the mission ministry will take place 
within the Diocese of Colorado while other mission work 
will be offered throughout the world. The mission trips 
will take place at the completion of the conference and are 
optional.

     "The mission trip portion of Y2K4JC is designed to 
give participants the chance to show God's love to others 
and to learn about the rewards of service," Davis said.

     The conference is open to young people who have 
completed grades 6-12 by Spring 2000 and who have not 
already attended college. The ratio of youth to adults will 
be two adults for every 10 youth. All participants must be 
residents for the entire conference.

     The cost is $250 per person, excluding travel and 
mission opportunities. Included in this fee are room and 
board, program costs, ground transportation to and from the 
Denver airport and to General Convention, the conference T-
shirt and other fun items. This fee covers only a portion 
of the total costs of Y2K4JC; each participant is 
subsidized through the budget of the American Anglican 
Council.

     Although Y2K4JC is an Episcopal youth conference, 
participants do not have to be Episcopalian. Youth must, 
however, be recommended through an Episcopal church and 
have the backing of an adult sponsor from that church who 
will be attending the entire weekend.

     For more information contact the Y2K4JC office toll-
free at 877-334-2183 or visit the web site. 

--Jim Goodson is director of communications for the Diocese 
of Dallas and editor of the diocesan newspaper.