wfn.org | Second "Come to the Feast" trains 300 young adult ministry leaders

["Office of Communications"<wshuffit@oc.disciples.org>]

Date: June 23, 2000
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
E-mail: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

00b-31

	CHICAGO, Ill. -- All the elements to appeal to today's young adult 
worshipers were there - soft lights and candles, a message delivered from 
an on-stage podium, high energy contemporary music led by a live band, 
lyrics projected onto a big screen.

	The more than 300 who packed the Westin River North's Grand Ballroom - 
most of them 18 to 30-somethings - stood and rocked to a pop tune 
adaptation: "I just want to thank you, Jesus. How sweet it is to be loved 
by You!" Then it was time to share Holy Communion, and participants found 
themselves squarely within mainline church tradition, using familiar words 
of the liturgy. 

	The occasion was opening worship at an ecumenical young adult ministry 
training event, held here, May 26-29. The event, called "Come to the 
Feast," was sponsored by the National Council of Churches' Young Adult 
Ministry Team. 

	More than a third of the attendees comprised Christian Church (Disciples 
of Christ) and United Church of Christ young adults. Each denomination had 
more than 50 participants, a significant increase from the previous 
event.

	"Our congregations are well aware of the need to bring young adults to 
faith and involvement in a Christian community," said the Rev. Bruce 
Fowlkes, director of young adult ministries, Homeland Ministries. "The 
growing success of this event illustrates that young adult leaders are 
taking responsibility for the church's relevance, (and) challenging us to 
take seriously our mission and future." 

	This second NCC-sponsored young adult ministry event featured daily 
worship, plenaries, small group meetings and a veritable smorgasbord of 
workshops that both discussed and modeled ministry "how-tos." Other 
offerings included service opportunities at two Chicago shelters.

	Content was a mix of "techniques" and "values" undergirded by cultural 
analysis of today's young adults - the "Gen Xers," "Postmoderns," "Baby 
Busters" and "Thirteeners" born between, roughly, 1965-1980.

	"It's the least churched generation in our nation's history," said Rodger 
Nishioka, a Presbyterian who is associate professor at Columbia 
Theological Seminary, Decatur, Ga. 

	Nishioka acknowledged that most of the denominations represented at the 
event have lost members - or at the very least "aren't attracting people 
in their 20s and 30s" by and large. He then quickly asserted, "What's at 
stake isn't denominational membership. Our goal isn't to make more 
Presbyterians or Episcopalians. What's at stake is the Gospel of Jesus 
Christ."

	During the four-day event, leaders shared practical tools for evaluating 
young adults' needs, starting and maintaining a young adult ministry, 
incorporating a broad range of music and worship expressions, leading a 
mission trip or work camp and using technology including e-mail and the 
World Wide Web.
 
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