wfn.org | Committee brainstorms on strengthening youth ministry

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Oct. 4, 2001     News media contact: Tim Tanton7(615)742-54707Nashville,
Tenn.     10-31-71BP{445}

NOTE: A photograph is available.

By Julie A. Wiley*

SAN ANTONIO (UMNS) - Offering young people more leadership opportunities is
one of several needs identified by a committee working to strengthen youth
ministry in the United Methodist Church.

More than 30 United Methodists from around the world met Sept. 27-30 to
explore creating a more effective voice for youth ministry. 

"Our charge is to create a comprehensive denominational strategy and
ministry for youth and young people," said the Rev. Drew A. Dyson, executive
director of the Nashville, Tenn.,-based Shared Mission Focus on Young
People.
 
The meeting was held by the standing committee of the churchwide mission
focus, which will deliver its youth ministry strategy to the 2004 General
Conference in Pittsburgh.

The 1996 session of the denomination's top lawmaking body created the
mission focus to challenge the church to "reorder its priorities to better
respond to the joys and pains of young people." The 2000 General Conference
reaffirmed that mission initiative.

Youths and young adults traveled from as far away as the Democratic Republic
of Congo, Russia, the Philippines, Germany and Zimbabwe to participate in
the four-day committee meeting.

"The youths get neglected when it comes to ministry," said the Rev. Hilaire
Pesse of the Democratic Republic of Congo. "Adults need to offer them
opportunities to be a part of ministries within the church.

"I have lots of young people come to my church in Congo. Many of them are
without parents or a place to sleep, but the church serves as a guide to
help them get involved in ministry."

Ashley Jasper, a 14-year-old member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in
Cleveland Heights, Ohio, said adults need to take leadership development for
young people in the church more seriously.

"If we're not connected in the church as youths, we won't know how to be
leaders in the church as adults," she said. "I hope to get a stronger voice
for youths and get more consideration for youth ministries."

Committee members split into small teams to review youth ministry tasks
through 2004. Members were committed to delivering tangible responses to
mandates from the 2000 General Conference. Besides developing a strategy,
those mandates cover:
7	Funding opportunities for ministries and ministry projects with
young people.
7	Continuing advocacy to enhance the church's response to the needs of
young people (ages 12 to 30) inside and outside the denomination.

The committee discussed how it would coordinate funding with four
denominational agencies for ministry projects designed for young people.

Dyson is to guide primary advocacy for the mission focus. Committee members
and resource staff people from denominational agencies will share other
advocacy responsibilities.

# # #

*Wiley is a communications specialist with the Southwest Texas Conference.

*************************************
United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org