wfn.org | UMNS# 04436-Student Christian Federation looks to future

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Student Christian Federation looks to future 

Sep. 27, 2004	 News media contact:   Linda  Bloom * (646) 3693759*  New
York {04436}

NOTE: Photos and other related resources are available at
http://www.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=2&mid=5730.

By Linda Bloom*

NEW YORK (UMNS) - When Ken Guest attended the recent assembly of the World
Student Christian Federation in Thailand, he was struck by the diversity of
the participants.

Many of the students, representing 70 to 80 nations, had never traveled out
of their home country before, he told United Methodist News Service. "These
are not the elite, these are not the children of well-placed government
officials or wealthy families," he explained.

These particular young people had come to the federation's 33rd assembly in
August to take advantage of its reputation as a training ground for young
church leaders and as a forum to discuss significant world issues with their
peers.

Now more than a century old, the World Student Christian Federation has long
enjoyed Methodist support and involvement. The United Methodist Board of
Global Ministries remains a major source of North American support for the
organization, which is headquartered in Geneva and has regional offices in
Hong Kong; Beirut, Lebanon; Budapest, Hungary; Nairobi, Kenya; and Buenos
Aires, Argentina.

Guest, an assistant professor of sociology and anthropology at Baruch College
in New York, became involved with the federation when he worked as an
executive with the Board of Global Ministries. At the assembly in Thailand,
he was elected chairperson of the organization - the first North American to
hold that position since the 1970s.

"Historically, a lot of the leaders of the ecumenical movement and even our
church agencies have come out of the Christian student movement," he said.
One of his goals is to reclaim and strengthen that history. He believes the
movement continues to have "incredible potential to influence the lives of
students."

One of his tasks will be to continue seeking new ways to finance the
federation's work. "All the ecumenical funding patterns are changing," Guest
explained. Former big donors, such as the German churches, have less income
than in the past, he noted.

A centennial endowment fund established in 1995 to help with grants for
international programs has raised $1.1 million so far, and the federation's
U.S. trustees have started a "second century" campaign. "Senior friends" or
alumni of the organization are being encouraged "to enable this generation of
students to have the same kind of experiences that they've had," he added.

Although Guest participated in assemblies in France in 1990 and the Ivory
Coast in 1995, the Thailand event in August reminded him of "how unique and
rare an opportunity" such gatherings are. 

Besides the diversity of students, he said he appreciated the richness of
theological differences apparent at the assembly and concern over issues such
as the effects of globalization and HIV/AIDS. His small-group discussion on
globalization included students from India, Poland, Mexico, Singapore, Italy,
Ecuador, Bangladesh, South Korea, Lebanon, Sweden and the Philippines.

Although many of the assembly participants were female, concern arose over
the lack of women in leadership roles. "What became clear was there was an
absolute commitment to having women in a leadership position, but it would
require a slightly longer process to find the right person," Guest said. A
search process was begun to name a woman as a federation vice chairperson by
the end of the year.

Advancing work on gender and women's concerns also is a goal of the new
executive committee for the next four years. Other goals include engaging in
biblical and theological reflection, encouraging the federation's student
focus, securing organizational and financial viability, exploring how to be a
global community and expanding global programs, and enhancing the visibility
of the World Student Christian Federation.

Visibility also is key in North America, represented by the Student Christian
Movement of Canada and a U.S. council of six denominations - United
Methodist, Presbyterian, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Episcopal,
Disciples of Christ and United Church of Christ. "They're working to rebuild
the student Christian movement here in the United States," Guest said.

Besides Guest, other new federation officers are Udan Fernando of Sri Lanka,
vice chairperson, and Youhanna Kamal of Egypt, treasurer. Michael Wallace of
New Zealand was appointed as the new chief staff executive.

More information about the federation is available by contacting Guest at
kenguest@earthlink.net.

*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New York.

News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or
newsdesk@umcom.org 7

********************

United Methodist News Service
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