wfn.org | [UMNS-ALL-NEWS] UMNS# 404-Annual conferences hone skills of young

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Annual conferences hone skills of young leaders

Jul. 19, 2005

NOTE: Photographs are available at http://umns.umc.org.

A UMNS Feature
By Allison Scahill*

United Methodist annual conferences in the United States are taking a
variety of approaches to enhancing the leadership skills of the
denomination's younger members.

In some of the church's annual regional meetings, United Methodist
teenagers work side by side with adults to determine ministry emphases
and set direction. Young people in other conferences have separate
meetings in which they both grapple with spiritual issues and experience
how the church makes decisions. In some conferences, youth are shielded
entirely from the legislative process.

In Virginia, a youth and young adult delegation embodies the
conference's desire to be "intentional about incorporating youth and
young adults in full participation at annual conference," said Angie
Williams, director of youth. "I recruit annual conference delegates who
are willing to serve as chaperones to the (youth and young adult)
delegation."

The youth arrive a day and a half before adult members for orientation.

"We train the youth and young adults regarding such topics as the
(United Methodist) connectional system, parliamentary procedure, our
conference rules, terminology and acronyms, resolutions, constitutional
amendments, etc.," Williams said.

"These youth and young adult representatives are full delegates to the
annual conference and, as a part of the youth and young adult
delegation, they are expected to participate in annual conference 100
percent. We even make them all get up at 5 in the morning on the day of
the potato drop - a mission opportunity that our annual conference
includes each year - and bag potatoes for two hours before going to
conference."

Thirty-one youth representatives are full voting members of the Central
Pennsylvania Annual Conference and participate in all sessions. Suella
Barto, associate director for youth ministry, said the youth assist in
other ways during the meeting.

"They lead an early morning Eucharist service, and they give a report or
do a skit for the whole conference each year," she said.

The California-Nevada Annual Conference has "a strong tradition of
having a youth delegation to annual conference, in which youth are
either voting delegates or delegates with no vote but voice on matters
before the annual conference," said the Rev. Colin Kerr-Carpenter,
coordinator of youth and camping.

In both California-Nevada and Central Pennsylvania, youth delegates also
do a lot of fund raising.

"Our youth delegation raised over $5,000 at annual conference for the
Bishops' Initiative on Children and Poverty," Kerr-Carpenter said. "Our
unique form of fund raising was called the 'Copper Mile for Children and
Poverty,' in which we challenged (annual conference) delegates to bring
their pennies so that we could lay a mile of pennies end-to-end around
the conference site."

The Central Pennsylvania youth bused lunch tables and raised more than
$2,500 for the Youth Service Fund, according to Barto.

The Rev. Terry Gladstone, director of congregational resilience for the
Detroit Conference, said adult conference members find the youth a
breath of fresh air and make it a point to include the youth who attend.
"Our youth are fully involved in our annual conference," he said, "and
frequently save the day with their insights and contributions."

In several annual conferences, youth hone their leadership skills and
learn the workings of United Methodism as they plan events for other
youth.

The Iowa, South Carolina and North Carolina conferences all have annual
conferences for youth - but at a time and location separate from the
conference's annual meeting.

Eric Guy, Iowa director of youth and young adult ministries, said a
standing committee with two youth co-chairs and a conference dean,
usually a college student, lead their event.

"(Youth) are very involved with both the planning and implementation of
the event," he said. "I think it gives them a good understanding of the
structure of the church and the importance of the connection.  I hope it
helps youth identify their calling and gifts for ministry."

"Youth participants hear keynote speakers (and) attend leadership
workshops, worship, concerts and a talent show," he said.

"In South Carolina, we feel that youth must address their spirituality
before addressing issues," said June Willson, associate council director
for age-level ministries. "Therefore, our (youth annual conference) is
around spiritual formation with tremendous worship experiences."
Workshops teach youth about United Methodism, and Wilson hopes the young
people go home with a better understanding of their faith.

The Rev. Sue Ellen Nicholson, director of children, youth and young
adult ministries for the North Carolina Conference, helps lead an annual
conference session for youth.

"The youth participate in legislative affairs where they write and
debate resolutions on current issues. They also select and elect some of
their youth leadership for conference youth ministry that week," she
said. "Other activities include daily worship, small groups both for
spiritual growth and topical interest groups, and evening programs -
icebreakers, dance, serious topics, talent show."

The Rev. Jody Oates, director of camps, conferences and retreats in the
West Ohio Conference, said the conference does not hold a youth annual
conference and intentionally does not teach youth the legislative part
of the church.

"I am not convinced we help build youth leaders who change the world or
help build the kingdom by teaching youth how we do legislation," she
said. "In the Wesleyan understanding of holy conferencing as a means of
grace, our present conference gatherings do not reflect what I
understand (Methodism founder John) Wesley to have meant - that is,
seeking God's will together. Rather we have created a political machine
that rivals any system in government. It does not always seem holy, and
I cannot reconcile myself to teach another generation this process."

Oates said conference-level youth ministry must be distinctive from what
districts and local churches do.

"It feels to me the conference-level youth support is around leadership
development - of adults who work with youth - and  resourcing and
connecting parishes who can be in ministry together."

*Scahill, a mass communications major at United Methodist-related Baker
University in Baldwin City, Kan., is an intern with the Convergence Team
at United Methodist Communications.

News media contact: Tim Tanton, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.

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

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

----------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this group, go to UMCom.org, log in to your account,
click on the My Resources link and select the Leave option on the list(s)
from which you wish to unsubscribe. If you have problems or questions, please
write to websupport@umcom.org.

Powered by United Methodist Communications http://www.UMCom.org