GC Newsletter: Friday, April 25

 Young People Call For "Interactivity"

The six young people delivering the first ever Young People's Address suggested that this General Conference could learn from the experience of young people.  Rebecca Farnum, West Michigan, told how, at the Global Convocation of Young People in South Africa, they learned about holy conferencing, developing principles and guidelines that could help them "talk with each other rather than over each other." 

She said, "We wanted each individual to have a voice, each perspective to be represented and respected, and each understanding of God to be understood...It worked for the young people gathered in Johannesburg.  It can work for those of us gathered here in Fort Worth.  Listen to God.  Listen to each other:  let God work!"  Matt Lockett, Pacific Northwest, prayed "in our voices let there be room for You."

Annie Arnoldy from Rocky Mountain, said, "What I know about the church is that it yearns for young people.  What I know about young adults is that young adults yearn for a place to belong."  What's most important is, "open up your thought about the identity of young people and offer a place to belong."  Kira Volkova, of the Northern Europe Central Conference, echoed the same theme.  Arnoldy expanded it beyond young persons:  "this is the hope of our churches: to be places to belong.  This is God doing a new thing"

Jason Rathod, Nebraska, and Andrew Craig, Rocky Mountain, reminded the assembly that "God has sown the earth with wonderful people" and that we are "beautiful children of God beloved in God's life."  Craig reassured us all that "God will take care of you" -- and sang the Word.  They suggested that "if we are not afraid, then this church can rise up and transform the world for the glory of God."
Annie Arnoldy asked for risk: "Risking community means that my theology does not stand in the way of knowing who you are. My inability to communicate with you means that I need to work on that skill, not that you don't have anything valuable to say."

Since the young adults named GLBT five times, we hope that delegates to this Conference can finally share honestly in Holy Conferencing fears and hopes and trust the Word through these young people:  "If we are not afraid, then this church can rise up and transform the world...  This is the hope of our churches:  to be places to belong."  We hope that this Conference can finally say to its GLBT members, "this is a place for you to belong."

Young Adult Weekend Starts Tomorrow!

After such an inspiring and challenging address from the young people, you can celebrate young adults through a number of activities this weekend.

Fairness for gay and transgender church members motivates youth in a 24-hour drumming vigil on Fort Worth Square and will culminate in a youth rally at First Christian Church. A "prayer action" will ensue at the entrances to the Fort Worth Convention Center where the United Methodist General Conference is meeting at its every-four-years session to vote on policies. For over thirty years it has debated gay issues. Only a 5% shift could rescind anti-gay policies.

Half of all homeless youth living on the streets of major cities are gay. Gay and questioning youth are three times as likely as their straight peers to commit suicide.