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Young person or group sought for General Conference address
March 13, 2006
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — The United Methodist Division on Ministries with
Young People is seeking submissions for a young person or team of young people
to address the denomination’s 2008 General Conference. The deadline for
applying is July 1.
The denomination’s top legislative assembly,
which meets every four years, will gather in Fort Worth, Texas, April 22-May
2,
2008. It will be the
first time young people have been added to the agenda to address a General
Conference.
The value of the voices of youth and young adults was affirmed when the 2004
General Conference voted overwhelmingly to add an address by a young person
to the agenda for the 2008 General Conference. The 2004 conference also approved
creating the Division on Ministries with Young People, housed at the United
Methodist Board of Discipleship.
“There has been an incredible celebration of youth and young adults
as we continue to dream a church,” said Jay Williams, young adult delegate
from Western New York, as he proposed adding the address to the 2008 conference.
Youth and young adults served as vice chair people of legislative committees,
led subcommittees and spoke many times on the floor throughout the 2004 General
Conference in Pittsburgh.
“There has really been a strong outpouring of love and support for young
people. We have been encouraged to continue to be witnesses, to continue to
dream and hope,” Williams said.
“For a young person to make an address to the 2008 General Conference
shows the entire church that young people can be in leadership and have a voice,” said
Julie O’Neal, Scottsdale, Ariz. Along with Williams, she was co-chairperson
of the Shared Mission Focus on Young People, which preceded the new division. “We
have some good things for the denomination to hear.”
The Division on Ministries with Young People is
requesting submissions of videotapes from people who would like to deliver
the Young
People’s Address.
United Methodists between the ages of 12 and 30 are eligible. The deadline
for the process is July 1, 2006. Those interested should send a 10-minute videotape
featuring a presentation that addresses the concerns and dreams of young people
in the United Methodist Church and a transcript of the speech, which can be
in the applicant’s native language.
The Division on Ministries on Young People will select the speaker or speakers
at its August meeting and notify the successful applicants by Sept. 1. For
more information, contact Jay Clark at (615) 340-7058 or jclark@gbod.org.
Videos and transcripts should be sent to Young
People’s Address, Young
People’s Ministries, P.O. Box 340003, Nashville, TN 37203-0003.
News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.
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