Spirit of youth: Young adults from around the world came together in advance of the Uniting General Council. (Photo: Erick Coll)

Women, Youth Find Fellowship Before UGC

By Achowah Umenei, UGC correspondent   

Prior to Friday’s opening of the Uniting General Council (UGC), women and youth from around the world met this week at Calvin College to share ideas and prepare for the historic ecumenical event.

The Women’s Pre-Council and the Reformed Youth Forum preceded UGC with events that fostered fellowship and reflection in advance of the soon-to-be-formed World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC).

Meeting under the theme, “Come With Jesus to the Streets,” the Women’s Pre-Council did Bible studies, reflected on key issues affecting Reformed women worldwide and carved out a message of their vision for the newborn WCRC.

The women addressed several issues including economic justice, gender equality, violence against women, and commitment to women’s ordination and equal participation in decision-making at all levels.

An exciting moment was their ride in three “Jesus buses” Tuesday to Heartside, a struggling section of Grand Rapids. While some visited a ministry that cares for the vulnerable, others were in the street meeting women leaders and learning about the economic problems of the marginalized.

While the women were praising God and doing serious business, the youths were at work too.

Their pre-UGC event was a rare opportunity to share their dreams and visions for the Reformed family. The RYF created space for the youths to ask questions of Setri Nyomi, General Secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and his counterpart in the Reformed Ecumenical Council, Richard van Houten.

Two youths asked why adults speak to, for and on behalf of youths and about the controversial classification into age brackets. Nyomi and van Houten urged them  to tell WCRC delegates what they would like to see changed in their churches and in the new organization.

After one youth asserted a 30-year-old could sound more mature and intelligent than a 60-year-old, Nyomi said age bracketing was just a sociological definition. He urged youths to take Paul’s advice to Timothy: not allow anyone to look down on them because they are young, but set an example in what they say and do.

The youth presentation to delegates will include an appeal for an inclusive WCRC family whose worship, fellowship and actions are based on just relationships rather than strengthening institutions. And they want the organization to develop governance based on relationships rather than rank.  

 “It was important for us young people to work together on issues that concern us as Christians to see what we can achieve for our regions,” said Mogomotsi  Madiseng, a vocal coach from Rustburg, South Africa.

Added Jessei Jennette of Chicago, USA, “The youths that have gathered here are more than capable of understanding the needs of their regions and bringing their ideas here. It has been a very educational time and eye-opening for me.”