 NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GBOD Media Relations Office
Jeanette Pinkston, Director
(615) 340-7017
jpinkston@gbod.org
Editors: Photos are available at http://www.yousendit.com/download/TnNnek90UnEyWGMwTVE9PQ.
Young people address to blend multimedia, movement and voices; will inspire
call to action and interaction
NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 9, 2008 /GBOD/ --When six young people take the stage
April 24 at the 2008 United Methodist General Conference, it will be the first
time in the history of the denomination that young people have been added to
the agenda to address the top legislative body of the denomination.
“This first-ever Young People's Address acknowledges the church's understanding
that young people are not just the church of the future, but can also be God's
prophetic voice for the church today. It models young people in leadership
both by their presence in this prominent place at General Conference and in
the diverse ways each of them serves as leaders in our church every day,” said
the Rev. Michael Ratliff, top executive with GBOD’s Young People’s
Ministries (Division on Ministries with Young People).
Created by the 2004 General Conference, the division coordinated the selection
process and chose the six speakers from 37 videotaped presentations about the
concerns and dreams of young people across the denomination.
Julie O’Neal of Young People’s Ministries and the staff person
who has worked closely with the six presenters said, “‘the Young
People's Address’ is a fantastic opportunity for the voice of young people
to be heard by the entire denomination. It allows their issues and ideas to
be held up as vital to the life of the church and its ministries.”
GBOD media relations director Jeanette Pinkston recently interviewed four
of the six young Methodists selected to present the Young People’s Address
in Fort Worth, Texas.
Matt Lockett, 20, a member of Fairwood United Methodist Church in Seattle,
Washington, is a junior at Western Washington University, majoring in biochemistry.
Kira Volkova, 24, from Kirov, Russia and member of the Northern Europe Central
Conference, is a local pastor on probation in the United Methodist Church in
Kirov.
Recently wed Annie Rigo Arnoldy, 29, is associate pastor at First United Methodist
Church of Grand Junction, Colo. A probationary elder in the Rocky Mountain
Conference, this Denver native will be ordained in full connection this June.
Jason Rathod, 24, originally from Hastings, Neb., currently attends Reconciliation
United Methodist Church in Durham, North Carolina. He is in his first year
of law school at Duke University School of Law.
How will you represent the diverse voices of young people at General Conference?
What will the address look like?
Matt: It is irresponsible of us to claim that we represent all young people
in the world, because we don't. What we bring to the table is a group of young
people who care for the life of the United Methodist Church, and have a deep
love of all people and most importantly of God. There are six of us that geographically
represent the United States and Russia. It is unfortunate that our group cannot
be infinitely large, because only then do we really represent the voice of
all young people. We are going to do our best to represent what we believe
in and what we believe is best for the future of young people and the future
of the church. The address-- 40 minutes long and brings together elements of
multimedia, movement, and voices--is guaranteed to be unique in the history
of General Conference.
Kira: I’ve talked and spent a lot of time with Christian and non-Christian
young people from Eurasia. Due to this experience, I can see some of the struggles,
joys, successes and difficulties they have. My part of the Young People’s
Address will be presented on behalf of my peers and young people who are actively
involved in the ministry.
Jason: By telling the faith journey of my family from India to the United
States, I will be telling a broader story about the diversity of experiences
found in the United Methodist Church.
Annie: I will represent a portion of the voice of young people. I think the
group-approach for the Young People’s Address is brilliant because we
are so different depending on our age, viewpoint, or place in life. I represent
young adults, women, homeowners, transitioning from single to married, career,
and Christian people. As you can see, this is a wide spectrum, but those are
many of the important aspects of my life right now. I think speaking is most
powerful when it comes from the true center of one’s life. Being a young
person in The United Methodist Church is the center of my life. The address
itself contains pieces written by each individual speaking to the primary issues
in our life. We have many transitions between our voices because we (as young
people) understand life as a multi-faceted, layered continuation of unfolding
pieces. There is no one point, but rather, many layers.
What are your thoughts and feelings about this task leading up to General
Conference?
Matt: This is one of the greatest opportunities that has ever been given to
a young person in the history of our denomination…We are extremely excited
and honored to have been chosen to represent a faction of the church that has
been unrepresented in the past.
We hope to lead the way to bring about change in the future. We really believe
that this cannot be a one time speech. The voices of young people must be heard
in the church, if the church hopes to continue in its ministry.
Kira: I was surprised when I was selected to present the many voices of young
people who live on a large territory of Eurasia. I’m the only non-USA
representative and I am honored to speak on be behalf of many young people
from another part of the world. I’m hoping to enrich the address and
help the delegates to look at God’s work-- through and in-- young people
from a broad perspective.
Jason: The YPA speakers applied roughly a year and a half ago. We were selected
almost a year ago and have been in collaboration for several months. It has
been hard work, but also a lot of fun, and hopefully the church will enjoy
our presentation.
Annie: I think it’s a really important task. We’ve been asked
to create something that did not exist before. The most important part is that
General Conference will hear the voices of young people. The United Methodist
Church has always that thought youth are important, but have never had a lot
of emphasis on young adults. What I think about is the ages between 18 and
35. This is a time in life when so many transitions take place. Young people
are ripe for the picking, so to speak. We have a lot of ideas, a lot of opinions,
and a great deal of questions. In order to remain a vital place, the church
needs to make young adults a real part of the leadership of the church. I feel
like that task is more daunting than this particular address.
About what are you most excited, in terms of your part in the presentation?
Matt: The most exciting thing about this address is that we are the first
people to ever give a young person's address. Personally, I am excited that
we are not simply standing in front of General Conference and acting as a talking
head. Our speech represents our group as a whole and all our personalities
shine through, during different parts of the presentation. You not only get
to know what young people are thinking and feeling, but you get to know six
young people through our presentation.
Kira: I’m most excited about a chance to present a part of my speech
in my native language, Russian. I think it is a step [forward] for the General
Conference to work towards the global church.
Jason: I am most excited about sharing the stage with five brilliant young
people, each showcasing our talents.
Annie: I am excited about the speech choirs. These are part of our transitions.
They contain all of our voices and use Scripture to tie together our beliefs
and our struggles. I have always enjoyed creative writing. In fact, that is
what my undergraduate degree is in. So crafting the speech choirs was right
up my alley.
What will be your key message point?
Matt: I think the answer to this question is going to vary quite a bit depending
on who you ask. One of our strongest themes is that our address is not only
a call to action, but a call to interaction.
The life of the church will not continue without interaction with other people
and specifically those in need. Many young people, today, won't sit through
a worship service, if it is not relevant-- and they won't commit time to something
they feel is not worthwhile. We hope to help bring an understanding of what
is relevant.
Kira: I want the people who are going to listen to my message to realize that
the United Methodist Church is different in different parts of the world. In
Russia, it is a young and non-traditional church and being a part of it means
you belong to a minority and oppose the customs of the country you were born
in.
Jason: I want clergy and laity to return to their churches with renewed strength
to "seek justice and rescue the oppressed" (Isaiah 1:17). Sometimes
in church life we get so caught up in the day-to-day tasks of hosting potlucks
and holding charge conferences that we lose sight of the church's transcendent
vision. In the address, I hope to speak to the rich legacy of faith and social
justice we inherit as United Methodists and set forth how we can live out our
values amid the challenges of the new millennium.
What is the one concern, hope or dream of young people that most resonates
with you, as a participant in this process?
Matt: My biggest hope is that the church will live on. The everyday Christian
is a dying breed. I believe this has much to do with the way our churches are
run and the ministry that is either taking place or not taking place. People
don't want to waste their time on something that is irrelevant to their lives,
and that is exactly what is happening in churches around the world. It worries
me to think that my kids may not have a Sunday school or a youth group to participate
in like the one I had. The church must transform. The church must be constantly
transforming. The moment the church becomes so firm in a belief or custom that
it is not willing to change is the day the church dies. We want to abolish
the "that's the way we've always done it" phrase and bring our churches
to be thinking more like "how can we transform today to better serve those
in need and provide ministry to all the people of God?"
Kira: When American young people talk about how proud they are to be United
Methodist, I have to say that the term United Methodist is alien for the Russian
culture and it is viewed as a cult. We are overcoming our communist heritage
in my country and one bearing the name of Christ is more significant than the
name of a denomination though we have a lot of respect for the input and good
influence the United Methodist Church has made in some areas of our life.
What is your dream for young people in the United Methodist Church?
Kira: My dream for young people in the United Methodist Church is for them
to become more passionate about following Christ and making the difference
in ways God leads them every day.
Jason: The hope to be taken seriously. In the realm of politics this year,
droves of young voters and volunteers have played a transformative role in
shaping this country's future. Young people will have the same impact on the
church if they feel invested in church life and are given opportunities to
influence decision-making,
Annie: My dream for young people in the church is that they feel invited to
come, encouraged to explore, and asked to participate. As a pastor, I see how
many young people are wanting to explore their faith, but they feel underserved
by the typical church worship and activities. I hope to see more young adults
take leadership roles in their churches and conferences. I think perseverance
will be the key, as young people in their early 20s are just starting to come
back to traditional or mainline churches. I think there has been a big gap
where young people did not grow up in one specific church, or any church, and
so there needs to be a constant invitation for them to come and be involved.
Young people are desperately seeking community and they will look outside the
church, if it is not offered through the church. My dream is that churches
continue to think of ministry outside the building as well as inside. Taking
Christ to the world includes our own backyards and many of us need to go outside
the walls of our churches to do it.
How can the United Methodist Church show that it takes young people seriously?
Matt: I believe that the church desperately wants to take young people seriously.
They just don't care enough to make this happen. I hear every day that youth
leaders and pastors have asked young persons to do something but they didn't
want to. What I don't ever hear is a pastor that seeks out young people and
asks them how they would like to be involved in the life of the church. How
can our churches transform to the needs and desires of young people? Contemporary
and emergent worship are scary for many people…what I say is scary is
that if we don't transition to these there will be no church for you to say
those things are scary in. When does a youth or young adult become more than
a secretary or a page? I have always found that most young people are waiting
for a chance to handle responsibility and take ownership over something of
their own…Why not let them?
Kira: The United Methodist Church can show that it takes young people seriously
when it talks about young people as the generation and leaders of today NOT
tomorrow. I’m looking forward to the time when the church is ready not
just to act but INTERACT with young people.
Annie: I think the United Methodist Church will show that it takes young people
seriously when young pastors are given opportunities to work in areas where
their passion lies. I know many young pastors who would love to have a city
church, and yet, are appointed to a rural setting. I know that many senior
pastors are not given the training to empower their associate pastors. I think,
more than anything, young people feel rightly included when they are asked
their opinions, when they have a vote, when they are able to lead programs,
and when they are given the authority to lead.
I know for lay members, who are young people, they need to know how the United
Methodist system works. It is too often assumed that anyone who would join
a United Methodist Church would know the system of annual (regional) and
general conferences and the many Boards and agencies within. They don’t.
Often times, they did not grow up in the United Methodist Church.
About which social issues are youth and young people most concerned?
Matt: It is impossible to name one or two. Young people are concerned with
every social issue in the life of the church, because every social issue is
relevant to them and to their faith. We are constantly praying for and working
towards a world where there is no violence and all people are seen as equal.
We strive for a planet that isn't full of people who destroy the only earth
that we have.
Kira: Youth and young people are most concerned about justice and freedom
to become what they want to be.
Jason: We are the first generation that is truly the product of the global
age. As such, we are greatly concerned by the state of the poor in our global
community. In developing countries, 1.2 billion people live on less than a
dollar a day and 850 million people go to bed hungry every night. In the 10
seconds it takes you to finish this sentence, 4 children will have died from
a completely preventable disease. These statistics offend core United Methodist
principles of justice and love and, as a church, we must stand together to
end the pain and suffering of our brothers and sisters throughout the world.
Annie: I think young people are most concerned that our words and actions
are in line with a just and fair belief system. Most young people I know would
never proof-text the Bible. They would thoughtfully consider and study the
context before making an opinion about a certain Scripture or a certain topic.
When many young people look at the United Methodist Church through a general
conference context, they see needless fighting, a battle of wills, and little
respect for diversity. I think this is where the church, as a whole, could
learn a lot from young people. Our generations have grown up in a world of
diversity, global connection, and technological communication. It is more important
to young people that those involved in a debate listen thoughtfully and pose
questions, rather than defensively gather a counter-attack and try to come
to one conclusion that speaks for everyone.
Is there any thing else you care to add?
Kira: I want the church to encourage youth and young people to take their faith
journey more seriously and show them good examples of a dedicated life.
Jason: Young people have played pivotal roles in every modern social movement,
opening society's eyes to its shortcomings and stirring it to action. Last
year, I visited South Africa and learned first-hand how student protests in
the black township of Soweto triggered a wave of anti-apartheid activism that
eventually toppled the oppressive regime. People look to their young for inspiration;
when they rise to the occasion, the possibilities for communal renewal are
endless.
At General Conference, there will be a captive audience of United Methodist
leaders from all walks of life and from all over the world. If they return
home with an invigorated spirit, their congregations will feel the impact,
and in turn, support the church and its causes with more time, money, and
energy.
GBOD’s mission is to support annual conference and local church leaders
for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United
Methodist Church, GBOD is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. For
more information, call the Media Relations Office toll free at (877) 899-2780,
Ext. 7017.
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The Young People's Address will be streamed live to the World Wide Web at
11:35 a.m. Central Daylight Time. See www.GC2008.org for the link.
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