The Youth blog

I appreciate your words, Anam. I don't know what it's like for you and our age group in Pakistan, but the involvement of those under 30 in the church is a struggle in so many – too many – places. It's just as true in my church (Church of the Brethren) in the United States. I wonder if it can ever change before we get too old. Perhaps we can then lead by example, treating younger members of the church the way we wish we had been invited and included. For my reflections about my own context, visit my blog: radicalpie.blogspot.com/2006/02/young-adults-in-church-is.html

Dear Anam,
for more thoughts on the youth participation at the assembly please see the Habitus Blog, where many entries deal with the matter.

Here is a list of the entries, but be warned they are politically incorrect:

Youth Involvement in the World Council of Churches?
www.habitusnetwork.org/blog/index.php/PortoAlegre/2006/02/24/youth_involvement_in_the_world_council_o

The Future of the Ecumenical Movement
www.habitusnetwork.org/blog/index.php/PortoAlegre/2006/02/22/the_future_of_the_ecumenical_movement

Russian Orthodox and the Youth
www.habitusnetwork.org/blog/index.php/PortoAlegre/2006/02/21/russian_orthodox_and_the_youth

a day in the life of a steward: morning
www.habitusnetwork.org/blog/index.php/PortoAlegre/2006/02/21/a_day_in_the_life_of_a_steward_morning

a youth story in the ecumenical backlands
www.habitusnetwork.org/blog/index.php/PortoAlegre/2006/02/18/title_2

Youth dancing - video from the WCC assembly in Porto Alegre
www.habitusnetwork.org/blog/index.php/PortoAlegre/2006/02/18/youth_dancing_video_from_the_wcc_assembl

My favourite tent
www.habitusnetwork.org/blog/index.php/PortoAlegre/2006/02/17/my_favourite_tent

struggling for voice: youth corridors
www.habitusnetwork.org/blog/index.php/PortoAlegre/2006/02/16/struggling_for_voice_youth_corridors

HELLO! an introder here - my name is Sunil - part of the international church youth from Islamabad. Don't know if i have among substance to have my say here but i do tend to agree with Anam on this point. I firmly believe that the youth's role must be increased and let them be given opportunities to speak for themselves. Speaking of the youth in my country its imperative for our youth has but many struggles which root from the cultural barriers and family systems. They must be highlighted and only someone who has or is going through such can speak for it.
Anyways! thats a suggestion that i leave with u with minimal insight to the actual story behind ANAM's reaction. Bless u all here

Hallo zusammen!
Wer gestern im Plenum zu wirtschaftlicher Gerechtigkeit war, hat Bischof Hubers Kommentar darüber gehört, wie wenig Deutsch auf der ÖRK-Vollversammlung gesprochen wird; einige Teilnehmer finden das wohl befremdend, und ich vermute, dass sie nicht die jüngsten Semester unter uns sind. Meine persönliche Einschätzung ist, dass die schwache Präsenz des Deutschen als Sprache zwei Dinge widerspiegelt: Wie in vielen anderen Bereichen auch, verbreitet sich Englisch einfach immer weiter, weshalb nicht mehr alle Dokumente übersetzt werden müssen. Zum anderen aber sind die Deutschsprachigen nicht mehr so wichtig wie früher. Sie stellen prozentual immer weniger der Mitglieder, und ihre Alterstruktur ist auch nicht gerade zukunftsweisend. Wenn „sich die Christenheit nach Süden bewegt“, wie manche es formulieren, muss auch kirchenpolitische Macht abgegeben werden, so einfach ist das. Weniger einfach ist aber, dass nicht in gleichem Maße mehr Geld vom Süden kommt, wie dort die Kirchen wachsen – wie sollte es auch! Werden die „West-Kirchen“ weiter zahlen, wenn sie sich irgendwann im Zentralkomitee in der Minderheit wiederfinden?!?
Christopher, Steward, EKD

Hi there! good to see the blog rolling. Its surely is great as Thomas said to have a space to express ourselves and share our experiences of the assembly which will be one of the most amaizing and life changing experiences for most of us young people.

Its great to see the peprations coming together and the momentum for the events becoming more and more exciting every day! The beautiful weather and interesting surroundings of Brazil provide us with just the right context of coming into the assembly mood. And there is so much to make use of! Starting from sharing of experiences and learning from each other to enjoying the diverse dynamic community of young people that we intend to create during the assembly. The cultural diversity, diverse experiences from our churches and ofcourse our wish and hope to contriburte to the assembly is something we can all enjoy together !

Great to see things getting started! :)

Naveen Qayyum . Public Information Intern WCC

Hi guys...
I am working as a steward in the 9th assembly and the experience is wonderful, during the pre-assembly, to be together with more 240 people from more than 80 diferent countries... it´s realy one of the most intensive experiences of my life...
I ve got a lot of new friends, and i´ve been living with other cultures, discussing youth issues and taking part in this big event...

This is awesome to have a space that youths will express themselves freely. I am a young Ecumenist from Africa, Zambia in particular. I would like to ask all youths at the Assembly to grab any paper that is presented in the plenary, especially the General Secretary`s and the Moderator’s report if we are going to sustain the ecumenical movement in this world. I am requesting you all to be united, both delegates and stewards making sure that we have a shape of the ecumenical movement for the next seven years. Remember that the next Assembly some of you will be Bishops and if you do not the legacy you children will also have difficulties with you as leaders. God bless you all.

Hi folks!
It is a week now at this gorgeous place and it has been a fun-filled and a hectic week for most of us. It’s wonderful to be a part of an Assembly that gives us an oppurtunity to encounter the different challenges that youth from all over the world are facing and to discuss as young adults how we can contribute to our church and its struggles. To learn from a melting pot of culture is truly a gift because it is difficult to meet such diversity. I would like to wish you luck with your future plans so that we as educated young people can do our best to transform the world with God as our strength. God Bless!
Daphné Martin, India

It’s truely a wonderful experience being here with people from different backgrounds, cultures and denominations. Let us remember to keep the bond and to share this refreshing, exciting and marvelous experience of “3 hour sleeps, language barriers, getting chased out of the swimming pool, late night meetings, can’t get seat on the buses, funny pictures being posted on the web” with our church and other friends back at home. Try to compile a report or some form of presentation to your local groups, community etc. to show them the joy of ecumenism, as I believe this assembly should in some way empower us to go back and strenghthen our ecumenical relations or to create one where there is none.

Hello people it’s Anam Gill and I am a steward from Pakistan.
I have found the assembly the way I had imagined, simply great. It is the fourth day of the Assembly and we had a chance to listen to President Lula’s address. He has made big promises, let’s wait and see – after all it’s hope that keeps us going.
Days back we had a chance to see a German theater about globalization and the unjust attitudes of the first world towards the developing countries. The air of the theater was humourous and everyone was present till the end of it.
There is so much going on every day. The assembly is really happening and I hope that the time I am spending with my fellow stewards and other friends will be the most precious one in my life.
Thank you WCC.