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United Methodist Young People's Address Paint a Clear Picture of the Need to Belong; Ready and Willing to Act and Interact

(April 26, 2008, FORT WORTH, Texas, General Conference/GBOD) — The first-ever Young People's Address given at a United Methodist General Conference brought cheers, applause and a standing ovation during the denomination's top legislative session meeting in Fort Worth this week.

United Methodist young people greet delegates to the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, following the first-ever Young People's Address to the conference. From left are: Matt Lockett, Becca Farnum, Andrew Craig, Kira Volkova, Jason Rathod and the Rev. Annie Arnoldy. (A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose.)

"I am ecstatic about the work our young people and our staff have done to create such a moving experience. Their almost two-year effort gave voice to our challenge to increase participation and leadership of young people in the church, as well as deepen their faith," said the Rev. Karen Greenwaldt, chief executive for the Nashville-based United Methodist General Board of Discipleship.

The multimedia presentation, "Many Voices: One Call," was delivered by Rebecca Farnum, 17, of Mount Pleasant, Mich; Kira Volkova, 24, of Kirov, Russia; the Rev. Annie Arnoldy, 29, of Grand Junction, Colo.; Andrew Craig, 16, of Denver; Matt Lockett, 20, of Seattle and Jason Rathod, 24, of Hastings, Neb.

I'm proud to be a part of this church," said Jennifer Howard Burns, 23, of the West Ohio Annual Conference, who watched the presentation via the Web.

I'm all choked up and about to cry over the Young People's Address. I heard my fears, hopes, and vision throughout the presentation, in addition to a desire to embrace our diversity, move forward in action, and that as a generation we yearn for a place to belong and have meaning," said Howard Burns.

Andrew Craig

Future politician, Andrew Craig, 16, of Denver, paraphrasing Matthew 5:3 and 5 exhorted the gathering that "blessed are the people who remember and help the victims of racial, ethnic, sexual, gender, and social discrimination. Regardless of age, weight, sexual orientation, color, ethnicity, and financial status, we are all children of God, and God expects us to care for each other," he said.

Created by the 2004 General Conference, the Division on Ministries with Young People, a ministry of the Nashville-based United Methodist Board of Discipleship, 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 worked closely with the six presenters said, "the Young People's Address was a fantastic opportunity for the voice of young people to be heard by the entire denomination.

"We just provided a space for them to write and food. They did everything else that went into the multimedia presentation," she said.

Rebecca Farnum

Lifting up another first -- the GBOD-sponsored Global Young People's Convocation and Legislative Assembly held in Johannesburg, South Africa in January 2007, Rebecca Farnum of the West Michigan Annual (regional) Conference said that "rather than focus on personal agendas, they spent time discerning God's direction for the church and the world."

We disagreed, but slowly learned to talk with each other, not over each other," she said.

Kira Volkova

It takes courage to admit you are a Protestant Christian in an Orthodox society where rituals and traditions can seem more important than personal relationships with God," she said.

"Young people want church to be a place where they can belong and be themselves. The United Methodist Church offers a place where you can grow and find support and understanding. It is where you feel included not excluded," she said.

Annie Arnoldy

Jason Rathod

Recounting the story of his grandfather who was born in a rural village in India and attended seminary in America with help from a United Methodist missionary's Sunday school class, Jason Rathod described his grandfather as a "twentieth century Francis Asbury who raised money for eleven Methodist churches and a Methodist hospital. Three of his sons also became preachers, he said.

Some say that this task is too great, that the church doesn't have the resources to make a big enough difference, but Scripture tells us to have strength and to "Be Not Afraid," because we can overcome any challenge."

Matt Lockett

Matt Lockett said, "What you do with what you have heard today is up to you. We aren't willing to let this responsibility wait until the 'future'. Love and faith in God requires action now. Love and faith in God requires interaction now. Are you willing to wait? Because we are not, We're ready. We're willing. What about you?"

The General Board of Discipleship'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 (www.gbod.org) 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.