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United Methodist Generation-Next Leaders Meet in Nashville

Elaine de Leon, Greater New Jersey Annual Conference.

(November 26, 2007, GBOD) — Elaine de Leon of the Greater New Jersey Annual (regional) Conference and seminary student at Wesley Seminary in Washington, D.C., has a passion for supporting young adult ministries. She came to the Summit to be heard. She finds value in getting to be a part of conversations that need to be heard in a place like this.

Like Elaine, 70-80 United Methodist young adult leaders from across the country are attending The General Board of Discipleship's (GBOD's) second Young Adult Leaders Summit meeting through Saturday in Nashville.

The Summit brings together young adult leadership from regional conferences across The United Methodist Church for networking, training, and empowerment.

"This event is a great way for young adult leaders to connect with other leaders engaged in similar responsibilities as their own to share insights, support, and ideas," says Bill Lizor, GBOD's director of Young Adult and Single Adult Ministries.

Sessions focused on current research, discipleship, and spiritual formation, and effective young adult ministry models.

To get an overview of current research, the group viewed the video, Generation Next: Speak Up, Be Heard, a research project developed by PBS and Films for the Humanities and Sciences.

According to the PBS website, "the aim of the Generation Next initiative is to unravel this generation of young people who are hooked to technology, generally supportive of gay rights and racial differences, partial to postponing adulthood and swamped in debt."

Bill Lizor leading a presentation on "Effective Models of Young Adult Ministry"

In addition to being both surprised and appreciative of the diversity in the places that were visited, the voices that were represented and the differing viewpoints, Elaine de Leon says she was glad the video talked about "the economic debt because that's a reality that is under talked about."

"I get the sense, especially as a young adult, that people believe that young adults leave the church to pursue careers -- because that's so much more important to them -- and to climb the corporate ladder. Some of the reality is that you have to have the job to pay off your college loans," she said.

Following a session on "Effective Models of Young Adult Ministry," led by Bill Lizor, participants engaged in conversation around developing a theology or paradigm for young adult ministry and a group process to identify, clarify, and prioritize resourcing needs related to young adult ministry.

"We're starting a young adult ministry group and council, so we want to get a good sense of what other groups are doing, what's working and what's not. We're hoping to get answers to questions and to leave with more questions," said Chris Naitland from Portland, Oregon, in the Oregon-Idaho Conference.

Carl Thomas Gladstone and Anna Stroud of the Wesley Project led worship and devotion time during the gathering. Gladstone has produced a digital release of Charles Wesley hymns that appeals to young adults in particular.

Regional church conferences could send 3-5 leaders of young adult ministries from any level -- conference, district and local church -- to the Summit.

The Summit got underway Thursday with an opening session led by Vance Ross, the associate general secretary for the Discipleship Ministries Division.

Ross challenged the young leaders to be proactive and to make a difference today. "Now is the time for young adults to take action," he said.

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 (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.