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Young People's Convocation to Use Berlin Location for Lessons on Unity

(NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 2, 2009/GBOD) — The scarce remnants of the Berlin Wall will serve as a meaningful backdrop for the Global Young People's Convocation and Legislative Assembly next July 21-26.

Elizabeth-Ann Rowlison

"It speaks to the kind of event we want to have, because of Berlin's history and its present, as a divided city that has united over the last 20 years and has had to overcome a lot of its history," she adds.

Mike Ratliff

"We are hoping to have 500 young people from throughout the United Methodist Church in Berlin for the five days," he says.

One purpose of the gathering is "to bring young leaders from throughout the church together to celebrate who they are as Christian leaders and to learn from one another," says Ratliff.

The Legislative Assembly portion "is the official place where young people can propose legislation and debate it and send it to the General Conference to consider," he adds.

"It's a way for youth and young adults to have a voice in the church through the legislative process," says Rowlison. "Any youth or young adult from around the world can propose resolutions or legislation and then delegates will vote on that legislation."

The deadline to propose legislation for consideration is Dec. 31.

The location of the event is critical. "We were drawn to Berlin because the city itself echoes our event theme of 'One Church, One Lord, One World,'" says Rowlison.

"We are hoping to use the site in a lot of different ways: Visit the Berlin Wall, there's a concentration camp outside the city that we can take the youth to, there's a Holocaust Memorial and a huge Jewish Museum that's really powerful," she says.

The idea "of different ideologies coming together to make a really modern progressive city" is something she and others involved hope the participants can use as a learning model.

The first such convocation that occurred during the New Year's holiday in 2006-07 similarly used the site of Johannesburg, South Africa, with its history of overcoming apartheid and growing stronger, according to Rowlison.

"It's about developing leadership among young people, raising the concerns and the passions of young people and giving them a voice in the church," says Rowlison, of the convocation and legislative assembly.

"It's part legislative process, part sharing of ideas and connecting young people to their peers from around the world and giving them a forum to discuss things that are of concern to young people around the world today."

For information about the convocation and how to support it through giving, visit www.globalyoungpeople.org or contact Rowlison at 303-947-3825.

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.

News Media Contact: Steve Horswill-Johnston, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 340-1726 or shorswill-johnston@gbod.org.