Report: Young Adult Ecumenical Leaders Gathering—U.S. Conference for the WCC
Young Adult Ecumenical Leaders Gathering—U.S. Conference for the WCC
Washington Cathedral/College of Preachers
Washington, D.C—14-16 December 2007
Background
In October of 2007, David Fraccaro, Young Adult Ecumenical Formation Coordinator for the U.S. Conference of the WCC, in consultation with the Young Adult Task Force of the WCC, began planning for an intimate gathering of young adult ecumenical leaders from numerous WCC member churches in the U.S. to take place in December of 2007.
This meeting was to be a continuation of the young adult ecumenical conversation the U.S. Conference had been hosting, beginning with the Shift Your Space gathering in Chicago in 2005, to the Young Adult Task Force recommendations presented to the U.S. Board in San Jose in 2006, and the eventual hiring of the Young Adult Ecumenical Formation Coordinator, who is to assist in carrying forward the renewed vision of young adults in the ecumenical movement in the United States.
Purpose
It had been noted in past young adult gatherings, and confirmed by the young adult ecumenical formation coordinator, that there were three specific problems hindering the young adult ecumenical movement from growing: a general lack of awareness amongst the numerous young adult ecumenical initiatives by the U.S. Conference of the WCC and its partners, a subsequent duplication of efforts amongst these separate institutional, as well as grassroots initiatives, and difficulty sustaining momentum from which to build a lasting movement that gives renewed shape and voice to the ecumenical movement in the United States.
The December 2007 young adult ecumenical leaders gathering looked to bring together 15 young adult leaders from at least a dozen U.S. Conference member churches, representing several young adult ecumenical initiatives such as--ECHOS, WCC U.S. Conference Young Adult Task Force, former WCC-Geneva interns from the U.S., NCC-USA young adult participants, Young Adult Ecumenical Forum and Ecumenical Advocacy Days. It was the hope of the planning team for this event that these concerns would be addressed through: building stronger relationships amongst those represented, creating a greater awareness of young adult ecumenical initiatives throughout the U.S. and beyond, and mobilizing the numerous resources and talents at the table to ensure a sustainable movement for the future. Additionally, the gathering was strategically planned to coincide with the WCC General Secretary’s visit to the U.S., with the intent of an informal, shared dialogue between the General Secretary and young adult participants.
Discussion
The gathering began with an informal dinner on Friday evening, in which participants were able to meet, greet and enjoy one another’s company. Saturday morning began with common prayer, led by Katrice Noland of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc., then more formal introductions in which participants were encouraged to share their educational/theological background, ecumenical journey and formation, and joys/challenges of their ecumenical work as young adults. David Fraccaro, young adult formation coordinator for the U.S. Conference then spoke briefly about his observations from interacting with young adults from all of the various grassroots and institutional young adult ecumenical initiatives both in the U.S., as well as with WCC-Geneva young adult regional ecumenical organization connections. David commented that there were two particular themes for ecumenism that seemed to unite young adults everywhere: ecumenism through joint action in the world and ecumenism via inter-faith dialogue. David also noted six particular topics or regions of concern that garnered the most attention amongst young adults (in no particular order): immigration (answering the question-“Who is our neighbor?”), post-Katrina recovery, inter-faith dialogue, Middle-East peace and reconciliation, climate change (global warming and migration), and Africa (poverty, AIDS and genocide).
Meeting with the General Secretary
General Secretary Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia then joined the young adults for an informal lunch discussion, in which he shared his ecumenical journey, as well as the current challenges facing the WCC, including climate change, the Middle East peace process and WCC expanding relations with Pentecostals and Catholics. Young adults were then able to ask questions of the General Secretary, including the complex topic of Eucharistic relations amongst the member churches of the WCC and all Christians, and the challenges of making the global WCC recognizable and important to local affiliated congregations, theological institutions and universities.
Perceived Strengths and Weaknesses
After lunch an in-depth SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis was led by Michael Neuroth, co-chair of the Young Adult Task Force, and Ray Ranker of ECHOS who has also been a young adult leader within the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Numerous strengths were noted including: access to technology, resources and education, readiness to unite around action-oriented initiatives, blessings from member churches and a lack of excessive “baggage” in ecumenical relations. Opportunities included having the right people in the room, a growing inclusiveness of all Christians, and a political/societal climate in which there is “fertile ground to live out the gospel.”
In general there were fewer weaknesses and threats perceived by the young adults, though they were taken just as seriously. These included: lack of institutional memory, poor academic connections, potentially over-extending the movement, “reinventing the wheel,” creating an us vs. them dynamic, and lack of local level engagement. Specific questions and concerns that followed the analysis, centered around identifying a target audience, how to efficiently use the term, “ecumenical,” the challenges of connecting to the West Coast of the U.S. as well as Canada, identifying new and much needed sources of funding, and ensuring that the WCC be more intentional about reaching out to young adults. It was helpful to include insights from the WCC’s Program Executive for the United States, Rev. Deborah DeWinter, who encouraged engagement with young adult counterparts in other regions of the world.
Creation of a Young Ecumenists Website
It was agreed upon by everyone that the most effective tool to continue this discussion and to keep the momentum building was a U.S. Conference for the WCC young adult website. This website would be used primarily by 18-35 year old ecumenically-minded young adults in the U.S. (and eventually in other regions of the world, it is hoped) to build links amongst the numerous young adult ecumenical initiatives, post ecumenical opportunities and events for young adults (a calendar of which was created at this meeting), and give renewed shape and voice to the ecumenical movement through online discussion, blogging, pod casts and numerous other web-based resources. A seemingly endless number of possible names for the new website were discussed, the most promising being—faithconnects, faithwire and faithboat.
Closing and Next Steps
A celebratory reception was held in the evening in which participants were able to reflect and engage in deeper discussion, as well as exchange ideas and contact information for moving forward. The following morning, several of the participants were able to attend the General Secretary’s public presentation at The Forum held at the Washington Cathedral under the advertised topic, “A World at Stake: Can Churches Be Peacemakers?” (The Forum presentation may be viewed via a recorded web cast by visiting: http://www.cathedral.org/cathedral/centennial/SF071216.shtml)
Bringing Coherence Grounded in Faith, Action and Dialogue
The participants all agreed that the overall mission of the ecumenical young adult leaders, as representatives of the U.S. Conference of the WCC, is to bring greater coherence to a young adult ecumenical movement grounded in faith, action and dialogue. The gathering was an imperative continuation of this effort. The participants all recognize that there are many more voices that are coming to the table, and at the same time affirm that there is a real feeling of momentum toward a larger vision of renewed ecumenism in the United States and greater North America.
Sharing Ecumenical Opportunities and Events for Young Adults
Immediate steps in assuring this momentum continues include the creation of a list serve of as many ecumenically engaged young adults in the U.S. as possible with whom all 2008 young adult ecumenical opportunities and events will be shared. It will be the responsibility of all of the participants at the gathering to share this information with their respective networks, and bring other young adults into the greater movement. This list serve will eventually be added into the U.S. Conference young adult website (the name of which will be decided through an online consensus process by the participants), which looks to have a launch date of mid-March of 2008.
Working Towards a Young Adult Fundraising Initiative
It is also important to note that the discussion concerning a proposed fundraising initiative which began in 2007, has gained further commitment as a result of this young adult gathering. A small committee was formed to begin dialogue with the Development Committee of the US Conference to work towards the initiation of a young adult fundraising initiative designed to reach out to potential donors among ecumenically-engaged young adults, themselves.
US Conference-Related Young Adult Gathering in 2008
In addition to the numerous opportunities for young adult ecumenical engagement throughout each month of 2008, which the U.S. Conference office and fellow participants look forward to supporting, a follow up to the 2007 U.S. Conference young adult leaders gathering is anticipated to take place in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the US Conference in early December of 2008 which will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the WCC. In addition, there will be a young adult component planned at the upcoming 1-2 April 2008 joint meeting of the Canadian member churches and Board of the US Conference taking place in Toronto, Canada.
For further information, contact:
David Fracarro, Young Adult Ecumenical Formation Coordinator
United States Conference for the World Council of Churches
Email: DVF@wcc-coe.org
Telephone: 212-870-2192
