Youth as Congregational Leaders

Following is one of the pieces of legislation authored by members of the General Convention Official Youth Presence. LeeAnne Watkins is a priest and deputy from the Diocese of Minnesota who agreed to propose the legislation for the GCOYP.

There are two typical arguments against empowering youth with voice and vote on vestries and bishop's committees; 1) they won't understand the discussion and will be bored and 2) anyone less than 18 is too young to conduct legal business in our state.

As to the first, many adult members of congregational leadership entities are often bored or don't understand the complexities of some of the topics taken up at a vestry/bishop's committee meeting. Those of us who have been in ministry with congregations who have welcomed 16-18 year-olds in elected leadership positions have supported their participation by pairing them with a vestry/bishop's committee mentor to meet with them for preparation and follow-up, as well as helping them to engage and be recognized at meetings.

As to the legalities mentioned in the second excuse, many chancellors have advised us that taking care to limit a minor's ability to vote upon actions of legal matters generally takes care of the age factor. Please confer with your own chancellor for advice specific to your state.

The good news is, this legislation is important in the life of our church as we continue to work toward leadership development for ministry. It is relatively simple to amend by-laws to include a briefer term for a high school aged person to serve. The Constitutions and Canons of the Episcopal Church do recognize communicants as adults at age 16 with regard to voice and vote at annual meetings. I hope that in your diocese you can encourage, promote, and support more youth leadership at the congregational level. I welcome your questions and suggestions.You have my faithful prayers.

Blessings,

Bronwyn

* FINAL VERSION - Concurred

Resolution:	D065
Title:	Youth Seat, Voice and Vote on Vestry
Topic:	Youth
Committee:	14 - Ministry
House of Initial Action:	Bishops
Proposer:	The Rev. LeeAnne Watkins

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Resolved, the House of _______ concurring, That each congregation create at least one youth seat on their Vestry or Bishop's Committee. This seat(s) would include voice and vote for a one year term for a youth between the ages of sixteen and eighteen.

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That this 76th General Convention encourage congregations to consider including on their vestries or bishop's committees a seat for youth ages sixteen to eighteen with voice, and with vote except as prohibited by civil law.

EXPLANATION

This resolution encourages young people to more fully participate in the leadership of the Church and take on the responsibility that that entails. Young people given this opportunity have found that their participation has been a transformative experience and has been a meaningful opportunity to have their voices heard. This will give youth a sense of ownership in the Church and further encourages them to engage in Church leadership in the future. Taking youth leadership seriously must be a priority to maintain and grow the Church. It is vital for each congregation to nurture and support young people in their leadership activities in the Church.

OYP Authored Legislation

Several members of the Official Youth Presence tried their hands at authoring and shepherding legislation at the 76th General Convention of The Episcopal Church in Anaheim. They had help and support from several adult advocates for youth, including deputies from all over the church attending convention, and from diocesan youth ministry coordinators who responded to a request for help on the DYMC listserve.

The piece of legislation that got the most attention was one for Official Youth Presence Vote; Resolution D066. The Committee on Structure gave the resolution a very favorable hearing. Sam Gould, Deputy from Massachusetts (GCOYP Alumnus 2006), introduced the legislation and yielded the microphone to one of the Official Youth Presence young men who co-wrote the resolution. When he completed his introduction, stating he knew that there were some constitutional and/or canonical issues that needed to be worked through, the committee chair invited questions from committee members. A wonderful exchange followed. Several other individuals spoke in favor of the resolution with one person speaking against.

For the most part the committee was in favor of finding a way to add vote to the seat and voice already granted to the Official Youth Presence. Concerns were raised about electing vs. the current method of selecting individuals to be included as members of the OYP. Others observed that currently there is very intentional diversity in the selection process that might be lost if they were to shift to an election process. Concerns over how OYP votes might impact votes by orders on the floor were also flagged as problematic.

The committee ultimately recommended that the resolution be passed with amendments and referrals so that process, canonical, and constitutional issues could be addressed in committee between this General Convention and the next. Once D066 hit debate on the floor of the House of Deputies there was fantastic support and sentiment, as well as an over-riding sense that there were too many problems with the current resolution to pass it. My understanding is that the resolution was discharged to Constitutions and Canons. It was a frustrating outcome for the young people and those who were working with them.

The other legislation that was authored by OYP members was Resolution D065, Youth Seat, Voice and Vote on Vestries. The Committee on Ministry gave this resolution a wonderful hearing as well. Several of the young women in the OYP spoke to the committee and fielded many questions about how to encourage and support more youth participation on Vestries and Bishop's Committees. The committee recommendation was to adopt the resolution, which the House of Bishops was willing to do, and then sent the resolution to the Deputies asking them to concur. As far as we know the resolution never made it on to the calendar for the House of Deputies and was not acted upon. We think it will be referred to a CCAB, but we aren't sure.

What I learned from all of this activity is that although we are making progress toward empowering more young people to take on leadership positions, including claiming seat, voice, and vote in the counsels of our church, we still have a long way to go. I am committed to supporting those who are willing to keep this movement going forward rather than going on hiatus between this General Convention and the 77th in 2012.

Political action in our church is not everyone's cup of tea. But those of us pledged to advocate for young people in our church need to be vigilant and active in encouraging, supporting, educating, and connecting our young people and their allies. Care to join us?

You can begin by asking your deputation about these two pieces of legislation when they report to your diocese. You can help the leadership in your congregation select or elect young people into leadership positions and then mentor them in that activity, rather than letting them grow confused and bored. You can educate and empower young people through participation in your own diocesan convention. Please share your progress and your questions by sending comments to the EpiscoYouth blog. I'll do my best to keep us up to speed.

Blessings upon you and your ministry.

Faithfully,

Bronwyn

Address to House of Deputies: Part II

The Official Youth Presence discerned two young people to address the House of Deputies. Zach Brown (Diocese of Upper South Carolina, Province IV) spoke first, followed by Carolyn Chou (Diocese of Pennsylvania, Province III). Following are Carolyn's written remarks delivered on Monday, July 13.

Good morning Madame President and the House of Deputies and thank you for the opportunity to speak to you.

I have been fortunate to be involved with the Episcopal Church at a parish, diocesan, and national level. However, the church’s response to my involvement in events, discussions, and activities not labeled for youth has been disheartening. As youth, it is our job to prove ourselves in the church, but it is your job to give us the chance to do that.

So often we have been pushed aside or not been allowed to voice our opinions under the impression that we do not have the maturity or knowledge to make decisions and hold opinions on issues that the Episcopal Church faces every day. We may be young but if it is something that is important to us we will gain the knowledge and use our thoughtfulness to best serve the church.

We are young. We are idealistic. We can change the world.

I truly believe there is no better way to get youth involved in the church than through outreach and activism. If we can connect the issues surrounding equality and justice that intrigue youth and combine them with the church, we can create a movement that extends beyond the church and extends God’s love to the world.

We as youth are constantly looking for outlets to express ourselves, to find others who have similar values and interests, to give a voice to our opinions, and to find ways to engage the world. If the church can pull youth in and provide them with these outlets, we will stay. But we need to see a church that reflects our lives and our world and the issues that affect us.

When I see all the amazing things organizations in the church are doing to better our cities, country, and world, I am overwhelmed. But why is it that so few youth in my diocese, and I can only assume internationally, have never heard of these organizations and have no way to get involved? Creating youth focused, youth based, and youth run social justice and service campaigns will help engage youth who have not yet found the resources the church offers outside of their parishes. There needs to be a balance of youth focused activities that are accessible and accessibility to all church events without a “youth” label.

How many young people act as ushers and acolytes in your church? How many young people serve in some capacity on your vestry? How many young people have you seen at a diocesan convention? These are easy ways to get youth involved in leadership activities not always reserved for youth.

As we move into college and the next phase of our lives, we have always heard that people lose their faith, stop going to church at this time. By making the church relevant and applicable to youth and young adults, we will not only get more involved in the church, but campus ministry can pick up again and we can maintain the young adult population as they move through transitions.

As deputies to convention, as parishioners, as members of a diocese and a province and an international church, show us how much you really trust and respect us. Be an active member in the lives of the youth in your church, your diocese, and beyond. The conversations and the support you can provide will encourage youth to get involved and stay involved. It will make the Episcopal Church more than just a home every Sunday. It will become what it has become for us—something worth dedicating time and energy toward, something worth trying to make better.

Encourage us to tell our story. By making our stories valued and appreciated parts of the life of the church, you are quickly making us a larger part of the family—integrating us will keep us around.

We are young. We may sometimes make mistakes. We may not always see things the way you do. But by making youth a priority for this church and this faith will insure the growth and sustaining of this amazing church. Do not expect us to always approach things the way you do, but expect us to take the responsibility you give us and make a difference.

Let us create movements for youth and young adults to keep them in the church, and let us include them fully in the life of the church. We are not just the future but the present. Let us be a part of the present and let us share our values and stories with you.

The Episcopal Church is my home and I have always felt welcomed. But the church needs to challenge itself to be a true home to youth—a supportive, enthusiastic network. We definitely have opinions; just take the time to listen.

Lastly, I want to invite Zach back to the podium.

We know that the decisions that will be made over the next week will be hard and that no matter what happens, some will be hurt. I stand before you as a proud liberal and Zach stands next to me as a proud conservative. But here we are. Standing together, sharing our stories, united in our mission. We hope that you remember this as the convention moves forward—no matter what, we are all in this together. We are the Episcopal Church and we will stand together. Let us be one before God and let us move forward listening to the Spirit as we make these hard choices.
Thank you.

Address to House of Deputies: Part I

The Official Youth Presence discerned two young people to address the House of Deputies. Zach Brown (Diocese of Upper South Carolina, Province IV) spoke first, followed by Carolyn Chou (Diocese of Pennsylvania, Province III). Following are Zach's written remarks delivered on Monday, July 13.

Good Morning Madame President…

And Good Morning House of Deputies my name is Zach Brown from Diocese of Upper South Carolina, Province 4. And for those of you wondering… I have checked with the President and The Vice President of the House to make sure that this morning I am NOT out of order.

I would like to call your attention to the information we received from President Anderson yesterday stating the percentages on Deputation. It states that deputation 25 and under represents 2% of deputation for the entire House of Deputies. In my opinion that tells me at least on this level youth are not very involved. This is troubling to me.

For so long I have been told what I could and could not do because of my age… And let me tell I hate being told what I cannot do.

Let me now point out what the Adults cannot do…

You cannot grow the Episcopal Church without the youth. You cannot fund the Episcopal Church without the youth. You cannot see the Episcopal Church without the youth. You cannot hear the Episcopal Church without the youth.

You’re probably asking me for justification of these points. And I will gladly give it. I was told once “The youth are the future of the Church.” That is totally 100% incorrect “The youth are the Church.”

That is how I justify the previous statements. Without the youth there is NO Church, so I ask you without a Church how would it grow, be funded, be seen, or be heard??

I think about Youth Involvement in The Episcopal Church and there are numbers to show how little we are involved.

Here is my last fun fact and this one blows me away. Look at your name tag… Under your name is a red bar with Deputy in black letters in that red bar. That means you as a Deputy have seat, voice, and vote on the floor of This Convention. Now I look down at my name tag and I have that same red bar with Deputy in it… but I cannot vote…. Interesting.

I love the Episcopal Church, one day I want to get married in this church, I want to bring up my children in this church, and I hope my funeral is officiated by an Episcopal priest. For this all to happen our Church has to do something that is hard for all Episcopalians… EVANGELISM.

I keep hearing members of The Church say we have to mean it when we say The Episcopal Church Welcomes You… Agreed we have to mean it but that means actually saying it out loud. Talking about your Jesus at PTA meetings, the grocery store, the golf course, and even Bingo… You know the concept of talking about Jesus, outside of Church. Something that often gets lost in discussions with friends and family.

Now I can talk about Youth Involvement, and Evangelism all day. I imagine there are several people in this room who would love to argue against almost everything I have said today.

That is a good thing; we are a Church with lots of difference of opinion. But I do ask you to agree with the major points of my speech today. That youth need to be more involved in our Church so that our Church may grow and prosper.

Also that Evangelism needs to be part of the Episcopal vocabulary and we MUST enact that word in our everyday lives.

I have told you that the youth are the leaders of today. So now I ask you, “Will you let them be?”

House of Bishop's Address: Part I

The Official Youth Presence discerned two young people to address the House of Bishops. Michael Sahdev (Diocese of Southeast Florida, Province IV) spoke first, followed by Grace Aheron (Diocese of Southwest Virgina, Province III). Following are Michael's written remarks delivered on Saturday, July 11. (Sorry this one posted so far after the fact - we were experiencing technical difficulties :)


Hello my name is Michael Sahdev from St. Benedict's in the Diocese of Southeast Florida. Thank you for allowing me to address the House of Bishops. Please hear my words and put them into action.

Too many Christians are no longer fishers of people but keepers of the aquarium. Is that what we, the Episcopal Church, have become. According to the Blue Book and the statistics in attendance then yes, that is exactly what we have become. Jesus called us to be fishers of people, to go out into the world and preach the good news to every living creature.
If that was what we were doing then most of our provinces wouldn’t have a decline in membership. Lets think about just how serious a lack of evangelizing is. What does it mean for the Episcopal Church? Well membership will continue its strong decline, parishes will struggle to stay open, and how long will it be before we have a diocese collapse completely? And once a diocese goes the entire Episcopal Church will struggle, and then the unthinkable; the Episcopal church is no more.

Not only does this obviously hurt us as a church but it hurts the rest of the world. People who needed the Episcopal church will only fall deeper into sin and will never know Christ. According to the Blue Book the total change in our membership is a decrease in 148,197 members from
2003 to 2007. Could it be the fact that we as Episcopalians haven’t been doing our part in evangelizing has caused this? And please don’t take my word for it, an article on Episcopal Life Online published in March 2009 reported that relatively few Episcopal churches say that their members are heavily involved in recruiting new members. Only 21% say their members are involved "quite a bit" or "a lot." We can have the best services the best sermons and the best music, but none of it matters if no one knows it exists.

I have found that many people, especially youth, have never even heard of the Episcopal Church. The youth of the world are in fact a great opportunity for us to gain membership in the church. The youth today need this church, we are constantly tempted into sin through the Internet, television, our peers, and society as a whole. Other youth are out looking for something that will make them whole, something that will lift them up, why not let it be Christ. The fact is youth today are looking for the church whether they know it or not, but it is up to us to make it noticeable and welcoming to them.

So just how can we do this?

Well we were off to a good start with The Episcopal Church Welcomes You signs, but instead of just saying it, let's mean it. When there’s a visitor to a church it needs to be a big deal, we need to show them that they are welcomed, and that even though we might not have ever seen them before, we love them. And with the Episcopal Church welcomes you signs why not instead of putting those signs in front of the church put them everywhere? Billboards, bus stops, malls , anywhere people will see them. There are many other denominations that even put out ads on television . I know everything costs money, but the old saying goes you have to spend it to make it, and I believe if we put forth the money to show people we're out here and we want you to be in our family, those collection plates every Sunday will be getting heavier and heavier.

It's time we leave the safety of the aquarium and not just go out into the world, but dive into it and make a big splash. Let's make it so people have to go, "Geez! What is the Episcopal Church, and why are they so welcoming?" We can be fishers of people but we have to go fishing. I think a lot of people think evangelizing is more of a 'good deed of the day' type of thing. Where you feel better about yourself because you shared your testimony to someone last week, when in reality we should be treating evangelism like we do prayer, as an ordinary routine thing that is just part of being a Christian.

So once we stop relying on fish to swim in on their own, how do we keep them for more than a Sunday or two? One way is very simple, with love and personal connection. Youth and young adults need to make a connection right away. My generation is used to having the world at their fingertips with only a click. The first impression is the decision maker for us. Let's get people involved. I brought a friend to church and because he was invited to do so many things he felt he had an obligation to come back. Another way of doing this is by having a worship service that is "youth friendly." And worship can’t end with the service.

We need more groups and events like New Beginnings, Happening, Cursillo, the EYE’s and Provincial events. These type of things especially impact youth because you see a wider church and you realize, "Hey, I'm not alone in my church, there are other Episcopal youth like me out there."

Bishops you must lead the way for all of us because as the heads of the church we look to your example. We do a lot of talking about the second coming when half the world hasn’t heard about the first. But we can change that. We can change the fact that when you go on Google and type in Episcopal Evangelism the first link on the page reads "Episcopal Evangelism: An Oxymoron."

Let's start saving people from the sharks of the world. Bishops the youth of the world especially need you today, and in turn you need us as well. Our world is one filled with sin covered in darkness that aims to keep the church away from us. You, with Christ, must be the candle to enlighten our world and bring the rest of us back home to the Father. In President John F. Kennedy’s New Frontier speech, he opened the eyes of our nation to the possibility of a greater country than could have ever been imagined by the preceding generation. Bishops, clergy, lay people, youth and young adults, today the Episcopal Church is looking at a new frontier, filled with opportunity not yet imagined. It is ours for the taking. We have the opportunity to go out into the shark filled waters and bring home boat loads, just as Christ commissioned us long ago . Our church has come so far and yet I believe the best is yet to come. I envision a growing church filled with a generation hungry for spirituality, experiencing Christ through the sacraments in our magnificent Episcopal tradition.

Some would like us to believe that our declining membership and social conflicts signal our darkest of days. But the light can and will shine through. The Great Commission is our New Frontier. I am asking you, the leaders of our church, to inspire us to share the Good News, lead us in our journey into the New Frontier, empower us to be fishers of people.

Listen to our call and put these words into action. If we continue to build on youth involvement in the church, keep youth as a priority to this church, and step up our commitment to evangelize, then I can promise you the future is brighter than ever. Help us to not just be Keepers of the Aquarium, but Fishers of All people.

House of Bishop's Address: Part II

The Official Youth Presence discerned two young people to address the House of Bishops. Michael Sahdev (Diocese of Southeast Florida, Province IV) spoke first, followed by Grace Aheron (Diocese of Southwest Virgina, Province III). Following are Grace's written remarks delivered on Saturday, July 11.


I love this church. It is part of my identity and has taught me to love and serve the Lord. I don’t presume to think that I, one 18-year-old Virginian girl, can offer much advice to a room full of bishops. So, I’m not here to tell you how I think you should run things. I can, however, offer you something that you do not have—my unique perspective.


Eighteen of you ladies and gentlemen out there have an official youth representative that hails from your diocese. In our comparatively short lives, I can assure you that we have done as much for the church as most adults have. So, my first request is that if there is a youth presence from your diocese, get to know them, pray for them, give them your time. For those of you who do not have a youth presence here from your diocese, do not despair! Please, everyone, come and join us. For the rest of our time here, I think you should all set a goal for yourselves to speak with at least one member of the Official Youth Presence. Use us as a resource for youth ministries. We are here to be the voices for the youth in this convention. So come and let our voices be heard.



When all of you do come and talk to us, we will most likely tell you about how deeply our lives have been changed by the youth programs of the Episcopal Church. My spiritual journey began in the youth programs of my diocese, and it was there also that I learned how to see God in every part of life. It was there that I learned about selflessness and service. And it was there that I learned that changing the world doesn’t mean treating AIDS victims in Africa, but that I can change one person’s world, one young person’s world, by simply being there to listen to them. What saddens me, then, is that all Episcopal youth are not given the same opportunities that I have been given. Every diocese in the Episcopal Church should have a youth program. I know that many of you are rolling your eyes or gently laughing at my naïveté, thinking, “Silly girl, she doesn’t understand what she’s asking.” And you’re right. I don’t understand budgets or much about money or tithing or pledges.



But there are some things I do understand. I understand what it’s like to package 80,000 meals to feed starving children. I understand what it’s like to find and return a woman’s wedding veil in the wreckage of Hurricane Katrina and hold her hand as she thanks God for his indelible grace. I understand what it’s like for youth events to be a safe-haven for kids with abusive or neglecting parents. I understand what it’s like to feel the power of the Holy Spirit moving so boldly inside you that you feel like you can conquer the world. And it’s not just me having these experiences. Episcopal youth across the world are encountering Christ every day, raising their voices in praise and accepting God into their lives.



Strong youth programs produce empowered youth—and that’s a fact. The official youth presences here have accomplished much for this church, but what would our church look like if every young person had the opportunity to do what we have done? It would be breathtaking. Not only would the Episcopal Church be a different place, but the world would be different, too. Give us a place in your dioceses. It can all start with you—you all have that power. Set aside money in the budget for the youth. Start youth events. Hire youth workers. Visit other diocese with strong youth programs. Talk to the young people present here this week in California. There are endless resources at your fingertips. I have seen in my own diocese how strong bishop support of youth programs can ignite youth ministries, and I can say with all confidence that our success has come from the fact that Bishop Powell is behind us 150%.


Bishops of the church, I do not only ask you to support us, but I ask you to join us. Come out and rage in the streets. Scream with us. Come and worship God with reckless abandon. The energy is infectious, I promise you. And I also promise that if you come with an open heart, you will be readily received.




I have taught my bishop how to use his laptop, he has prayed at my bedside in the hospital, and I have taken communion from his hands on a mountaintop surrounded by the glory of God’s creation. And that has made all the difference for me. So when I ask you to invest in us, I’m not only talking about money. Invest your time, your talents, your goofiness, your charisma, and your knowledge of God.


I await the day when the presence of a bishop at a youth event is no longer an honor, but a certainty. I want all of you to able to say that the youth in your diocese are doing amazing things, but what I really want is for you to be able to say that the youth in your diocese are doing amazing things, and that you were with them every step of the way.




They say that young people think they know everything— and that is no curse. We are yet unburdened by the decorum and expectations of society. For many of us, life has dealt a difficult hand, yet it is not enough to bring us down. We are unstoppable. With our youthfulness, comes our undying sense of hope and belief. There is no discouragement or bitterness among us, for, as young people, we still hold on to our fresh, optimistic view of the world. Do you remember that feeling? This is a generation of empowered young men and women and I feel their hearts with me right now. Young people can do things that adults think are impossible because we do not yet believe in any impossibility. I beg you to come and experience this. What do you have to lose?


I know we are living in a time of tight budgets and slashed programs. It’s getting scary out there. And I know that it would be extremely easy to slash through budgets for your young people. Please, don’t give up on us. The eighteen young people here are a testament to the fact that youth ministries works. I know with every fiber of my being that if you come to us, if you come and join us, if you come and put faces on the “Youth” line-item on your diocesan budget, then you will never dream of cutting anything. If you come, you will understand.


Experiences in youth ministries didn’t change my life—they gave me life. Please, don’t take that opportunity away from other young people. I believe in the youth of this world and I have seen the Holy Spirit transform teenagers into instruments of God’s peace.


Bishops of the church, my brothers and sisters, come and meet us today, come and live with us today, so that our church can continue to be filled with our spirit tomorrow. You are all doing amazing things for this church, and I can say “thank you” right now. But the best way that I can really thank you is to live out my life spreading goodwill to the rest of the world. There are thousands of kids out there just like me with the potential to immerse the world in our love and energy. It is up to us to give them that chance. Let’s open the flood gates.

The picture is the Official Youth Presence with the Presiding Bishop, The Most Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori, prior to the Sunday morning General Convention Celebration of Holy Eucharist and United Thank Offering "Ingathering."

The following is the address given to the Episcopal Church Women Triennial gathering on Friday morning by Jacqueline Bray (Province VIII) and Amy Esposito (Province I).

Good morning! My name is Jacqueline Bray. I am 18 years old and a member of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in the Diocese of San Diego.

Hello! My name is Amy Esposito. I am 16 years old and a member of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Rhode Island. Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to speak with you today. We are very excited to be here at our first General Convention and look forward to learning more about the church during our time here. Also, thank you for the support you give to the youth throughout the Episcopal community and beyond. To be honest though, I had never heard of ECW before the Official Youth Presence training weekend in Atlanta. I did my research and I would love to be a part of this family. It is inspirational that this marks the 46th triennial meeting of this faith community.

(Jackie) As a young child, I never understood why I wasn’t allowed to acolyte till the golden age of 10. It didn’t seem fair that I wasn’t allowed to do work in the church, merely based on the years I’ve been on the planet. One Sunday when I was in the fourth grade, Father Sean Cox was giving a sermon and he said I was a sage that had taught him things. I was so confused as to why he would compare me to that of a plant, but once that issue was sorted out, I was so empowered. Empowered in that, despite my age, I taught this adult something, I mattered, and from then on, I pushed the limits that exist in the minds of some older Episcopalians.

(Amy) I have grown up in the Episcopal Church. I can always remember attending Sunday service with my family. A couple of years ago I noticed that every Eucharist minister at my Parish was somewhere over 35 years old. I asked our Rector if I could be a chalice bearer and she seemed surprised that a youth would even be interested in serving as a chalice bearer. As soon as I turned 16, I began serving as a Eucharistic Minister at my Parish. Taking on this leadership position has given me an entirely new aspect of the Eucharist as well as a chance to show my Parish that the youth can be responsible leaders in the Church.

(Jackie)The Official Youth Presence met in Atlanta in April to meet each other and discuss what is most important to us in the Episcopal Church. The three topics that are of the most interest to us are Youth Involvement in the Church, Evangelism and Outreach and Human Rights. First and foremost, the Official Youth Presence would love to see more support for youth involvement in the church.

(Amy) All 18 of us are very involved in the church community, but have also been faced with limitations because of our age. Although at 16 we are considered adults in the Episcopal Church, the Official Youth Presence is not offered a vote at General Convention and some of the youth have been denied Vestry membership and other leadership positions at their churches because of their age.

(Jackie) We hope to achieve more support for youth involvement in the church at this General Convention by showing you that we don’t have apathy and the matters of our church are important to us. We believe that every Parish should have a Youth Representative on their Vestry. Having a younger opinion on the matters of the Church is important to fuel new ideas. With the advancements in our school systems and the rate at which we move through materials in our schools these days, we are able understand financial structures much more easily than is assumed of us. And everyone’s first concern is always about money. But we lose focus in the ministry. God will provide if we fill people’s hearts with the faith and the glory of God, and sometimes as adults, you lose sight of that.

(Amy) As well as encouraging support for Youth involvement in the church community, the Official Youth Presence would like to focus on Evangelism. According to the Blue Book, from 2003 to 2007 Sunday morning Service attendance has declined 10.5%, and we believe that it is important to promote the Episcopal Church to those of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures. Having a variety of different church services with different rites, styles and music can grow the Episcopal Church. I’m not saying you have to enjoy a 5 p.m. contemporary service with guitars, but if we are all open and willing to the different ways that God moves through people, we can expand the Episcopal Church to new brothers and sisters in Christ.

(Jackie) The third topic we would like to encourage in the Church is Outreach and Human Rights. We believe that outreach into the community, locally, nationally, and internationally is important. Most Episcopal churches are open only during hours of worship. Imagine if all Episcopal Churches were seven day a week churches. With grounds open to Boy Scouts, AA, Al-anon youth groups and even others faith communities; we would put the Episcopal Church on the map as an inclusive and supportive community for every one of God’s children.

(Amy) I traveled to New Orleans with the St. Martin’s Youth Group during my Spring break and worked through All Souls Church in the lower ninth ward. Together we worked on removing graffiti from the walls of All Soul’s Church, a renovated Walgreen’s, sanding dry wall in a newly reconstructed home and tutoring elementary school children. Seeing the lower ninth ward and meeting so many people who live there I became aware of how much help is still needed in New Orleans. The work that the ECW is doing with the Jericho Road Housing Initiative in New Orleans is amazing.

(Jackie) There are also easier ways to care about Human Rights without leaving your neighborhood, such as Fair Trade Certified goods. Fair Trade products make sure that people around the world are getting fair wages for their work, instead of big companies exploiting developing countries. Making sure you buy fair trade certified is a simply way that you can help people around the world. Puerto Rico’s ECW also does work with transporting basic needs to other nearby islands and providing support for people. On holidays they provide food and happiness to sailors that live on their boats during hard times.

(Amy) Now this isn’t about us as two individuals, it’s about us as a community of youth that yearn for an equal voice in the Episcopal Church. We have amazing potential to do great things and most of us have already started. The passion and faith we have in our hearts is immeasurable, but the support we have is dwindling. We believe it is important to involve younger women in ECW. The ECW is a fantastic group involved in our community and having after work or after church meetings would allow younger women in Christ to participate in such an inspiring group.

(Jackie) We were shocked to discover that the average age of deputies at General Convention is 65 and only 2% of people at this convention are under 25 years of age. Among the 18 official youth presence we are head acolytes, vestry members, and Sunday school teachers. We have organized Diocesan youth events and started Acolyte Olympics. Together we are the leaders of the Church. With our new and fresh ideas, we could fuel the growth of the Episcopal Church at an alarming rate. We aren’t the church of the future. We are the church of today. By listening to what the youth have to say and giving them the opportunities to lead, the Episcopal Church could grow and flourish in new and exciting ways that it has never experienced.

(Amy) As young women leaders in the church we ask for your encouragement as we grow and learn in our faith. We ask for your prayers as we continue to do good work and make a difference for youth and women alike.

Thank you again for this wonderful opportunity to speak to you. We appreciate all your support for young people in the Church and we look forward to doing good work with our newfound sisters in Christ.

What is Official Youth Presence?

The Official Youth Presence participating in General Convention 2009 is a group of amazing, passionate, articulate, diverse, mature, faithful, respectful, intuitive, intelligent, humorous, playful, hardworking teenage Episcopalians. I could go on, feeling quite proud and thoroughly blessed to be a companion on the way with these fascinating young people.



This particular group is quite diverse in their cultural heritage, theological perspective, geographic location, political leanings, congregational experience, and level of diocesan or provincial involvement. Their care for one another as fellow human beings, in how they deliberate over controversial issues, is a process to behold. They are gentle and direct; passionate and respectful. Their witness will serve the church well, especially in these divisive and polarized times.



There are many misconceptions about the Official Youth Presence. The group is not a political action committee, a group of lobbyists, or a special interest voting block. If fact, they have no vote and are not deputies, although they are official members of the House of Deputies. The group met in April to discuss their common passions and agreed upon the main themes for their speaking opportunities. Each member of the OYP speaks for her or himself. They are skilled in using "I" statements and are careful not to characterize their opinions as those held by fellow OYP members in general. Despite their carefulness in speaking, their statements are often misattributed by some media sources as being those of the Official Youth Presence.



Below are the three resolutions that helped establish, form, and mandate what the Official Youth Presence has become. Soon we will begin posting the text of their addresses to various bodies of General Convention. Please keep these courageous young people in your prayers as we continue to deliberate and worship together at General Convention in Anaheim.



Faithfully Submitted,

Bronwyn Clark Skov

Program Officer Lifelong Christian Formation and Youth



Resolution # 1982-B045 Concurred as amended at GC 1982, New Orleans

Title: Invite a Youth Presence at Future General Conventions

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 67th General Convention of the Episcopal Church through the administration of the National Church invite a youth presence as a permanent part of all future General Conventions of the Episcopal Church.



Resolution #1994-D115 Concurred as Amended at GC 1994, Indianapolis

Title: Support Seat and Voice for Youth at Church Conventions

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 71st General Convention allow, support, and accept seat, and voice, for the official Youth Presence of the General Convention; and be it further Resolved, That seat, and voice, be allowed, supported, and accepted for youth at their respective diocesan conventions.



Resolution #2000-D027 Adopted GC 2000, Denver

Title: Amend House of Deputies Rule XV.60(a)[Official Youth Presence on Floor]

Resolved, That the house of Deputies Rule 60(a) be amended, with an additional sentence as follows:

In addition, up to 18 youth (not more than two youth from each Province) who are duly authorized representatives known as the Official Youth Presence, shall have seat and voice in a designated section on the floor of the House.



Each resolution above appears as received from an Archives Research Report.

Day 2

Many blessings today . . . . .

Young people shared "I am . . ." poems at worship this morning that were beautiful, expressive, vulnerable, informative and faithful - their first form of Public Narrative practice for telling their stories to the church. Eucharist was simple, accessible, personal, meaningful and hopeful.

We connected with many, many friends today - mostly brief encounters as we moved from one place to another. That is the nature of how the GCOYP moves through convention - nimble, attentive, determined. These faithful servants are already working hard, supporting each other, and praying together, embracing their diversity and the depth of their experiences.

We prayed tonight for wisdom, endurance, and grace. We offered thanks for an abundance of Godly moments today in our many encounters and experiences.

God is good and we are truly blessed.

GenCon2009

Greetings from the Convention Center Hilton in Anaheim, California, site of The Episcopal Church's 76th General Convention. I am here as one of nine adults resourcing the Official Youth Presence, a General Convention mandated group of 18 teenagers, two from each of our nine Episcopal Provinces, representing their peers from the floor of the House of Deputies. This will be my second time serving the greater church in this capacity and it is a challenge and a blessing.

Today the blessing was the safe arrival of all 27 of us from as close as an hour's drive away to those from Ecuador, Connecticut, the Carolinas, Switzerland, and many places in between.The challenges included the enthusiastic and exhausted mix of energy as we met tonight, some language barriers, and anticipated anxiety over responsibilities for the days to come.

We are also trying to embrace the opportunities and limitations that technology present. We are encouraged to Blog and Twitter, yet our cell phones don't work well in many of the buildings and we are not to be wired when on the floor of the House of Deputies. That's perfectly understandable and reasonable. Yet the connection costs in our hotel rooms are well beyond our budget for this event.I am looking into the possibility of quickly establishing a Blog for the Youth Presence, but it will be a group process and decision that we will embrace in the next couple of days to come. I'll keep you posted.

In the mean time I ask for your prayers that we be open to all, respectful of all, attentive to where the Spirit is leading us, and that we not loose sight of our call to mission in a broken world in the example and teaching of Jesus.

Thank you.