Anglican Youth Gathering Planned for Epiphany '88
Episcopal News Service. October 30, 1986 [86236]
BELFAST, Northern Ireland (DPS, Oct. 30) -- As the Wise Men traveled from different parts of the world to worship at the crib of the infant Jesus, so Epiphany 1988 will see youth from throughout the world-wide Anglican Communion gather together at Stranmallis Training College here for the first Inter-Anglican Youth Event.
The gathering itself will be held Jan. 3-8, 1988, but delegates will arrive earlier, spending the time from Dec. 29-Jan. 3 in a "hosting program" in Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales, living with families and learning about their lives and the life of the Church in those places.
A resolution from the Anglican Consultative Council 6 meeting which recommended the setting up of a Youth Communication Network sparked the drive for an Inter-Anglican Youth Event, seen by its organizers as a way of initiating such a network. If all 28 provinces of the Anglican Communion are able to send a full delegation, there will be 312 Anglicans between the ages of 18 and 28, as well as about 45 ecumenical participants. Quotas assigned to each province are based on those used for the Anglican Consultative Council.
The themes for the young people will reflect those Anglican bishops will be examining at the Lambeth Conference later in 1988: Mission and Ministry, Faith and Practice, Ecumenical Relations and Christianity and the Social Order. Part of the outcome of the gathering is expected to be an expression of the views of Anglican youth on these subjects to be sent to the bishops as part of their Lambeth preparations.
Planning for the Inter-Anglican Youth Event began last November, with a meeting of youth officers from around the Anglican Communion. Those attending represented 14 of the 28 provinces, and from their number was drawn a six-member planning group. They also discussed the purpose of the gathering, settling on 11 points: (1). Opportunity for Anglican young people to meet together globally (2). To build a global identity (3). To lessen isolation (4). To focus on issues affecting the Anglican Communion (5). To strengthen and broaden the worldwide network for the Anglican Communion and the ecumenical movement (6). To sensitize young people on issues affecting young people throughout the world and to involve youth in the awareness of peace and Justice (7). To enthuse and encourage our young people to a Gospel lifestyle and active commitment on their return home (8). Content should relate to issues that affect all of humanity (poverty, oppression, injustice, racism, peace and Justice) (i.e. an exposure program) (9). To encourage solidarity with the victims of humanity (10). To explore our Anglican perspective on worship, spirituality, understanding and experience of God and the sharing of our unique contribution to the present and future Church (11). To broaden the experience of young people and to facilitate exchange of views.
While some had argued for a site in a third world country, costs proved prohibitive, and Northern Ireland was viewed as, in many ways, a "bridge," with the work of the Church of Ireland for peace between warring factions in that country, according to the Rev. Canon Michael Jones, who represents Bobbie Bevill of the Episcopal Church Center staff on the planning group. The gathering has the enthusiastic backing of the Church of Ireland's Primate, the Most Rev. Robert Eames, who will welcome participants at the opening service, and of the Dean of Belfast's Cathedral, where an Epiphany service will be held for the young people.
Costs are still a problem, and those provinces most able to help are being called upon for assistance. The Church of England and the Episcopal Church are hoping to raise L25,000 (about $35,000) apiece, the Anglican Church of Canada L20,000, and the Church of Ireland, Scotland and Wales L10,000 each.
In speaking of what he hoped the young people who attended the gathering would bring home with them, Jones spoke of what he himself has gained from the planning meetings he has already attended: "It's created a sense of identity with all those places that get mentioned in the news. When I hear of a problem in Sri Lanka, I know someone there; when I hear of a problem in South Africa, I know someone there... I have a whole other sense of what's going on. I hope I have more compassion because I have heard 17 people share their perspectives."