Belfast Gathering Gets Foundation Gift
Episcopal News Service. July 16, 1987 [87153]
NEW YORK (DPS, July 16) -- In May 1987, The Episcopal Church Foundation awarded $40,000 to cover the full share of the Episcopal Church's contribution to the Inter-Anglican Youth Conference. Over 300 Anglican young adults are expected to attend the event from Dec. 29, 1987 through Jan. 8, 1988 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Episcopal Church will send 18 representatives, two from each of the nine provinces, to the first-time event.
"It is our hope," said the Rev. Canon Michael Jones, Episcopal representative to the conference planning team, "that a continuing network for Anglican young adults throughout the world will be developed as a result of this meeting."
"Because the themes to be explored will be those of the 1988 Lambeth Conference," Jones said, "this event will link our representatives to the ongoing efforts and discussions of our bishops and the Anglican Communion as a whole. Equally important is the new awareness and sensitivity to issues facing Christians and others that these 18 young adults will carry back with them to their peers in this country."
The themes of the conference include questions about the ministry of the church and renewal and mission as they affect young adults; young people's ecumenical involvements; and church/state, rich/poor and moral/ethical issues which face young people today. The group will submit their findings, conclusions and suggestions to the 1988 Lambeth Conference, for inclusion in the bishops' deliberations.
"The opportunity to broaden their vision of the church will be of great value to these future leaders and to the Episcopal Church, and, we hope, through their sharing, an experience that will reach many of our young adults unable to attend the conference," said Jeffry Kitross, executive vice president of the Episcopal Church Foundation.