Youth, bishop share questions, dialogue; confirmation classes gather to share ideas,

By Patti Splitgerber
Hoosier UM News Correspondent

"You never know what they're going to ask!" Bishop Woodie W. White has said, regarding his annual meeting with the youth.

The Bishop's North Conference Confirmation Rally, held Saturday, March 10, at Main Street UMC in Peru, attracted over 300 participants. Pastors, youth directors, parents and mentors came along with the students who are in the process which leads to Confirmation at churches all over both Indiana Conferences. A part of that process involves an afternoon with their bishop which, for many of the youth, is their first opportunity to get to know him.

According to the Rev. C. Jack Scott, pastor at Columbia City UMC and coordinator of the North Conference Council on Youth Ministries, Bishop White fielded some tough questions from the youth, including "Where is hell," "Did God create evil," and "How old are you?"

One group, with 15 confirmation students and five adults in attendance was St. Matthew UMC, Frankfort. The Rev. Lore Gibson, associate pastor, is one of three confirmation teachers who lead the group in teams of two. The class, consisting of seventh and eighth graders, meets for 39 weeks on Sunday mornings using the new Cokesbury curriculum, Claim the Name. In addition to these leaders, each student works with a mentor twice a month. There are four prayer partners within the church praying for each student daily by name. And, once a month a Sunday school class for the student's parents is also held.

Confirmation is a process Gibson believes should be shared by the entire church. Senior pastor, John Wortinger, agrees, adding that the use of mentors, especially, is "important in helping adults give expression to their faith."

The class also participates in retreats, field trips, worship experiences and service projects together. The night before the Confirmation they meet with their parents and mentors for a banquet and service of blessing.

Another group in attendance at the meeting with the bishop was Brushwood UMC. Brushwood is a smaller church than St. Matthew. Its confirmation class only consists of three girls. Dennis Ticen, pastor, formerly served as an associate at Muncie High Street UMC, and therefore knows and agrees with the approach taken by Gibson at St. Matthew and leaders at other large churches.

There are many similarities here. Ticen is also using Claim the Name. His students also participate in field trips, worship experiences and service projects. But Ticen is not using mentors or co-teachers, although he does have some assistants.

He meets with his class every other week on Monday afternoons and says that it is really neat getting to know them in that small group setting. "It gives them a better chance to get their questions answered. And I have a chance to have real dialogue with them rather than just lecture or teach," said Ticen.

Ticen believes that youth today are seeking at a deeper level and are not satisfied with short, easy answers. He said that was evident by the questions presented to the Bishop at the Confirmation Rally.

Last updated January 14, 2004

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