June 12, 2005

"Listening To The Youth"

My first two Annual Conferences here in Indiana are now both concluded, and both seemed to go well. Everywhere I encountered great hospitality, enthusiastic expectation, and encouraging words of hope as we look to the future. North Conference gathered around the theme "Molded By Grace ? Making a Difference" and South Conference gathered around the theme of "New Beginnings."

Among the many, many good experiences at both Conferences, I most valued the time in each Ordination Service to invite persons forward who are being called by God. The response in both Conferences was heartening, and in South Conference so many came forward that we actually had to extend the singing and the service! I was most pleased that so many who came forward were bright, enthusiastic youth and young adults.

Another valuable time for me in each Conference was the opportunity I had to hear from the youth who were present. In the South Conference, the youth gave me a "Celebrate!" t-shirt and a bright-colored Hawaiian lei with a tag attached which quoted I Timothy 4:12, "Let no on look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example to those who believe." Indeed, the South Indiana group showed us how to celebrate our faith.

The North Conference youth also gave me a t-shirt, with the words from II Corinthians 5:17 as translated by Eugene Peterson's "The Message." Those words say: "Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new." They also gave me a whole set of plastic eggs, each one containing little slips of paper on which each youth had written their hopes and dreams for the CCYM (Conference Council on Youth Ministry) and for the whole church. Several of those slips of paper also contained very nice comments and prayerful support for me. Many of those are private, but let me share some of the hopes and dreams of the youth for their CCYM and the church, so that you, too, can listen to our youth:

"I pray that everyone will support the youth so that we can use our new beginning to further the ministry of Christ throughout the conference."

"As a youth I see the need for unity among members, something that a lot of adults in my church don't recognize. It is a continual battle of 'them' and 'us.' I feel positive, and I put my faith in God that he will use you and us to the fullest. Thank you for answering your call."

"I am so thrilled that our new beginnings coincide, and it is my prayer that clergy, conference, and youth will work together in harmony."

"My hope for you bishop is that you will unite all the districts in Christ's name so that we can support believers and bring others to Christ."

"I get your E-pistles and they always seem to brighten my day when I read a new one."

"We as youth have a passion to serve Christ to the fullest of our ability! We want the world to be able to share the joy, we want everyone to know!"

"Bless be the tie that binds. May this be a reminder of the tie we share together."

"My vision is the youth in North Indiana will become leaders in their local churches, their districts, and their conference."

"My vision for CCYM is for us to communicate more so that we can accomplish much more as a group. I want to unite this conference's youth to revive our peers and our churches."

"I just want to say that I will be regularly praying for you and the rest of the conference. I also want to say that over the next year I hope to see the CCYM become a tighter group and a greater leadership throughout the conference. I want to see the youth of the conference becoming a great group that can touch our schools, friends, and others around us. We can come together and unite our youth groups to do great works for God."

"My vision for CCYM is for us to work together. All throughout conference 2005 we have talked about being a 'we.' One person can accomplish so much in this world, just think how much we can accomplish if WE work as a team."

Oh yes, there was one more note which said simply, "You Da Bishop!" What a nice affirmation!

The youth told me that those plastic eggs filled with notes, prayers, hopes, and dreams could be used to make a "vision omelet." More than that, those little pieces of paper, the t-shirts, their reports, and their presence at the two Annual Conferences give me great hope for the future.

Now it is important for us to listen to our youth. Because they have a lot to say to us.

from Bishop Michael J. Coyner

Indiana Area of the United Methodist Church
"Making a Difference ... in Indiana
and around the world"

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