Print
this page
Email
this page History
In 1986 National Youth Officers from around the Anglican Communion met near London, England to discuss the possibility of an International Anglican Youth Conference (IAYC). From that meeting a planning committee was formed and under the auspices of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) it began to work toward a conference program. Belfast '88 was the culmination of this vision. Three hundred people came together to tell their story and listen to others. It drew an international family into one and gave many an opportunity to see the church catholic alive and present.
The experience was so powerful that it moved participants to establish a network of support for those involved in Youth Ministry around the Communion. This Network serves as a focus of energy in enabling and encouraging those in areas of the Communion not as well established in Youth Ministry. The Network provides leadership, resources and support to people and places which in the past had felt alone in the struggle to realize a ministry amongst young people in their own Regions.
At Belfast a Working Group was formed from the National Youth Officers. This group met in Canterbury in July 1988. An agenda was established for a further meeting of Regional Representatives, (previously agreed to at Belfast) which came together in Kenya in October 1988. At this meeting a decision. was made by those acting on behalf of the IAYN to begin plans for a second IAYC and Canada was invited to host this Conference in 1993. Two people were named at that meeting to fill positions until the Conference was convened: the Rev'd Bob Fyffe (Scotland) as the IAY Network Coordinator and the Rev'd Douglas Fenton (Canada) as the Conference Chairperson.
International Anglican Youth Network Historical Summary: 1984-2007
1984
At ACC-6 Nigeria a resolution was passed asking for the inauguration of a Youth Communications Network. It expressed the hope that an International Conference of Young Anglicans would be held. The motion was passed by two youth members: Ronnie Mercer (Argentina) and Cecilia Yoshimoto (Japan).
The ACC did not provide any additional funding for this effort. The message from the ACC was that Networks need to be self-supporting and approach Provinces directly for financial support.
In response to this news, four Provinces (New Zealand, Ireland, England and the United States) independently suggested that an international gathering for young Anglicans be held. Several other Provinces expressed interest in building closer links between young people.
1985
A meeting of Youth Officers from 14 Provinces was held in London. It was decided that an International Conference of Young Anglicans should be held in 1988 using the same themes as those set for the next Lambeth Conference.
1988
January
The First International Anglican Youth Conference was held in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Three hundred participants worked in plenary groups around the themes of the 1988 Lambeth Conference. There was support for a youth ministry network: “to provide leadership, resources, and support in the struggle to realize a ministry among young people in Regions.”
July
Four Youth Delegates presented at Lambeth Conference (two Co-opted Youth Members: Lorna Helen (Ireland) and Cesar Guzman (Chile) and two representatives from the Belfast Conference who had been appointed as Youth Consultants to Lambeth: Andrew Masterton (New Zealand) and Vanessa MacKenzie (West Indies). The Bishops endorsed the development of the International Anglican Youth Network (IAYN) and “urged each diocese to ensure the momentum created by these developments (Belfast 1988) be continued.”
Several Provincial Youth Officers met in Canterbury during Lambeth to plan for a Steering Group meeting of Network plans for a second IAY Conference and the development of an IAY Network.
November
Provincial Youth Officers (one per ACC region) met in Limuru, Kenya to discuss the second IAY Conference and development of the IAY Network. Canada was invited to host the next event. Douglas Fenton (Canada) was appointed Chair of the Conference Planning Group.
A planning committee was formed to fund raise, design and plan the event. The planning committee included youth officers from Australia, Canada, Kenya, Scotland, Trinidad and the United States.
1989-1992
A planning committee worked on planning the programme and agenda of the second IAY Conference.
1990
June
The planning committee accepted an invitation to host the Conference in the Diocese of British Columbia, (Victoria, BC, Canada)
1992
November
A decision was taken to cancel the Conference due to a lack of commitment by the majority of Member Churches of the Anglican Communion and a lack of funding bursaries.
1993
January
The Joint Meeting of the Primates of the Anglican Communion and the Anglican Consultative Council expressed their concern and regret at the cancellation of the IAY Conference and passed Resolution 40-Youth
“RESOLVED, that the Joint meeting of the Primates of the Anglican Communion and the Anglican Consultative Council:
- Strongly affirms the value and place of young people within the life of the Anglican Communion and regrets the cancellation of the International Conference of Young Anglicans.
- That the Inter-Anglican Youth Network be re-activated by asking the Provinces, who have committed money to the Youth Conference but which has not yet been spent, to enable a meeting of a group of key people and launch the network, and
- Encourages and supports the programming of an International Conference of Young Anglicans at an appropriate time as determined by the next meeting of the Standing Committee of the ACC, and
- That all Provinces of the Communion be invited to contribute toward a central fund for the event.
1994
February
In response to this resolution the Church in Wales provided a grant which made it possible for a group of eleven people involved in Youth ministry from around the Communion to meet at Southwell House, London.
A Steering Group was formed. The members appointed were Stephen Hale (Australia), Douglas Fenton (Canada) and Sheryl Kujawa (United States). Deirdre Martin would be the liaison with the Anglican Communion Office.
It was unanimously agreed to request that the Standing Committee of the ACC appoint Rachel Beleo (Philippines) and JJ Onkgopotse Tabene (Southern Africa) as the two Co-opted Youth members of the Anglican Consultative Council. It was also agreed that Rachel and JJ would also be members of the Steering Group.
1996
April 23-28
International Anglican Network Meeting held at Trinity Conference Center, West Cornwall, Connecticut, USA with 15 Provincial Youth Officers from 14 Provinces. It was the first Youth Network meeting since Belfast 1988. Objectives of the Network were developed.
1997
August – September
All Provinces but four (New Zealand/Aotearoa, Burundi, Church of Pakistan and Church of South India) were represented at the Gathering, the second International Anglican Youth Conference with a total of 145 participants. The meeting began in London, moved to St David’s University College, Lampeter, Wales before returning to London.
An International Anglican Youth Network meeting was convened during the Gathering. Thirty-two representatives from as many Provinces met. The Objectives developed in Connecticut—1996 were affirmed:
- To raise the profile of young people and their ministry within the Church, uplifting ethnic, cultural and language differences in our Communion
- To be a voice for youth as a body to the ACC and the Primates in order to educate and inform the wider church about the concerns of young people and its responsibility to and with young people.
- To share international experiences in order to encourage a feeling of fellowship and oneness amongst the youth, as well as solidarity within the Communion through exchange programs and at different levels.
- To mobilize young people to share productively in the prophetic and evangelistic mission of the Church.
Nine regional groupings were defined with a member from each serving as a member of the steering committee East and Central Africa; West Africa; Southern Africa; Oceania; North America and the Caribbean; Middle East and India; Europe; Asia; and Latin America.
2004
April – May
International Anglican Network Meeting held at Trinity Conference Center, West Cornwall, Connecticut. Nineteen Provinces attended with 7 regrets due to visa complications. The IAYN Mission Statement was adopted at this meeting. A decision was also taken to organize the work into five regions with a representative from each forming a steering committee: Americas: Dessordi Leite; Africa Sabelo Mashwama; Asia: Feliciano Balangui; Oceania: John Hebenton; and Europe and the Middle East: Samuel Barhoum. Douglas Fenton and Peter Ball would continue as Co-Administrators.
2005
Jerusalem
The Steering Group met at St George’s College, Jerusalem with all members present except for Feliciano Balangui from Asia. Communication seemed difficult after many attempts to contact him. Asia region would be asked to find a new representative. The Steering Group had been invited by Archbishop Peter Kwong to respond to the Windsor Report. A response was undertaken.
2006
Porto Alegre, Brazil
The Steering Group met in Porto Alegre during the World Council of Churches General Assembly. Insar Gohar was present from Asia Region. Sabelo Mashwama and Douglas Fenton could not attend. In a meeting with Sue Parks, Chair of the Lambeth Conference Planning Team and ACC Secretary General Kenneth Kearon discussions were held to determine the place of young people at Lambeth Conference 2008.
2007
August
Steering Group Meeting in London.
September
International Anglican Youth Network met at High Leigh Christian Conference Centre, Hoddesdon, England from 2 – 7 September …More
Top
