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Gatherings - London 1994

Meeting of the Anglican Youth Officers 14 - 18 February 1994, Southwell House London

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young
men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams (Joel
2:28, Acts 2:17).

The Joint Meeting of the Primates of the Anglican Communion and the Anglican Consultative Council in January 1993 passed the following Resolution:

Resolution 40 - Youth

RESOLVED, that the Joint meeting of the Primates of the Anglican Communion and the
Anglican Consultative Council:

  1. 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.
  2. 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 the launch of the network, and
  3. 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
  4. That all Provinces of the Communion be invited to contribute toward a central fund for the event.

 

In response to this Resolution the Church in Wales provided a grant which made it possible for a group of people involved in Youth Ministry from around the Communion to meet.

Those present were:

Sr Gonzalo Alvarez - Anglican Church of the Southern Cone of South America
Miss Rachel Beleo - Philippine Episcopal Church
Miss Suzie Cole - Church in Wales
Ms Judith Conley - Episcopal Church, USA
Ms Mira Elmsly - Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
The Revd Douglas Fenton - Anglican Church of Canada
Mrs Anne Foreman - Church of England
The Revd Stephen Hale - Anglican Church of Australia
Ms Margaret Hart - Scottish Episcopal Church
The Revd Dr Sheryl Kujawa - Episcopal Church, USA
Mrs Deirdre Martin - Anglican Communion Office
Miss Sandra Matsuo - Episcopal Church of Brazil
Miss Patience Motsepe - Church of the Province of Southern Africa
The Right Revd Stephen Mwangi - Church of the Province of Kenya
Mr Bruno Ndriamahafahana - Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean
The Revd Dr Chinedu Nebo - Church of Nigeria
The Revd Aaron Nkware - Church of the Province of Tanzania
The Right Revd Herman Spence - Church in the Province of the West Indies
Mr Onkgopotse `J J' Tabane - Church of the Province of Southern Africa

The following people were elected to serve for the time of the meeting:
Worship
Bruno Ndriamahafahana

Steering Group
Gonzalo Alvarez
Suzie Cole
JJ Tabane

Scribes
Mira Elmsly
Judith Conley
Douglas Fenton
Deirdre Martin
Patience Motsepe

Resolutions
Herman Spence

History

Douglas Fenton and Deirdre Martin gave a brief account of the background to this meeting.

  1. At the Meeting of ACC-6 in Nigeria in 1984 a Resolution was passed asking for the inauguration of a Youth Network. It expressed the hope that an International Conference of Young Anglicans would be held.

  2. In 1985 a meeting of Youth Officers from Member Churches of the Communion was held in London, subsidised by the Church of England. It was decided that an International Conference of Young Anglicans should be held in 1988, using the same themes as those set for the Lambeth Conference.

  3. The first International Conference of Young Anglicans (ICYA) was held in Belfast in January 1988.

  4. At the time of the Lambeth Conference in July/August 1988, a group of Youth Officers met in Canterbury. They were joined by the two Youth Co-opted members of the Anglican Consultative Council (Cesar Guzman and Loma Helen) and the two representatives from the Belfast Conference who had been appointed as Youth Consultants to the Lambeth Conference (Andrew Masterton and Vanessa MacKenzie). The main aim was to discuss the response of the Lambeth Conference to the Belfast Meeting.

  5. A small group met in Limuru, Kenya, in November 1988. It was agreed that a second ICYA should be held in 1993 with Canada and the USA as hosts.

  6. Between 1989 and 1992 a Planning Group worked on planning the programme and agenda of the second ICYA and on fundraising for the event. In November 1992 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 for bursaries.

  7. In January 1993 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 ICYA and passed Resolution 40 (see above). This meeting of youth officers took place in response to that Resolution and a report will be submitted to the Joint Meeting of the Standing Committees of the Primates and the Anglican Consultative Council in March 1994.

 

Report on the cancellation of ICYA. Canada. 1993

Two members of the Planning Group for the Second ICYA (Judith Conley and Douglas Fenton) were present and reported on the events which led to the cancellation. By November 1992 less than 50% of the Member Churches of the Anglican Communion had responded, despite several mailings to Primates, General Secretaries and Youth Officers. By the time of the deadline to buy travel tickets and pay the deposit on the Conference Centre less than 50% of the budget had been committed. After the cancellation of the Conference funds collected from parishes, dioceses and member Churches of the Anglican Communion were returned. The Church in Wales agreed to re-allocate its funding to enable the February 1994 meeting to take place.

The question was raised as to why the planning costs for the ICYA had been so high. One factor was the decision that there should be an equal representation of regions on the Planning Group, since Canada and the USA had been asked to host the Conference but not design the programme and raise the funding alone. Therefore there had been substantial travel costs for meetings of the Planning Group. The Planning Group had drawn up a design of representation from the Member Churches which would ensure even representation from around the Communion. The cost of even representation on the Planning Group was reflected in a high proportion of costs for air fares. In discussion of why the cancellation happened the following questions were raised:

    Are the churches afraid of youth?

  1. The Primates and the ACC say that an international youth gathering is 'a good thing'.
  2. How will it happen?
  3. What is their commitment?
  4. Can we call for a redistribution of the Inter Anglican Budget to provide an item for youth ministry?
  5. Can young people be part of the Lambeth Conference?

In the context of these questions it was agreed that it was vital to have an Anglican Youth Network.

Why have a Network?

A Network should:

  • help those involved in ministry to youth to reach out to the un churched and make the Gospel incarnate in youth culture in order to bring young people to Christ:
  • encourage and support the training of people in youth ministry:
  • share information, personnel and resources, locally, regionally and globally (ie parish to parish, diocese to diocese, church-to-church, region-to-region and then internationally):
  • encourage and help arrange exchanges at all levels so that young people can have experience and understanding of the different cultural and language groups within the Communion:
  • raise awareness of social concerns of youth today:
  • encourage young people to develop their own liturgies:
  • educate and inform the Church about youth and youth ministry be an advocate for youth to the Primates of the Anglican Communion and the Anglican Consultative Council:
  • mobilize young people through sharing of ideas in the Decade of Evangelism:
  • enable youth to take their rightful place in the Anglican Communion.

How should a Network operate?

Membership

One contact person from all member churches of the Anglican Communion should be appointed. These people must be commited to work with young people and be active Anglicans both locally and in their Provinces. The contact people may be either youth (18-29 years) or Youth Officers. It is hoped that they will be located in a position which makes it easy to send and receive information.

Network Management:

There should be a bi-annual Network Meeting.

Between meetings of the Network a Steering Committee will act on behalf of the Network. This will include the two Youth Co-opted members of the ACC and a liaison person from the Anglican Communion Office Staff. The Steering Committee may co-opt members as necessary. Members of the Steering Committee must be available for at least two years. It is expected that the Steering Committee will communicate by mail, fax, electronic mail and telephone. Regular meetings of the Steering Committee are not expected.

The role of the Steering Committee is to:
plan for meetings of the Network
act as the interim body of the Network
develop and manage a budget monitor programmes
maintain a contact list of people involved in Youth ministry in the Communion
support the liaison person from the Anglican Communion Office.

Appointment of Steering Committee

It was unanimously agreed that the Standing Committee of the ACC be requested to appoint Rachel Beleo (Philippines) and Onkgopotse Tabane (Southern Africa) as the two youth co-opted members on the Anglican Consultative Council. It was also unanimously agreed that the two Youth Co- opted members of the ACC should be members of the Steering Committee for the Youth Network.

Criteria for membership of the Steering Committee was discussed. A correct balance was sought between men and women. The question was raised as to whether or not it was necessary to have the Church of England represented on the Steering Committee. A motion was proposed by Herman Spence that both Douglas Fenton and Stephen Hale be members of the Steering Committee. This was agreed by a vote, in which there were three abstentions. It was finally agreed that the Steering Committee should consist of:

ACC Youth Members
Rachel Beleo (Philippines)
Onkgopotse Tabane (Southern Africa)
Anglican Communion Office Liaison
Deirdre Martin
Youth Officers
Douglas Fenton (Canada)
Stephen Hale (Australia)
Sheryl Kujawa (USA)

Publicising of the Network

It was agreed that eventually the Network should have its own Newsletter. For the present, however, it was agreed that the Network should request a regular page in Anglican World. This would ensure a circulation to all bishops, Provincial and Diocesan communicators and members of other Networks. It was also agreed to request the setting aside of a world-wide Anglican Youth Sunday and for this to be included in the Anglican Cycle of Prayer. England and Wales already have a Youth Sunday on the Sunday before Advent (Christ the King). It was suggested that this day be used internationally.

Staffing of the Network

It was agreed that the Joint Standing Committees of the Primates and the Anglican Consultative Council be asked to delegate a member of staff from the Anglican Communion Office to spend a portion of time working on the Youth Network. It was hoped that for the present this would continue to be Deirdre Martin. She pointed out that her workload over the next two years was unpredictable and that she could not guarantee the necessary time. Therefore it was agreed that funding be sought from outside the Inter Anglican Budget for a Project Worker to assist in the operation of the Network. It was suggested that this person might spend up to five days a month working in the Anglican Communion Office. To enable this it would be necessary to look for funding in the region of £5000. It was agreed that Anne Foreman and Suzie Cole would investigate possibilities.

Funding of the Network

It was agreed:

that a letter should be sent from the Anglican Communion Office to the Primates asking each of them to contribute £100 towards the ongoing operation of the Network. The Joint Meeting of the Primates and the Anglican Consultative Council would be asked to endorse this request. The money raised would be used to support administrative costs: postage, communication, office costs etc; that (as above) the Youth Officers from England and Wales should investigate sources for a grant of up to £5,000 to fund the work of a Project Worker

for the Network; that the Inter-Anglican Finance Committee will be asked to consider reallocating part of the Inter-Anglican Budget to help support the Network; that offerings be encouraged on Anglican Youth Sunday for the work of the Network.

Plan of Action

  1. It was agreed that Resolutions to the Joint Standing Committees of the Primates and the Anglican Consultative Council be prepared and ratified by all members present.

  2. Suzie Cole agreed to write an article on the meeting for Anglican World.

  3. The next Network Meeting will be held in 1996. Sheryl Kujawa agreed to investigate possible sites in the USA and discover if funding for accommodation can be obtained. Deirdre Martin agreed to obtain travel quotes once a site has been suggested. A travel pool will then be established. It is suggested that each member of the Network be asked to send a third of the amount required for a travel pool in each year 1994 - 1996 to the Anglican Consultative Council where it will be held in an account for the Youth Network.
  4. The Steering Committee will be expected to prepare a plan for the 1996 Network Meeting. It will be the responsibility of the 1996 Network meeting to prepare for the International Conference.
  5. It was agreed that a future International Conference should be connected to the Lambeth Conference. It was hoped that there could be some Youth Representation at Lambeth. Deirdre Martin explained that no final decision had yet been made about the date, style and membership of the Lambeth Conference. Until this is known it is not possible to plan more precisely. It is probable that regionaL meetings will be part of the planning for the Lambeth Conference. The hope was expressed that young people will be part of the regional and diocesan planning.

Visit to Lambeth Palace

On Wednesday 16 March, Ash Wednesday, the group visited Lambeth Palace. They took part in the community Ash Wednesday Eucharist and met with the Archbishop of Canterbury. They were able to give a brief report on what had been achieved so far. The Archbishop expressed his disappointment at the cancellation of the proposed International Conference of Young Anglicans in Canada in 1993. He said he was encouraged by what he had heard from members of the group and spoke of some of the initiatives he was taking, in particular the appointment of Pete Ward as his Advisor in Youth Ministry. He was pleased that he would be meeting with the group later in the week.

Meeting with representatives of Mission Agencies

Following the meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the group was hosted for a lunch at Partnership House by the Partnership for World Mission. Representatives of different Mission Agencies and some Anglican Communion Office staff were present. There was a useful exchange of information.

Meeting with Allan Wallace. Church Missionary Society

Allan Wallace visited the group to share information about an international youth camp being organised by CMS in England in August/September 1994. Similar camps may be planned in the future. The question was raised as to whether CMS would be prepared to co-operate in plans for an International Conference of Young Anglicans. Allan Wallace expressed the hope that this would be possible. He was asked if CMS might assist with a Conference held outside the United Kingdom and again he thought this was possible. He expressed the wish to link into the Network. Deirdre Martin agreed to give him an up-to-date list of Youth Officers.

Meeting with Pete Ward. Archbishop of Canterbury's Advisor in Youth Ministry

Pete Ward said that his areas of responsibility fell into three categories:

  1. The need for research; some 90% of young people in England do not attend any Church and there is a need to find creative and relevant ways of addressing this issue.
  2. Making worship more culturally relevant to young people; to achieve this the liturgy must be contextualized within youth culture.
  3. The need to create an academic framework for youth ministry and for proper professional development for those engaged in it (including adequate job descriptions and employment benefits).

The Group responded enthusiastically to this report which reflected similar developments in other parts of the 'Communion. They were particularly grateful to know that the Archbishop of Canterbury had taken this imaginative initiative and hoped that information about it would be shared with other Primates.

Meeting with Jim Rosenthal. Director of Communications. Anglican Communion Office

Jim Rosenthal said that he would ensure that each person in the meeting received Anglican World. He asked that each person give him the names of ten more people in their Churches who would benefit from receiving it. These names should not include bishops and other church leaders who are already on the circulation list. He said he would be glad to give a page of Anglican World to news about Youth issues and Network activities and would be pleased to receive articles, information and pictures through Deirdre Martin.

It was agreed that the Steering Committee members would take it in turns to provide material for the page, but all members of the Network were urged to make sure that they send information.

It was suggested that each member of the Network would send information at least twice a year to Deirdre Martin who will then share it with the appropriate member of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee will be given the dates for deadlines. The next deadline, by which time Suzie Cole's report must be complete, is 26 April 1994. In general 500 words should be the maximum for an article. Jim Rosenthal emphasised the need for photographs to accompany the articles.

Budget

The Steering Group drew up a Draft Budget which is attached . Information on a number
of items is required before the Budget can be finalised.

Actions to be taken on return home

  1. Within two weeks each person to report on the meeting to their Primate, to every diocese and every diocesan youth officer in their Province.
  2. Each person to write an article for their provincial and diocesan newspapers.
  3. Each person to send Deirdre Martin an update on what is going on in their Church at least twice a year.
  4. Deirdre Martin to collate and send information to all members of the Network.
  5. Members must maintain contact with each other and take opportunities for possible joint activities, eg exchange projects. Copies of all correspondence should be sent to the Anglican Communion Office for the central file.
  6. Each person should call on their Primate to support the Network's initiatives. They should put this in writing to the Primate representing their region on the Primates' Standing Committee. NB this needs to be well in advance of the meeting of the Standing Committee which begins on 13 March.
  7. Each representative present should write to Provinces in their region not represented at the meeting to tell them about the Network and its concerns.

Appendix

Notes of the Meeting of the Steering Committee of the International Anglican Youth Network

Members
Rachel Beleo
Douglas Fenton Stephen
Hale Sheryl Kujawa
Deirdre Martin
Onkgopotse JJ Tabane

It was agreed that communication and consultation would be by letter, telephone, fax and electronic mail. However if people were travelling and could meet with other members they will do so. Following the Joint Meeting of the Standing Committees of the Primates and the Anglican Consultative Council Deirdre will communicate reactions and decisions to the Steering Committee and it will then be decided when to set up a Conference call. It was agreed that if there many Conference calls they will be at different times so that members take it in turns to be woken in the middle of the night. Sheryl will look for a suitable meeting place for the Network in 1996 and will inform Deirdre who will then obtain travel quotes.

After that it will be possible to draw up a more accurate budget. Each member of the Steering Committee to collate as full a list as possible of people involved in youth ministry in their region and send it to Deirdre so that a comprehensive list can be produced. It was suggested that it might be necessary for some members of the Steering Committee to meet to plan for the 1996 Network. This need will be monitored. Sheryl recommended that if funding were to be found for any of the Steering Committee to travel, this should be for either Rachel or JJ.

It was agreed that responsibility would be taken for collating material for Anglican World in the following order:

Sheryl by 26 April
Stephen by 30 August JJ
by 1 November ,
Rachel date still to be set
Douglas date still to be set
Deirdre will send them details of deadlines.

 

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