Home / Wales 1997

Gatherings - Wales 1997

31st August - 1st September 1997
Minutes of Meeting
Held at St David University College, Lampeter. Wales
Present:
Convenor: Rachel Beleo – Philipinnes
Michael Zgryza - Australia
Sourabh Pholia – Bangladesh
Marta Tessman – Brazil
Douglas Fenton – Canada
Stephen Gendall – Zimbabwe
Judy Acheson – Congo
Peter Ball – England
Paul Jones – Ireland
Timothy Nomura – Japan
Awni Malik - Jerusalem and the Middle East
Amos Kim - Korea
Philip Vahia – Melanesia
Osvaldo Hernandez-Hernandez – Mexico
James Min Dein – Myanmar
Tenils Christie - North India
Wilfred Siwana - Papua New Guinea
Pedro de Luz Soares - Portugal
Louis Muvunyi – Rwanda
Joanne Foster – Scotland
Francisco Zandamela - Southern Africa
Gonzalo Alvarez - Southern Cone
Paul Monash - South East Asia
Andrew Machek Allajabo - Sudan
David Mdabuko – Tanzania
Florence Kanyike – Uganda
Thom Chu – USA
Susie Cole – Wales
Calvin Dwuye - West Africa
Herman Spence - West Indies
James Wong – Indian Ocean
Deirdre Martin - Anglican Communion Office

Introductions

Bishop Herman Spence opened the Meeting with prayer.

Rachel Beleo asked each member of the meeting to introduce themselves and explain their relationship to the Network.

She noted that each Primate should have received a letter requesting him to appoint a member of his Province's delegation to be at the Network Meeting as the Provincial Youth Contact. It was important to have a voice from as many Provinces as possible. The Primates would receive a list of who was present at the meeting. Herman Spence asked if information could be sent to all Diocesan Bishops. It was agreed this should be the responsibility of the Provincial Youth Officer or contact.

Update Since the Connecticut (USA) meeting 1996

Rachel Beleo gave a general picture of the Network Meeting held in Connecticut in 1996. As a major theme there had been a discussion on globalisation. Then business matters, including planning for the Gathering, had been dealt with.

Anglican Consultative Council Co-opted Youth membership.

JJ Tabane along with Rachel Beleo had been appointed as a Co-opted Youth Members on the Anglican Consultative Council. However J.J. had not been able to attend ACC-10 in Panama and at very short notice had said he was not able to attend the International Gathering. Concern was expressed that he might also not be able to attend the Lambeth Conference.

After discussion, it was suggested that a letter should be sent to J.J from the Network informing him that it is the view of the network meeting that considering the expectation that the ACC Youth Representatives be present at ACC meetings, available for conference calls, and be present at the International Gathering to thus represent that Gathering at Lambeth, that 3 alternate names be presented to the General Secretary for the 2nd position of ACC Youth Representative to join with Rachel Beleo.

Following consultation with John Peterson, it was agreed that three alternative names of people who had been present at the International Gathering should be put forward to the ACC. These people should be between the ages of 18 and 28 and should be nominated from the Oceania region, the Caribbean, and the USA, and should be able to attend the three weeks of the Lambeth Conference and two ACC meetings in 1999 and possible 2002. Regions to consult regarding this and submit names to the Steering Committee to enable a letter to be written to John Peterson.

Anglican Youth Sunday

The Church of England has a Resource pack for Anglican Youth Sunday which can be made available for use in any way that is appropriate. Peter Ball happed that the material would be ready in time to be taken to Whitelands College following the Diocesan visitations. If it was not available by then, Peter Ball said he would send a free copy to each member of the Network.

Profile update sheet

Thom Chu asked that the Provincial Profile Sheets be updated as appropriate. ECUSA will generously collate and circulate it every six months. Anything that might be of interest in youth ministry should be sent to him. The next mailing would be in December 1997. The deadline for material is the end of October.

Anglican World

Deirdre Martin noted that Jim Rosenthal was happy to give space in Anglican World for information from the Network and significant Youth Ministry Activities, but it was up to the Provinces to send materials to him. He was particularly keen to receive good quality photographs which tell a story. Deirdre noted that she would ask that all members of the Network be put on the mailing list to receive Anglican World.

Provincial Participation in the Network

Rachel Beleo noted again that all Primates were asked to nominate representatives to the Network and this Network meeting. However, not all had done so, yet the occasion of the International Gathering has been an opportunity to hold a much more extensive Network Meeting than had previously been possible. A such a number of representatives from various provinces have been co-opted to this network meeting from the Provincial Gathering delegations to enable a much wider and diverse meeting to occur from throughout the Anglican Communion. It was affirmed that the Objectives of the Inter Anglican Youth Network as agreed in Connecticut are:

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 mobilise young people to share productively in the prophetic and evangelistic mission of the Church.

Finance

Deirdre Martin reported that the present financial situation would not be known until all the accounts connected with the Gathering had been paid. In the past there had been a small contribution to the Network from the Inter-Anglican Budget but she thought it unlikely at present that this would continue. It was also pointed out that in the past Network meetings had been held due to the generosity of the Church in Wales and the Episcopal Church of the USA. The International Conference held in Belfast in 1988 had received a generous grant from the Church of Ireland.

It was noted that at a previous Network Meeting it had been suggested that each Primate be asked to contribute £100 to the Network from their province. This has received a mixed response. However it was felt it would be more appropriate if young people were asked to help with raising funding. It was agreed the amount of the contribution from each Province should be left open so people could send what they were able. Each member of the Network should make a serious commitment to send a certain amount of money each year. A small group met to discuss creative ways of raising money. They suggested the following might be sold and the profit given to the Network:

Arts and Crafts
CDs and tapes with songs from around the world Postcards
Book Marks
Tee shirts

It was noted by members of the Network that it would be helpful to receive a financial Report every year to show how much money had been raised and how the Network had spent money in the maintenance and achievement of the networks goals. This is particularly important in our reporting back to the provinces of the work and importance of the Youth Network.

The suggestion was also made that some items might be sold at the Lambeth Conference. Deirdre Martin noted that she would look into this.

The IAYN Steering Group were asked to consider these ideas.

Contributions from various donors to enable the Gathering must be acknowledged. Thom Chu reported that the United Thank Offering in the United States had given a grant enabling 15 young women from the two-thirds world to attend the Gathering.

The Church Missionary Society must also be thanked for their support.

Future Directions

After significant discussion it was agreed that as far as possible the Inter-Anglican Youth Network should endeavour to work in the various regions around the world that have been used for the pre-Lambeth meetings of Bishops, and that each Region should have a member on the Network Steering Committee. Those 9 regions were noted as being - East and Central Africa, West Africa, Oceania, Nth America/Canada/Caribbean, the Middle East & India, Europe, Asia, Southern Africa, and Latin America.

The Network meeting then divided into their regional groupings to discuss issues affecting them in the area, make a nomination to the IAYN Steering Committee, and consider future Youth Network activities for their regional area.

The following reports were made, and each Region present appointed a member to the IAYN Steering Committee and an alternate should the nominated Representative be unavailable for a Steering Committee meeting:

Asia

The Region is hoping to organising an Asian Youth meeting to be held before the Lambeth Conference to address the Lambeth themes from an Asian perspective. Rachel Beleo (Philippines) was nominated to continue on the Steering Committee with Paul Monash (Malaysia) as alternate.

Southern Africa

The representatives from Central Africa, Indian Ocean and Southern Africa committed themselves to reporting to the Bishops and Diocesan Youth Officers in their Province and try to arrange meetings on a provincial level to report back and plan for the future, as well as using established networks. Southern Africa was holding a Provincial Steering Committee of the Anglican Students Federation in November and in December there would be a Provincial Conference.

The Indian Ocean provincial contact hopes to address the 1.0. Provincial Synod next year and also use established networks.

Central Africa noted that the 4 dioceses in Zimbabwe have formed their own youth association, and that it was hoped to use this base to connect with other countries. Francisco Zandamela (Mozambique) was nominated to Steering Committee with James Wong (Mauritius) as alternate.

Oceania

Discussion centred on how the various countries making up the region could function effectively for Youth Ministry. It was noted that strong link already exist between Australia and PNG and the Solomon Islands and that these should be strengthened with further youth exchanges, a possible Oceania Prayer Day, the production of a modest Oceania Newsletter twice a year, the sending of each others newsletters to the other provinces, and using the opportunity of the Brisbane Youth Gathering being held in January 1999 to invite the three other provinces in the region and build a wider gathering where some regional exchange and dialogue could take place.

Discussion also took place on how to address the absence of the Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia province at this International Gathering and how that Province can be brought into the experience which we have shared together. This task was given to the Oceania Steering Committee Representative who will also be considered the Convenor of the Oceania Youth Network. Michael Zgryza (Australia) was nominated as the representative to the IAYN Steering Committee with Philip Vahia (Solomon Islands) as the alternate.

Middle East

The major issue discussed was to try to create some links within region. Awni Malik (Egypt) was nominated to the IAYN Steering Committee, with Tenils Christie (North India) as the Alternate.

East Africa

Discussion focused on the need for information to be sent in every six months. The Region hopes to meet in February to look at feed back from the International Gathering and to see how young people can work together across borders.

Florence Kanyike (Uganda) was nominated to the IAYN Steering Committee with David Mdabuko as the alternate.

Europe

The region discussed how by end of the year contacts can be made with other European Countries. By end of 1998 it is hoped to hold a planning meeting to plan year 2000 European gathering. Peter Ball (England) was nominated to the IAYN Steering Committee, with Joanne Foster as alternate.

South America

It is hoped to hold a big meeting of young people in two or three years time. Gonzalo Alvarez (Chile) was nominated to the Steering Committee with Marta Tessman (Brazil) as alternate.

North America / Caribbean

The need to try to be more together was discussed and the need to share experiences in youth gatherings noted. The region will also look at involvement in wider areas such as WCC youth camps. Candice Payne (Barbados) was nominated to the IAYN Steering Committee with ;an alternate to be nominated at a later date.

The present Steering Committee will confirm the above appointments of the incoming Steering Committee with the nominees respective Primates where an official Network appointment is yet to be confirmed.

IAYN Brochure

It was noted that at the previous Network Meeting, the formulation of a brochure about the Inter Anglican Youth Network and its task through the Communion was an important tool to be developed to both raise the profile of the Network and educate the Communion about what the network does.

Due to some changes of representation on the network, this task had not been completed but was affirmed by the meeting as an important tool in the fulfilment of our goals. Peter Ball agreed to work on this project with the assistance of Suzie Cole.

IAYN Prayer Network

After discussion it was agreed that a prayer network should be established for the IAYN. This could take the form of a prayer card or small prayer cycle covering the provinces in the Communion and offering prayers for the Youth Contacts, programs and issues faced by the young people and the church's ministry to youth in these areas.

Thom Chu agreed to collate and distribute such a prayer tool and requested that each province provide a number of prayer items for inclusion in the cycle while at the Gathering. It was suggested that each province include Prayer information and subsequent updates on their Provincial Profile sheets and that these be forwarded to Thom on behalf of the network.

Next International Gathering

It was noted that while there was overwhelming support from the delegates to this International Gathering for another Gathering to be held in the near future, evaluation of the Gathering will need to take place and the Steering Committee will need to place this question on their agenda for future meetings. It was important to note the significant cost involved in holding a Gathering of this nature and that without significant support and funding it would be difficult to hold.

Lambeth Conference Stewards Program

Members of the Network were reminded about the Lambeth Conference Stewards Program and that it is still possible for some young people from around the Communion to apply for one of the Steward Positions. Thom Chu distributed application forms to those provinces and interested people who did not have the information.

Plans for a Youth Women's Caucus on Return to Whitelands

Rachel Beleo explained the plans for a brief Women's Caucus during the final phase of the Gathering at Whitelands College. The aim of the informal gathering is to provide many of the young women present an opportunity to voice their own in concerns in a cultural context other than the plenary or small group sessions. It is hoped that this will
provide the opportunity for some young women to share with each other in a relaxed and informal context.

Debrief -"The Gathering"

Evaluation Form Responses
Briefing Paper for Lambeth Conference
Questions for Archbishop of Canterbury

South to South

Gonzalo Alvarez reported to the network on the afternoon spent together during the Lampeter phase of the International Gathering, in the South to South network. It was a time of mutual sharing, prayer, and community building for many of the nations of the two thirds world and was an important occasion for the further strengthening of youth networks and concerns.

Next Network Meeting

A full face to face meeting of the IAYN Network will be planned for May 1999 in the United Kingdom. The Steering Committee will begin work on the details and themes to be addressed.

Steering Committee Report

Rachel Beleo reported to the Network of the meeting of the Steering Committee which had been held over the luncheon break. She noted that time had been spent discussing the role and goals of the Steering Committee and its ongoing work on behalf of the network. The Steering Committee has agreed to hold its first conference call on either the 4th or the 19th of November 1997. Thom Chu offered to continue organising the conference call on behalf of the network and this was gratefully received.

Rachel reported that she would continue as the Convenor of the Network and that Peter Ball had agreed to act as the Treasurer of the network due to his proximity to the Anglican Communion Offices. Michael Zgryza agreed to function as the acting secretary of the Network until such time as the second ACC Youth Representative was appointed to take up that function with the Convenor.