National Youth Council established in Philippines Dec. 8, 2004 United Methodist News Service The
Philippines Central Conference approved "a long-held dream" of youth
and young adults when they voted to create the National Council on Youth
Ministry during the 18th session of the conference in November. "This
was our dream when we were still in youth, we are now young adults,
please don't let this remain a dream," said Gideon Salatan during Nov.
27 deliberations on the resolution to create the council. "We don’t have
a clear Central Conference council or board to take care of our
issues." The
council will serve as a forum for the issues and concerns of the
National United Methodist Youth Fellowship and the National United
Methodist Young Adult Fellowship, which covers youth and young adults
from 12-40 in the Philippines. "Lack
of regular conversation, coordination and consultation between the two
youth organizations has somewhat promoted isolation and indifference,"
said Mayette Oria, president of the youth fellowship, and Edward Santos,
vice president of the young adult fellowship, in their petition to the
Philippines Central Conference. Oria
appealed to the body to pass the resolution saying, "this is what the
youth and young adults need today if the church wants them to be
developed as future leaders of the church." She said a national council
would "give voice to these two organizations." A
National Youth Desk was also approved to insure the implementation of
the national youth ministry council, monitor the programs of the two
organizations, assist in planning joint programs, and ensure budget
allocation for the council. "The
creation of the National Council on Youth Ministry represents an
exciting time in the life of the Philippine Central Conference and the
United Methodist Church," said the Rev. Lillian Smith, top executive
with the Division on Ministries with Young People. "This new council
will provide young people with additional avenues to live out their call
and ministry on behalf of Christ in the Philippines and the world.
We celebrate with the Philippine Central Conference and
look forward to sharing in ministry with the National Council on Youth
Ministry." The
Division on Ministries with Young People was overwhelmingly approved by
the 2004 General Conference in May. The division was created to provide
a central place for youth, young adults and workers with young adult
ministries to find direction for their ministries. "This
has been a long-held dream of our youth and young adults here and we
are very happy for it’s approval," said the Rev. Rona Dumagos, adult
worker for young people in the Philippines. "Please join us in the
celebration as we covet your prayers in the journey of the council’s
beginning." News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org
|