The 2010 National Youth Assembly of the Church of Scotland got underway yesterday at Stirling University . Before I add my comments, I encourage you to check out the nine-minute video about the Assembly that can be found embedded in the official blog.
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OK, back with me now?
I don’t know if you were struck the same way as I was by some of those comments: “I don’t have many youth in my own church,” “Clear a place for young people… to put their finger prints on the church’s story — to talk about things that are important to them and things they think should be important to the church,” “have input into the decision making process of the church.”
If you are not familiar with the unique format of the NYA it includes not only the customary worship, study, fellowship, and recreation opportunities, but each year the Assembly discusses, debates and produces a deliverance on a few topics of current interest and relevance. So when the next General Assembly rolls around in May 2011 the opinions of the NYA are part of the input the GA commissioners will receive.
There are additional written comments about the NYA from the outgoing and incoming NYA Moderators (yes, they have their own Moderator for the debates and yes, the Moderator has a gadget-filled podium from which to Moderate the Assembly).
The immediate past Moderator, Iain McLarty talks about having the opportunity to represent the NYA to the wider church and says “Some of the central councils of the church are really starting to take notice of what young people say and make that an integral part of their work and again I hope that can continue and that young people won’t accept it when people say that they don’t have enough experience to make a difference.”
The incoming Moderator, Kim Wood, writes:
The thing I’m most looking forward to this year is – well, all of it. Youth Assembly is all about us having the opportunity to tell the Church what we think. And it’s a very exciting time at the moment, because the Church has serious money issues – so change is going to have to happen. We can’t keep doing things the same way, so we have to think differently. And the Church is now waking up and inviting young people to join in the conversation of how we can be the Church of Scotland in the 21st century. So I am hoping and praying that this weekend will allow every single delegate to see ways in which they can add to that conversation.
It’s going to be an amazing weekend. Bring it on!
In another blog post one of the experienced delegates, Nicola, adds her thoughts. She says that, among other things, at NYA she has “…been challenged to reflect upon my role in the church.” She goes on with this advice to delegates: “So don’t be afraid to take risks, ask questions and speak your mind- this is, in my experience, one of the best places to do those things- it’s a very challenging, yet incredibly safe space.” She also shares with us something she wrote about NYA 2008 –
“I was seen this weekend. I was seen and heard and loved and held. I met God in the hustle and bustle, in the debates, in the people who held me while I cried, who laughed with me, who laughed AT me. In the people with whom I sat up all night, napped, argued, planned, ate, sang, prayed, danced, geek-chatted and pondered. In the broken, imperfect lives which were brought together this weekend I had a glimpse of the Kingdom.”
Discernment of call, a glimpse of the Kingdom? These are never a bad thing. And to top it off she says in her post “I’ve also discovered what some would call an unhealthy love for all things General Assembly…” to which all I can say is “Welcome to the club Nicola — On behalf of all the other GA Junkies it is a pleasure to have you.”
Along these same lines I would add a comment that appeared on Twitter this morning from one of this year’s delegates: “#nya2010 being listened to is an odd experience…”
So, what about the official details? The NYA will be meeting from 3 – 6 September with the theme “To Boldly Go…”
(And completely off topic but regarding split infinitives, Justin Taylor recently posted a great quote from George Bernard Shaw.)
Information about the NYA can be found on the official cosy blog, the official twitter handle is @cosy_nya, and the hashtag is #nya2010. A couple of years ago they were a trending topic on Twitter and had to shut down the screen showing the Twitter conversation because it had gotten too far off topic. (And yes, there is some standing joke going around this weekend about the Pope visiting NYA.)
Topics for discussion and debate this year are:
- Fashion – looks wide ranging but sustainability, fairtrade, and labour relations are part of it. Their official link for more information – Labour Behind The Label
- Politics – need I say more… Their official link for more information – Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office
- Violence – it will be interesting to see where this discussion goes. Their official link for more information – Violence Reduction Unit
I’m keeping an eye out for other bloggers and so far the Twitter has been fairly quiet. There is also a flickr feed for pictures. And on Facebook there is an event page and groups for Youth Assembly and COSY.
I look forward to seeing the deliverances that the NYA puts together this year.
A final word about a face that will be missing from the NYA this year and was not in her usual spot at the 2010 Assembly. The Rev. Marjory MacLean has been serving as the Deputy Clerk of Assembly and is now serving as a chaplain with the Royal Navy. If you have ever watched the webcast of the Assembly you know that she could make a polity or parliamentary point with a dry wit that was second to none. As the Deputy Clerk she helped guide COSY and the youth reps to Assembly and COSY has posted some parting words from her:
I just think that the reform and improvement of the General Assembly over the last ten years has been massively influenced by the Youth Reps. They bring a knowledge, understanding and diligence, as well as character, fun and energy, to the larger Assembly. I have a feeling the contribution of the youth is possibly underestimated, but it’s one of those things that history will no doubt realise in years to come.