Episcopal Press and News
Gen. Colin Powell Will Speak at Youth Event During General Convention
Episcopal News Service. May 25, 2000 [2000-107]
Jim Goodson , Director of communications for the Diocese of Dallas and Editor of the diocesan newspaper
(ENS) General Colin L. Powell will discuss faith issues with youth attending the Y2K4JC youth conference in Boulder, Colorado.
"The Episcopal Church was very meaningful to me as a youth and I am looking forward to sharing my story and learning about the faith of others, too," Powell said after agreeing to meet with youth on the concluding day of the July 7-12 event at the University of Colorado campus.
Powell, the son of immigrant Jamaican parents in New York City, rose through the U.S. Army ranks to become an adviser to presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush and Bill Clinton in Powell's role as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest military position in the Department of Defense.
But it is his interest in the future and in youth that draws him to Boulder. Powell is the chairman of the President's Summit for America's Future as well as America's Promise and the Alliance of Youth.
Young people from throughout the world will witness, worship and have the chance to work in mission fields during the youth conference, held at the same time as the church's General Convention in Denver
Fifty workshops are designed to provide young people with a renewed sense of Christian community and faith. A bishop's forum will allow youth to meet, question, inform and learn from church leaders. Sonic Boom and other bands will lead youth in worship as well as perform during fun-filled social events.
"I know from my own experience of last summer's Episcopal Youth Event that gatherings of young people can provide a valuable opportunity to reflect with their peers on their life in Christ and strengthen their sense of being members of Christ's risen body," Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold said.
Young people attending Y2K4JC will participate in the Sunday morning Eucharist of the Episcopal Church General Convention July 9 and then will welcome convention deputies and bishops that same Sunday evening to the Boulder campus for a youthful, spirit-filled worship service.
"Worship will play a central role in all that we do," Y2K4JC co-chair Diane Stanton of the Diocese of Dallas said. "Our prayer is to provide young people with the information and encouragement that is vital to their Christian life both in the church and their communities."
The interaction between the youth and the leadership of the church is an important aspect of this event, said co-chair Jon Davis, youth ministry officer of the Diocese of Central Florida.
"We make a promise to young people when they are baptized...that we will 'do all in our power to support these persons in their life in Christ.'," Davis said. "Y2K4JC is a perfect opportunity to make good on this promise allowing young people to function fully in the Body of Christ, exercising their gifts and contributing their energy and enthusiasm work of the Gospel."
The Episcopal Diocese of Colorado and the American Anglican Council are organizing the event with technical support from the national church office and its staff. Youth ministers from dioceses throughout the nation are taking part in the conference.
A brochure with registration forms was sent to every Episcopal church in the nation in mid-January and a website (www.y2k4jc.net) offers information and registration forms that can be downloaded.
Workshop topics include Teens in Crisis, Internet Christianity, College and Christ, Dating in a Sex-Crazed Society, Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts, Cool Worship and the Prayer Book, Women in Ministry, Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll, Reaching Out to the World and Bridging Racial Barriers (a complete list of all 50 workshops can be accessed at www.y2k4jc.net).
Workshop leaders include Phoebe Griswold, the wife of Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold; Bruce Chapman, director of Discovery Institute in Seattle; Davis, a founding member of the Episcopal Renewal Ministries Youth Project; Van Arrington, director of Teach My People Ministries; The Rev. Tim Surratt, associate rector at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pawleys Island, South Carolina; Laura Lipscomb, coordinator for youth ministries of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida; Tony Alvarez, founder of Celestial Style ministries and The Rev. Tom Rutherford, rector of the Church of the Messiah in Winter Garden, Florida.
"An exciting component will be the presence of international youth from many major regions of the world being sponsored by several American bishops to come and show their faith stories and create an entirely multi-cultural experience," Stanton said.
Following the six-day Y2KJ4JC, youth and their adult sponsors will have the opportunity to put their faith into action by participating in mission opportunities throughout the nation. Some of the mission ministry will take place within the Diocese of Colorado while other mission work will be offered throughout the world. The mission trips will take place at the completion of the conference and are optional.
"The mission trip portion of Y2K4JC is designed to give participants the chance to show God's love to others and to learn about the rewards of service," Davis said.
The conference is open to young people who have completed grades 6-12 by Spring 2000 and who have not already attended college. The ratio of youth to adults will be two adults for every 10 youth. All participants must be residents for the entire conference.
The cost is $250 per person, excluding travel and mission opportunities. Included in this fee are room and board, program costs, ground transportation to and from the Denver airport and to General Convention, the conference T-shirt and other fun items. This fee covers only a portion of the total costs of Y2K4JC; each participant is subsidized through the budget of the American Anglican Council.
Although Y2K4JC is an Episcopal youth conference, participants do not have to be Episcopalian. Youth must, however, be recommended through an Episcopal church and have the backing of an adult sponsor from that church who will be attending the entire weekend.
For more information contact the Y2K4JC office toll-free at 877-334-2183 or visit the web site.