Young Adults shouldn't fight to be at the kids table!

Reflecting on my experience at the General Assembly, I walk away energized and committed to how Christians can engage in ecumenism in the 21st century.  I have always been passionate about ecumenism, and am blessed to have engaged Christians from other traditions over the years that have had a tremendous impact on my personal faith journey.  This gathering, however,  has me excited about the "future" of the church and ecumenism in a post-modern world.

In my last post, I spoke about the potential of the young adult ecumenical group known as New Fire.  They have yet to decide who and what they will be, and what the actual impact they will have on this movement will be interesting to see.  Young Adult Stewards like myself that were asked to attend the New Fire gathering, and spent a day and a half seeking to define who and what New Fire can be.  There did not seem to be a consensus within the New Fire task force in answering the straightforward question "What is New Fire?" It seems that if anything New Fire is anti or "trans" denominational, with members of this group having little or no accountability to the faith community they represent.  They are seeking to include Christian traditions who are not members of the National Council of Churches, while potentially overlooking the traditions that have been a part of this movement for the past 100 years.

When it came to speaking with people who were a part of the General Assembly I did hear a concern about the "future".  As the professional ecumenist, in the churches age, who will step up to take their place?  What will happen to the relationships that have been developed on behalf of member communions? There was a lamenting of a lack of young faces at the General Assembly.  This was not a proclamation to have  young adults at THE table but for someone to fill their seat when their time is up.

New Fire seeks to do something new, almost reinventing the wheel.  Rather than working with, in and through the NCC it seemed like some in the group preferred to be on their own as an "emerging" movement of young adult ecumenism with no identity.  New Fire in my opinion seems to want their own table at the gathering that is ecumenism and church affairs.  If we disregard the wisdom of the saints that have gone before and continue to pave the road for us today, then how we as the people of God can receive the given unity our Lord has bestowed upon the Church?  Some in the NCC seem to be worried about not having enough Young Adults present as a matter of institutional survival, rather than seeking to receive our unity in Christ which is not just among various denominations but also generations.

A fellow Young Adult Steward at the end of the General Assembly said that both New Fire and the NCC got it wrong when it came to Young Adults.  We do not need a separate table or replacement model of Young Adult incorporation into this movement.  What we need is to be all at THE SAME TABLE!

How profound and true, not only when it comes to matters of ecumenism but in ministries throughout the church.

Reverend Lois Wilson, reminded us at the General Assembly that, "What is the future of the ecumenical movement is a question of survival, the question should be what is the mission of the ecumenical movement?"  The question as disciples of Jesus Christ should always be what is our mission in all that we do.  Receiving the unity God has given God's church is a matter of mission in our broken world.  It is so we can best live out the Great Commission and make disciples of all nations. I do not want to be at a kids table or part of a young adult cult that rather drinking kool aid in the end I turn 31 an am exiled from that group and "graduate" to the grown ups table.  As Christians, we know that the Lord has one table in which all are welcome to gather around and are fed, nourished and sustained.  If ecumenism seeks to discover the best in what our denominations have to offer, then it should also consider the best our various generations have to offer as we gather around the same table.

Do we need "New Fire" for Ecumenism to work among Young Adults?

Today and tomorrow I am taking part in the New Fire Young Adult Gathering in New Orleans, Louisiana as part of being a Young Adult Steward for the National Council of Churches, USA Centennial Gathering.

New Fire is a "network" that is trying to define who they are and the role they can play in Ecumenical Young Adult Ministry.  Personally I think New Fire has much potential in being a network that helps to facilitate and support ecumenism on a grass roots level by providing awareness, outreach and seed grants for local ecumenical projects.

After spending a day with New Fire, I hope that they can refine their message and spread it!  Then congregations and organizations would be aware of a network that can support cooperative ecumenical ministry to young adults at the local level.

A concern that I had was the fear that in order to be effective ecumenical and not risk offending anyone at the table we need to "water down" who we are.  I firmly believe that in order for ecumenism to be effective and for true unity in the church to be realized we need, to then, be open and honest with one another.  There is the potential that New Fire and organizations like it could intentionally or unintentionally be anti-denominational.  This would be a result of a "watering down" process for the sake of "unity" which I believe would be disastrous and create a false unity with little or no direction.

We need to be who we are so that we can appreciate the unity and diversity that is present throughout the body of Christ.  New Fire should not also have to feel that it needs to reinvent the wheel in regards to fostering ecumenical relationships.  Many Christian denominations are either in full communion or are in partnership with one another.  New Fire can serve as an agent that makes local congregations aware of the visible unity that already exists among them. They can take advantage of the agreements made by their denominations on the national level that are intended to strengthen ministry at the local level.

I see much value in New Fire and the potential it has to contribute to Ecumenical Adult Ministry in the 21st century.  My hope and prayer is that they truly want Christians to be who they are, offering and sharing their tradition as a lens and witness to the gospel.  In spite of differences, when we engage and do ministry together, I believe young adults would then respect both our authenticity and our traditions.  They would be open to learning and exploring more, walking with Christians who are both genuine and welcoming.

For more information about New Fire got to  http://www.faithconnectsus.org/