Hey, folks! Happy New Year!!! The current Young Adult Missionaries have been experiencing some difficulties with the General Board of Global Ministries for some time. This wasn't at all helped during the recent restructuring at the Board; in fact we've experienced even less support. There are currently NO STAFF MEMBERS assigned directly to youth and young adult programs at the GBGM. The Missionary in Residence for Young Adult Programs (MIRYAP) position has been eliminated, and the Executive Secretary for Young Adult Programs position remains unfilled since Suzanne Field-Rabb left the post in October. We have drafted the following legislation to the Global Young People's Convocation in June and are looking for as much support as we can get! The deadline is tonight and I'm trying to get a few more signatures before we send it off. If you support this legislation, please respond with your program and class year! Thanks so much, and have a happy and safe New Year!!
Grace and Peace,
Jamie Michaels
US-2 class of 2007
Resolution in Support of Major Changes in the Approach to Young Adult Missionary Programs of the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church
Submitted by concerned members of the 2007 class of the US-2 and Mission Intern Programs to the Legislative Assembly of the Global Young People’s Convocation
Financial Implications: Yes
Section I: General Petition Information
Since their beginnings the Young Adult Mission Programs of the UMC (Mission Intern, US-2, Summer Intern, and Global Justice Volunteers) have been crucial in training young adults to live out the Gospel call and develop their leadership skills to be future leaders within the church and in the wider society.
Section II: Purpose
To address the lack of structural support for Young Adult Missions programs (Mission Intern, US-2, Global Justice Volunteers) housed under the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) of the United Methodist Church.
Section III: Resolution
WHEREAS, the Mission Intern and US-2 programs (The Mission Intern and US-2 programs are respectively three-year and two-year social justice, mission and leadership development opportunities for young adults-18-30 years old.) over the past three years have experienced a great amount of transition and lack of support from the GBGM and the staff assigned to working with Young Adult Missionaries, especially since the elimination of the Missionary in Residence for Young Adult Programs (MIRYAP) position (one who serves as a representative and advocate for Young adults in mission at GBGM's New York Office),
WHEREAS, the Mission Intern and US-2 classes of 2007 have experienced from GBGM an overall lack of recognition of their importance as representatives of the United Methodist Church and servants of God in the world, as demonstrated in that only a small percentage of the global body of United Methodists are aware of the Young Adult Programs,
WHEREAS, young adult participants in these programs have experienced the truth of the GBGM's statement that, "Youth and young adults are not just the hope of the church for tomorrow; they are the leadership of the church today," and have heard "the prophetic voices of communities and individuals around the world," and have applied their experiences with "energy, vision, enthusiasm, and motivated by deep faith," thus "transforming themselves and the world,"
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, if at the time of voting on this resolution the existing staff positions designed to support young adult programming at the GBGM responsible for the Young Adult Programs remain unfilled, we call upon Young People’s Ministries to pressure the General Board of Discipleship to pressure the General Board of Global Ministries to fill these current staff openings to run the Young Adult Programs,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the GBGM in consultation with current and former Young Adult Missionaries redesign and reinstate the position of MIRYAP and fill it as soon as possible,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the GBGM in consultation with current and former Young Adult Missionaries form a working group consisting of current and former Young Adult Missionaries from all existing programs; the missionary associations of Standard Support Missionaries, Church and Community Workers, and Deaconess/Home Missioners; representatives from the Board and Staff of GBGM; representatives from Women's Division; and Board members from the Division of Young People's Ministries be formed to evaluate the structure, staffing, and general support for Young Adult Mission Programs.
Section V: Implementation
This resolution will take effect immediately upon passage by the General Assembly.
This is so frustrating to see-- not the resolution, the lack of support at a time when the UMC needs to support young people even more!!! Glad you did this and would love to hear of the outcome. I attended a meeting in Phoenix once for the GBGM's Shared Mission Focus on Young People, waaay back (1999?). And that was the last I'd heard of it. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteAnita (from TUMC)
Hey, Anita. Thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteThis was drafted after a series of problems current mission interns were having with the GBGM (and after two years of similar problems with us US-2s). Unfortunately, these problems still continue. Rent checks are late, reimbursements are slow, there is very little support for missionaries in the field... my placement sites were great, but my experience with the GBGM is not one I'd repeat. The Young People's Convocation is coming up in June, so we'll see how the resolution goes!
ps: this reminds me, I need to update the blog!