(18/06/08) Eighteen youths from member churches of the United Evangelical Mission (UEM) from Africa, Asia and Germany gathered in the Youth Pre-Assembly (YPA) on the Island of Borkum, Germany from 9th – 11th June 2008, to prepare themselves for the General Assembly.
During this meeting, the youth had time to shortly evaluate the implementation of the recommendations of the 2004 Youth Pre-Assembly in Manila. They were also introduced to the procedures constitutional meeting procedures such as rules of debate.
The YPA came up with suggestions to the General Assembly concerning the amendment of the UEM constitution as well as the restructuring of the UEM which had been explained to them by UEM General Secretary Rev. Dr. Fidon Mwombeki and head of the German Regional Assembly, Pastor Regine Buschmann.
The challenges pointed out by the young people during the YPA concern the understanding of mission of UEM member churches as well as issues related to justice, peace and integrity of creation such as the exploitation of natural and human resources by Western countries and international private entities, climate change, armed conflicts and civil war, migration and asylum policies, food shortage and the like, the increase the of HIV-AIDS among young people, inter-religious dialogue and the participation of adolescents in the South to South volunteer programme.
The YPA discussed their challenges and came up with the recommendations which have been forwarded to the General Assembly for more discussion and approval.
The YPA used to take place after four years prior to the General Assembly, but according to the new constitution the Youth Pre-Assembly will be taking place after every two years prior to the General Assembly. The previous YPA took place in Manila, Philippines 2004.
According to the new constitution, the YPA consist of only youth delegates to the General Assembly and stewards, whereas the previous year the YPA consisted 34 delegates which menas that each church used to send one youth. Out of these 34 delegates six delegates joined the General Assembly and 12 delegates remained as stewards and the rest went back home soon after the YPA.
This YPA was supposed to have 21 youth delegates but three delegates two from the Democratic Republic of Congo and one from Cameroon couldn’t come because of the visa problems.
The message for the YPA this year was "Brought into Glorious Freedom of the Children of God (Romans 8:21)", which is also the motto of the General Assembly.
Emmanuela Mtatifikolo is the UEM youth officer for the African region.
