*We rejoice and celebrate the call from the General Council on Ministries for a focus on young people.
*We advocate gathering young people and adults, along with resources staff, to strengthen ministry with young people and to proclaim and embody the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We propose a plan for implementing a focus on young people:
*$500,000 will be available to local churches in the form of grants for use as seed money to respond to the needs and issues of young people in the church and community. Grants will be administered by the Shared Mission Team as proposed by the General Council on Ministries.
*The Shared Mission Team will oversee and coordinate quadrennial pilot programs in ten conferences and ten local churches (not in the same ten conferences), which will provide $2.4 million for salary of trained and qualified staff to craft ministry with young people for the future and for these staff people to meet together on an annual basis for review of the program.
*A fund for the purpose of strengthening theological education in the area of ministry with young people will be established with an initial grant of $100,000.
*Existing programs and staff for ministry with young people throughout the Church should be continued at the current or increased levels of funding.
*Programs and resources for young people should be coordinated throughout the Church, building on current strengths.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 22747-GJ-NonDis-O$
1996 United Methodist General Conference