General Convention: my Church and my church

As a young adult who hasn't yet found a church that fits, General Convention is both my church and my Church.  I get the "So, where are you going to church these days?” question quite often.  My usual response is that my pledge goes to the church I grew up in.  As a young adult my time spent in church buildings has decreased while my spiritual life has blossomed. 

While it might not be on Sunday mornings, the time spent gathered with fellow young adult Christians is the time I feel the closest to God.  General Convention is one of these times for me.  The time spent with friends—those known for years and those I just haven’t met yet—brings me closer to our God.  It is these times that stoke my fire for Young Adult Ministry and remind me why I get so geeked up about working within the church.

Carlton Allen is from the Diocese of Northern California.

Young Adult Festival Begins

by Nicole Seiferth

Young adults from around the world gathered for the opening of the Young Adult Festival on Thursday, July 9 at the Doubletree Hotel.  

“Tonight you could see the excitement everyone has to get involved in the political process and make our presence felt,” said Sarah Tomlinson, an international festival participant from Scotland. “I don’t think we’re going to be quiet while we’re here.” 

The Festival runs through Monday, July 13. Follow the festival via episcopalcommons.org/yaf and look for this newsletter outside the Convention Center every morning. 

Welcome to LA

I’m not a native Angelino. I moved to Los Angeles when I was six years old. It’s here that I’ve grown to love the wonders of creation. Mountains, beaches, hills, valleys, deserts, lakes, ponds, rivers, and plains can all be found here. Beauty and diversity are not only to be found in the landscape, but in its people, who are from every walk of life. With a closer look you will see we are more than coffee shops, and paparazzi. Southern California has much to offer to convention participants. Check out the Anaheim and Los Angeles maps and magazines in your welcome bag -- they’ll tell you almost everything you want to know about this area and what there is to see and do here.

Shawn Evelyn is from the Diocese of Los Angeles and is a member of the YAF design team.

More Than Relaxing

For the past year and a half I have practiced yoga, one of many forms of meditation. With every breath during yoga I begin to see creation differently. I don’t see it as something to use, but as a wonderful gift that I sometimes take for granted. God’s creation is a gift that continues to keep on giving and growing with me as well as with future generations.

Learn more about the power of meditation and the connection between the body and prayer at the Meditation Workshops and the Body Prayer Workshops.

 Andrea De La Torre is from the Diocese Northern California and is a member of the YAF design team.

What is your calling?

There are several tools available to us as Episcopalians that help us listen for and, more importantly, hear our call.  Many of us have heard the call to ordained ministry.  But what about those of us who haven’t heard that call–is there a “discernment process” for us?  

My own journey has taken me from not even thinking about ordained ministry, to seriously considering ordination, and now believing I can do more good in the world as an engineer.

I encourage you to take advantage of all the discernment tools the church offers us, locally and nationally. Attend the discernment workshop sponsored by Vocare. Come listen to the PLSE mentors on Friday night in the lounge. These are both great ways to get started on finding how the church can help you find out where you’re going. 

Carlton Allen is from the Diocese of Northern California and is a member of the YAF design team.

D038: Why You Should Care

Resolution D038 focuses on reaffirming the commitment to become a welcoming church for the Latino/Hispanic community. If passed, this resolution could mean a budget allocation of more than $3 million for Latino/Hispanic development throughout the church. 

D038 is significant because of the increase of the Latino/Hispanic population in the U.S. According to the 2008 census, the U.S. has the second largest Latino population in the world. This resolution will allow the office of Latino/Hispanic ministry to train new leaders, raise awareness, and develop programs of spiritual empowerment for the Latino/Hispanic community.

For information on the progress of this resolution, come to the nightly debriefings in the Lounge at 8pm, visit episcopalchurch.org, or just ask me! 

Nancy Frausto is from the Diocese of Los Angeles and is a member of the YAF design team.

d038: El Porque te Debe de Importar

La resolución D038 se enfoca en reafirmar la promesa de ser una comunidad calorosa hacia los ministerios Latinos/Hispanos. Si esta resolución pasa significa que la oficina del ministerio Latino/Hispano recibirá mas de 3 mil dólares para seguir creciendo la iglesia.

Esta resolución es importante porque los EE.UU. es la segunda nación con más latinos en el mundo. Esta resolución le daría al ministerio Latino los recursos para poder entrenar a líderes, apoyar a las iglesias y empoderar espiritualmente a nuestra comunidad.

Para más información sobre esta resolución no se pierdan las reuniones informativas que tendremos cada noche en el Lounge a las 8 pm, también pueden visitar la página episcopalchurch.org o simplemente pregúntenme.

Nancy Frausto is from the Diocese of Los Angeles and is a member of the YAF design team.