Young people sought for 2008 address

United Methodist News Service
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The Division on Ministries with Young People is seeking a youth or team of young people to address the 2008 General Conference.
Application deadline is July 1.
The denomination’s top legislative assembly, which meets every four years, is to gather in Fort Worth April 22-May 2, 2008. The 2008 meeting will be the first with young people giving a major address.
The 2004 General Conference affirmed the value of hearing from young people when it voted overwhelmingly to add the address to the 2008 agenda. The 2004 conference also created the Division on Ministries with Young People at the General Board of Discipleship.
“For a young person to make an address to the 2008 General Conference shows the entire church that young people can be in leadership and have a voice,” said Julie O’Neal, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Along with Jay Williams of the Western New York Conference, she was co-chair of the Shared Mission Focus on Young People, which preceded the new division.
“We have some good things for the denomination to hear,” O’Neal said.
The Division on Ministries with Young People is to select the speaker or speakers at its August meeting and notify the successful applicants by
Sept. 1. United Methodists between the ages of 12 and 30 are eligible.
The Division on Ministries with Young People is requesting submissions of videotapes from people who would like to deliver the Young People’s Address.
The 10-minute videotape should show a presentation that addresses the concerns and dreams of young people in The United Methodist Church.
With the tape, applicants should send a transcript of the speech, which can be in the person’s native language.
Videos and transcripts should be sent to Young People’s Address, Young People’s Ministries, P.O. Box 340003, Nashville, TN 37203-0003.
For more information contact Jay Clark at (615) 340-7058 or jclark@gbod.org.